John Tavares

Islanders hold on for 4-3 win despite Lightning rally

January 21, 2013

The second game of the year started off a little differently than most early starts for the Islanders in recent years. These day games usually saw the Islanders sleep walking and getting outworked by their opponents.

Maybe Matt Martin and Joe Finley both knew that the team needed an alarm clock to get the team and the crowd into it. (Photo Credit: Flickr/capwell)

Whatever the reasoning was for dropping the gloves, it worked. The team was inspired. The crowd was loud.

Lost in the fisticuffs to begin the game, Jack Capuano took his spot behind the bench despite undergoing surgery to remove kidney stones just days prior.

The new slimmed Capuano could have helped inspire an energized Islanders' squad.

The Islanders came out swinging and their energy resulted in a much better effort than Saturday's opener vs. New Jersey.

Devils vs. Islanders 1/19/13: Isles Open Up At Home

January 19, 2013

T.J. Weber

2 Comments

The 2012-13 NHL season commences today, with 13 games in total taking place. More importantly, the New York Islanders will have their fourth consecutive home-opener against last season's Eastern Conference Champions, the New Jersey Devils.

Unfortunately, the Isles haven't won on opening night since 2007. Last October, they gave the new Winnipeg Jets their first win in 2-0 shutout. (Photo Credit: IslesPunkFan/Flickr)

Matt Carkner: Cult Hero in the making?

January 15, 2013

Steve Giangaspro

1 Comment

Lost in the flurry of what fans are referring affectionately as "Lubo Gate", the Islanders became a whole lot tougher in the off season. They did this by signing a man who has no problem dropping the gloves in defense of his teammates.

Matt Carkner quietly signed a three year deal worth $4.5 million dollars. Carkner is not what you would call an offensive defenseman but he does come with a grittiness that leaves a mark.

Just ask the players that had to be scraped off of the boards from his bone crunching hits.

In his unofficial initiation to Islanders fans' hearts, he became public enemy number one during the Senators' playoff series where they pushed the Rangers to the limit. Who can forget his assault on Brian Boyle which earned him a one game suspension?

An open ended letter to Mr. Visnovsky

January 14, 2013

Steve Giangaspro

2 Comments

To Lubomir,

Let us go back to the 2012 NHL Draft. The Islanders fan base buzzed when news spread that you were traded to solidify a blue line that could benefit from your experience and impressive play.

A lot of fans moved to YouTube to find out more about a player that spent his whole career in the Western Conference. They didn't know much more than how cool your last name would look on an Islanders sweater. (Photo Credit: Daralee's Web World Photos)

It was hard for the fans to hide their excitement when they saw this addition that could help immediately. It was a breath of fresh air that someone added to the roster could help right away. Not in 2 years. Not in 1 year. But now. Garth Snow had done a great job in executing this trade.

That ended almost immediately when you filed a grievance with the NHL, trying to void the trade. This wasn't a great way to endear yourself to a fan base. They were willing to put that aside once the case was settled and the trade was indeed valid.
There was a sense that you did not want to be in Uniondale. You are not alone in this. You are not the first player, nor will you be the last player to claw in the doorway on the way to Long Island. But the actions of your peers do not excuse your behavior.

All's well that ends well (Isles benefit from shortened season?)

January 9, 2013

Steve Giangaspro

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Hockey is back and everything is right in the world of the NHL. Well, sort of. There are some sour faces on fans that feel betrayed by the shield. But pouty, angered people will quickly turn that frown upside down. Fans will forgive as soon as the first puck drops on January 19th. Who can hold a grudge with the game we all love so dearly?

As the new season rapidly approaches, there are some immediate questions that need to be tended to.

Who will the shortened season favor: the veteran teams or the young guns?

How will teams deal with the immediate pressure of each game meaning more than usual?

Isles Fall Out Of First Place; Grabner Catches Fire

December 6, 2012

Pete Paguaga

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Isles drop three out of four and have fallen out of first place in the Atlantic Division

Isles Move Into 2nd Place in Eastern Conference; Lose Okposo For Three Weeks

November 26, 2012

Pete Paguaga

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In this weeks NHL 2013 the standings are released and the Islanders sit in 2nd place in the Eastern Conference.

Isles Lose Streit; Promote Ness

November 20, 2012

Pete Paguaga

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Islanders Captain Mark Streit Goes Down With Second Major Injury Of The Season

2012-13 Eastern Conference Prediction

November 14, 2012

Shane Blackburn

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The NHL is still in the midst of a lockout due to a CBA dispute between the NHL and the NHLPA. There have been rumors that a season could start around the beginning of December, TCL's Shane Blackburn provides a preview of the Eastern Conference should the lockout end. (Photo Credit: Wikipedia)