Matt Carkner

Islanders Quarterly Check In

February 15, 2013

The Islanders are just slightly past the quarter mark of the season after playing their 13th game of the year last night against the New York Rangers. They skated to a 4-3 shootout victory to give them a 5-7-1 record.

With 11 points, the Islanders sit 12th in the Eastern Conference; four points out of the eighth placed Rangers and last in the Atlantic Division (Photo Credit: theseoduke/Flickr).

Five of the Islanders top-six forwards have been producing from the start of the year. John Tavares has 16 points in 13 games, trailed by Matt Moulson with 13 and Brad Boyes with 10. Frans Nielsen has quietly put up nine points in the games that have been played, while Michael Grabner has seven.

Pregame for 2/9/13: Islanders look to end skid against Buffalo

February 9, 2013

Steve Giangaspro

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As Long Islanders shovel their way out of Nemo's wintery wrath, the Islanders look to dig themselves out of this 3 game losing streak.

After a successful road trip, the Islanders returned home to lose to New Jersey and Pittsburgh and went back to the road for the first against the Rangers.

Other than John Tavares' impressive play, the Islanders looked outworked, unenthusiastic and just overwhelmed by the Rangers.

They have been outscored 11-3 on this recent skid. It is obvious that scoring is not coming to the team as easily as it once was.

It is important for the team not to harp on losses and let them snowball into long stretches of futility that could render this season a wash.

The season is too tightly packed for the Islanders to feel bad for themselves and let the losses mount. In this talented Eastern Conference and more specifically Atlantic Division, it is easy to get buried.

The Future Is Bright For The Islanders On Defense

February 4, 2013

Donovan Brooks

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The old saying goes as follows: "defense wins championships." The New York Islanders have learned in recent years that they have not had enough defense. No Islanders team has averaged less than three goals against per game since the 2007-2008 season, and if that team had allowed three more goals, it would have been exactly three goals against per game.

NY Islanders Open 5 Game Road Trip With a Big Win in Toronto

January 25, 2013

Jane Fisher

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NY Islanders Open 5 Game Road Trip With a Big Win in Toronto (Photo Credit: earth to ilyse)

New York Islanders Vs. Tampa Bay Lightning on Martin Luther King Jr. Day

January 21, 2013

Donovan Brooks

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The Islanders face off against The Tampa Bay Lightning at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on Martin Luther King Jr. Day at 1 p.m.

The Islanders look to rebound from Saturday's opening night loss on home ice to the New Jersey Devils. The Devils beat the Islanders 2-1 behind strong goaltending from Martin Brodeur and some timely offense from Illya Kovalchuk, Travis Zajac and David Clarkson.

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

January 19, 2013

T.J. Weber

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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

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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?

Isles Training Camp News & Notes

January 14, 2013

Rob McGowan

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Day one of training camp for The New York Islanders has been completed as plenty of familiar faces took to the ice today to either look to impress the coaching staff, or get back into game shape.

However, one player who was not at camp was defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky.

Visnovsky has made it clear that he wants to remain with his team in the KHL, which is unsettling for Isles fans as well as his teammates. Arthur Staple of Newsday's recent report from camp today had quotes from some of the Islanders, including general manager Garth Snow, that indicated their displeasure with his actions (Photo Credit: bridgetds/Flick).