Isles set to gauge competitiveness in Atlantic division
As preseason begins, things look quite different at Nassau Coliseum. Half of the starters for the Isles preseason were minor leaguers at the Tigers camp in Bridgeport this summer. "It will be interesting to see how these guys stack up against divisional rivals outside of Philly," says the g.m. on behalf of coach Ted Nolan, who recently signed a 3-year deal to lead the rebuilding team. The Isles will play against the Penguins, Devils and Rangers in 6 games on schedule.
EVEN STRENGTH CENTER LEFT WING RIGHT WING DEFENCE DEFENCE 1 Robert Lang (C) Richard Zednik Mike York Marek Zidlicky Danny Markov 2 Jeremy Roenick Oleg Saprykin Martin Lapointe Anders Eriksson Ben Clymer 3 Bobby Holik John LeClair Nikita Alexeev Janne Niinimaa Luke Richardson 4 Pierre Turgeon Chris Simon (A) Richard Park (A) Andres Eriksson Marek Zidlicky
POWER PLAY CENTER LEFT WING RIGHT WING DEFENCE DEFENCE 1 Robert Lang Richard Zednik Nikita Alexeev Marek Zidlicky Anders Eriksson 2 Pierre Turgeon Oleg Saprykin Mike York Ben Clymer Janne Niinimaa PENALTY KILL CENTER WINGER DEFENCE DEFENCE 1 Bobby Holik Richard Park Danny Markov Anders Eriksson 2 Jeremy Roenick Martin Lapointe Luke Richardson Marek Zidlicky STARTING GOALIE Jose Theodore
The Isles beat the Devils in their home-and-away preseason series, 5-2 and 1-0. NYI captain Lang and goalie Theodore have been the games' top stars but the unsung hero is alternate captain Simon who has a 3-game scoring streak. Also, Markov leads the league in hits with 18 in 4 games, with Roenick not far behind. Physicality seems to be paying off.
A trade just made will soon bring a bit of an upgrade on the blueline as Anton Babchuk (71 ov) will provide more size, defense and puck control and allow Baumgartner to be benched.
There is no poll option for finishing 'ahead of Devils' because New Jersey was not expected to be in the basement of the division at the end of the preseason. One person voted 'OTHER'. Did he think of this possibility? Or did he think the Isles would finish ahead of Philly? ;) I voted 'ahead of Rangers, Penguins' though I see 44% voted 'ahead of Pittsburgh', the team that beat the Isles once already this preseason.
The most unlikeliest of heroes in depth centre Alexandre Giroux (62 ov) scored the game winner as Pittsburgh takes both contests against their divisional rival on Long Island yet trail them by a point in the standings as the Penguins lost all four other games played and need to at least go into overtime against Chicago Monday to climb out of the basement.
Isles captain Lang wins another, Penguins headed for the basement
The Islanders win just its third preseason game tonight in a 5-4 defeat of Detroit on the strength of first line centre Lang's two goals and surprising goal by call-up backline rookie Ruzicka. The victory puts the team from Long Island up two points on the Penguins with a game remaining each. The only way Pittsburgh doesn't end up in the basement is if they top division-leading Philly AND the Rangers defeat the isles in regulation time. The odds are that the majority of those polled were correct: The Isles are to finish the preseason ahead of Pittsburgh.
Islanders finish fourth, Penguins last in the division
Poll respondents were right: The Isles finish ahead of only the Penguins at the end of the preseason in the Atlantic. Both teams lost their last game of the preseason, the Penguins' only two wins coming ironically against the Isles. The best players on Long Island were its two captains Lang and Simon with a couple of good games out of Theodore in net including a shutout. Trades over the last week leave the heavily rebuilding club more vulnerable to being dominated although a fourth or third place finish in the division isn't totally out of the question, especially with ongoing trade negotiations.
After recent trades with Tampa Bay, Anaheim and Florida, the line-up for the Islanders to open the 2007/08 season will be in the following formations:
EVEN STRENGTH
CENTER LEFT WING RIGHT WING DEFENCE DEFENCE 1 Robert Lang Richard Zednik Oleg Saprykin Marek Zidlicky Danny Markov 2 Jeremy Roenick Chris Simon Mike York Ben Clymer Anton Babchuk 3 Bobby Holik Nikita Alexeev Konstantin Pushkarev Alexei Semenov Luke Richardson 4 Pierre Turgeon Stanislav Chistov Stefan Ruzicka Danny Markov Marek Zidlicky
POWER PLAY
CENTER LEFT WING RIGHT WING DEFENCE DEFENCE 1 Robert Lang Richard Zednik Oleg Saprykin Marek Zidlicky Ben Clymer 2 Pierre Turgeon Chris Simon Mike York Danny Markov Anton Babchuk
PENALTY KILL
CENTER WINGER DEFENCE DEFENCE 1 Bobby Holik Mike York Danny Markov Marek Zidlicky 2 Jeremy Roenick Nikita Alexeev Luke Richardson Anton Babchuk
