Nomads on skates

September 30, 2008   ·   Hasan   ·   Jump to comments

Figuring something should be written about the Islanders’ preseason to date, yesterday I couldn’t help but notice a blurb about their schedule.  Tomorrow they play the Devils at Nassau Colliseum for their only true home game of the preseason, and considering they have a seven-game schedule that suggests they’re doing a lot of traveling. 

And they didn’t just play their first three preseason games on the road, they played them in – get this – Moncton (New Britain), London (Ontario, not England) and Summerside (Prince Edward Island)!  What gives, the Islanders can’t sell tickets at home so they think people in Canada will give a darn?  At least it’s a break for the season ticket holders they do have I suppose, only having to pay for one preseason game.  And god knows, any excuse not to play at Nassau Colliseum is generally a good one…but geez.

As far as their results go so far, last Tuesday they opened against the Boston Bruins as the ahem, home team in New Britain and wound up with a 2-1 overtime win on the strength of a second-period goal by Jon Sim and the overtime winner by the immortal Trevor Smith.  Dennis Wideman had the only Bruin goal as Islander goaltenders Joey MacDonald and former Canadien farmhand Yann Denis combined to stop 18 of 19 shots, while the Isles dominated throughout tallying 38 shots against Boston goaltender Tuuka Rask.

Two nights later, the Isles suffered a 4-0 beatdown at the hands of the Flyers in Ontario at the John Labatt Centre (couldn’t resist typing out the name).  Apparently this was a case of the Isles’ B team going up against the Flyers’ A squad, though I suspect one could hardly tell the difference between the Isles’ A and B teams this season – sorry, couldn’t resist!  Mike Richards, Mike Knuble, Jeff Carter and Joffrey Lupul scored the Flyers’ goals.  On the plus side for the Isles, there were a couple of fights in the game and first-round pick Josh Bailey made his debut, finishing with two shots on goal.

For their second – cough - home contest on Saturday, the Isles were off to Prince Edward Island to take on the Florida Panthers.  I guess wearing the home uniforms helps, as the Isles beat the Panthers 4-2, upping their preseason record to 2-1.  Frans Nielsen and Trent Hunter (pictured above) each starred in the game with two goals.  Nielsen added two assists for a total of four points, while Hunter would finish with three points on the night.  MacDonald stopped 18 shots, still subbing for the recovering Rick DiPietro.  Michal Repik and Drew Larman scored the Panthers’ goals.

And one more Isles note that will amuse Derek: I noticed ex-Ranger Thomas Pock is their latest roster addition.  Well I guess they can use help anywhere they can get it.