NHL FanHouse

Plus/Minus: Roloson Steals Game for Islanders, Stops 58 Shots

Adam Gretz — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

We're trying something different to replace the old Newsmakers in the NHL posts. Hopefully you'll like it. Each weekday we'll take a look at one positive performance from the previous night (a plus), and one negative performance from the previous night (a minus). It's the plus/minus.Tell us what you think at nhlfanhouse@gmail.com.

More Coverage: Monday's NHL Scoreboard

Plus Of The Day: Dwayne Roloson, New York Islanders

If you go by the shots on goal, Monday's game between the Islanders and Maple Leafs was the most one-sided ass kicking of the NHL season. Toronto managed to out-shoot New York by an unbelievable 61-21 margin, including 21-4 in the third period.

Fortunately for the Islanders, shot totals don't win games, and their goaltender, Dwayne Roloson, was up to the challenge and was essentially a brick wall between the pipes, stopping 58 shots (including 55 in regulation) in a 4-3 overtime win. Accoring to STATS, via the AP, it was the best performance by a goaltender (in terms of saves) since Ron Tugnutt's 70-save effort as a member of the Quebec Nordiques over 18 years ago.

The Islanders had a 3-0 lead with five minutes to play in the second period, but allowed Toronto to rally (thanks to a barrage of shots on Roloson) and force overtime. Josh Bailey tallied the game-winner at the 4:13 mark of the extra period, his sixth goal of the season, to hand Toronto its sixth loss in its past seven games.

With the win, the Islanders are now one of seven teams separated by just two points in the Eastern Conference standings. I'm still not sure how long New York can hang around, but if its goaltenders (Roloson and Martin Biron) keep playing like they have through the first two months, the Islanders will stay in the playoff race longer than anybody could have possibly imagined before the season started.

Minus Of The Night Day: Ray Emery, Philadelphia Flyers

I think it's safe to say Ray Emery has been a pleasant surprise for the Philadelphia Flyers this season, entering Monday's game with a .914 save percentage and an 11-6 record. Unfortunately, he struggled for the first time this season in a 5-4 loss to the Avalanche, getting benched for the first time as a member of the Flyers after allowing four goals on just 17 shots in 29 minutes of action.

Brian Boucher came on in relief and stopped 13 of the 14 shots he faced.

After trailing 5-2 through two periods, the Flyers cut the deficit to one thanks to goals from Danny Briere and Jeff Carter, but it wasn't enough as Craig Anderson was able to hold off the 19-shot third period effort and preserve the win.

Philadelphia has now dropped three in a row on its current road trip, which ends in New York against the Islanders on Wednesday.

The Avalanche were victorious for just the second time in its past seven games.

Highlight Of The Day: It was another nightmare performance by the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday night as they were thumped, 7-4, by the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden. Marian Gaborik and Steve Avery each scored a pair of goals in the rout as the blue shirts ripped off seven straight goals after falling behind 2-0 early in the first period. Some of the goals were kind of soft (and bizarre), and some of them looked like this tally from rookie defenseman Matt Gilroy in the second period.

Plus/Minus: Roloson Steals Game for Islanders, Stops 58 Shots originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Puck Talk: A Blow to the Head

Bruce Ciskie — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Blackhawks, Islanders, Kings, Thrashers, FanHouse Exclusive

With the issue of head shots becoming more and more talked about in NHL circles, it's time to tackle it on Puck Talk. We're joined this week by Anthony Curatolo, who is a senior writer at Crash the Crease and also has a podcast every week. Since Anthony is an Islanders fan, we also let him talk up his red-hot team and discuss the Blackhawks' impending cap woes. Listen after the jump.

Listen to the podcast above, or click here to download the file.

Puck Talk: A Blow to the Head originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NHL FanHouse Live Chat: Headshots, Ovechkin, and the Islanders!

Bruce Ciskie — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Capitals, Islanders, NHL Fans, NHL Live Blogging

We have a lot of stuff to cover on our weekly NHL FanHouse chat. At 2 pm ET, we'll discuss Alex Ovechkin's return, the topic of headshots in hockey, the red-hot, playoff-bound (maybe) Islanders, and so much more. Join the FanHouse staff for the chat after the jump.

&amp;amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php?option=com_mobile&amp;amp;amp;task=viewaltcast&amp;amp;amp;altcast_code=7cf36b39d6&amp;quot; &amp;amp;gt;NHL FanHouse Live Chat&amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;gt;

NHL FanHouse Live Chat: Headshots, Ovechkin, and the Islanders! originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Plus/Minus: Giving Credit to the Islanders

Adam Gretz — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Coyotes, Flyers, Islanders

More Coverage: Monday's NHL Scoreboard

Plus Of The Day: The New York Islanders

It's still very early in the season, obviously, but after their 4-1 win in Boston on Monday night, the New York Islanders find themselves as the No. 7 team in the Eastern Conference. Seriously. I don't care if its November 17 or not, this is a team that entered the season with zero expectations. They may not always be pretty, and they may be benefiting from the NHL's point system that rewards teams for losing in overtime or a shootout (the Islanders have lost three games in overtime, and four in a shootout), but they're at least competing and have been in just about every game they've played (nine of their losses have been by just one goal).

On an individual level, Matt Moulson has to be one of the biggest out-of-nowhere surprises in the NHL this season, and he continued his impressive start by scoring two goals on Monday. He was also a plus-two and finished with three shots on goal, and was originally credited with a third goal -- which would have been the first hat trick of his career -- before it was awarded to No. 1 overall pick John Tavares.

Moulson, a former ninth-round pick by the Pittsburgh Penguins, now leads the Islanders with 10 goals and is second (trailing only Tavares) with 18 points.

Elsewhere for New York on Monday, veteran forward Richard Park recorded three assists, while goaltender Dwayne Roloson stopped 28 of 29 shots to pick up the win.

Minus Of The Day: Jason LaBarbera, Phoenix Coyotes

Coyotes goaltender Jason LaBarbera wasn't asked to do all that much on Monday, facing only 19 shots against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Despite the relatively light workload, he still surrendered four goals (including at least one that could be classified as being on the "soft" side) in a 4-1 loss.

After a fast 9-4 start out of the gate, Phoenix has now lost five of its last seven games. Also a minus, from the AP: "The announced crowd was 9,503, ending a three-game streak of five-figure attendance."

Highlight Of The Day: The New Jersey Devils finally lost their first road game of the season, dropping a 3-2 decision in Philadelphia. The loss not only ended their nine-game road winning streak, it also snapped an eight-game winning streak overall. Flyers rookie James van Riemsdyk scored what proved to be the game-winner at the 10:38 mark of the third period when he pounced on a loose puck in the slot and ripped it past Devils goalie Martin Brodeur.

Plus/Minus: Giving Credit to the Islanders originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Islanders Coach Caught! (Rapping and Dancing in 1986 Video)

Christopher Botta — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Islanders, NHL Fans, NHL Videos, College Hockey

Scott Gordon was told, with a purposeful tint of vagueness, that a reporter had a question "about your days in Boston College."

"I bet you do," said the head coach of the New York Islanders.

Gordon had been warned about this two weeks ago. The video, the one he filmed in 1986, was recently re-discovered, dropped on the world wide web and slowly but surely was starting to go viral.

Hey, it could have been a lot worse.

In 1986 Gordon and several of his teammates at Boston College filmed "The Beanpot Trot," college hockey's answer to the Chicago Bears' "Super Bowl Shuffle." Indeed, the nine student-athletes rap and dance.

"This is our song ... we're not gettin' cocky/We're just here ... to rap about hockey." And so they did, to hilarious and charming effect.

"It wasn't supposed to get out," said Gordon, known in the song and still by his close friends today as "Flash." The video was produced before the 1986 Beanpot -- the legendary Boston hockey showdown featuring BC, Boston University, Northeastern and Harvard -- but was supposed to stay under wraps until after the tournament. Oh yeah, also part of the plan was for the Eagles to actually win the Beanpot. They lost to BU, 4-1.

Maybe the hockey gods were just waiting for him to get his first NHL head coaching job. Now 46 years old, Gordon is known for his composure and serious approach. Maybe he's not Tom Landry, but few could picture the Islanders' coach jubilantly performing a split.

Among his BC teammates, including future NHL players Doug Brown and Bob Sweeney ("the one with the 'stache"), Gordon is easily the least rhythm-deficient. The former goalie pulls off the split like he's Fred Astaire.

In what is purely a startling coincidence, Scott is married to a professional dancer and dance instructor. Jennifer Gordon is the founding director of the Northeast Atlanta Dance Center, the Northeast Atlanta Ballet and the Grayson School of Ballet.

"I'll let everyone else judge my dancing," said Scott, "but I guarantee you, I can still do that split today."

Then Gordon added, "The trouble would be getting back up."

(H/T Puck Daddy for the Video)

Islanders Coach Caught! (Rapping and Dancing in 1986 Video) originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Sat, 14 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Amidst the Trade Rumors, Martin Biron Smiles and Stops Pucks

Christopher Botta — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Islanders, NHL Rumors

As if being a goalie in the National Hockey League is not difficult enough. As if 6-3 power forwards standing in front of you on power plays is not enough of a distraction.

From now until the day he is dealt -- and he almost definitely will before the March 3 deadline -- Martin Biron is going to hear his name in trade rumors. This is what happens when you're on a one-year contract at a very reasonable $1.4 million. This is what happens when your team has an established No. 1 goalie (Dwayne Roloson) under contract through 2010-2011 and their best netminder (Rick DiPietro) in the fold for another eleven years. This is also what happens when you're low-maintenance, talented, accomplished and respected.

The Islanders goaltender gets the media thing, the rumor game. He's even done some guest commentating himself for TSN. Most vital of all, the Quebec native is equipped with a sense of humor and perspective.

"I hear the rumors like everyone else that there has been some interest," Biron told FanHouse Monday, "and the way I view it is, heck, that's definitely better than nobody wanting me."

"My first choice would be here, with the Islanders, because they gave me this opportunity when not too many teams were knocking on the door. You want to be in the playoffs. That's where you make your name."
-- Martin Biron on His Uncertain Future The former goalie with Buffalo and Philadelphia knew what he was getting into when he signed the one-year deal with the Islanders on July 22. He led the Flyers to the conference final in the first of two strong seasons in Philadelphia and was in search of a long-term deal when the unrestricted free agent market opened on July 1. When the game of goaltender musical chairs ended, Biron was the one goalie without a place to settle down.

The 32-year-old was grateful when Islanders GM Garth Snow extended the one-year offer with no promises other than a fair chance to battle Roloson for starts. "I was fortunate," said Biron. "There was a point in the summer when I didn't know if I'd have a team. I would have signed up for 25 games in the NHL at that point. We're only a month into this season and I've already played nine. So yes, I'm thankful."

He gets along well with Roloson, a former teammate in Buffalo. He supports DiPietro, who could return to NHL by mid-December. "Of course I'm rooting for Ricky to be fully healthy again," said Biron. "He's a teammate, a friend and a really good goalie." He's optimistic about the Islanders' recent 4-0-2 stretch that has them at .500 (6-6-5) and believing. "Do I think this team will compete for a playoff spot? Yes, I do," said the goalie with the 2.83 GAA and .920 save percentage.

The jovial, glass-is-always-half-full Biron only has one trouble: he dearly misses his family. With the likelihood of only one year on Long Island -- it could last less than six months -- Biron and his wife Anne Marie decided the family should stay in their home in Buffalo. The Birons have three children: a 5-year-old boy, and girls ages 3 and 1. Anne Marie, a Buffalo native with family nearby, is expecting their fourth child.

"We have our home in Buffalo and have not yet sold our house outside Philadelphia," said Biron. "Of course, if I signed somewhere for three or four years, we would have moved together. But with the one-year deal and all the uncertainty, the decision was for our children to stay in Buffalo. I should focus on hockey and do the best I could to help the Islanders win and put myself in position to earn a contract with security -- whether it's here or somewhere else down the line."

Biron knows the best avenue to a long-term deal is as the No. 1 goaltender on a playoff team. While he does not rule out scenarios in which he stays an Islander -- "anything can happen in this business and I really love it here," he says -- he knows teams are watching.

The Detroit Red Wings could make a move for him. Montreal needs help in goal, and Biron was not only raised in Quebec but seems born to be a Canadien. A return to Buffalo -- where he received an enormous ovation when he subbed for Roloson mid-game two weeks ago -- is a possibility. So is Philadelphia. A serious injury to any of the 65-game goalies around the NHL could change everything in an instant. At a pro-rated $1.4 million, Biron is a bargain.

His only wish? "I hope to get to play and play in the playoffs," said Biron, who led the Flyers to a conference final two years ago. "My first choice would be here, with the Islanders, because they gave me this opportunity when not too many teams were knocking on the door. You want to be in the playoffs. That's where you make your name."

For now, he smiles at the daily cracks of "Where's Marty going to go today"? He knows the rumors will likely continue for another three or four months.

"I'm a sports fan, I understand all the talk," said Biron. "I could write a blog about all this."

Amidst the Trade Rumors, Martin Biron Smiles and Stops Pucks originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Islanders' Okposo Diagnosed with H1N1

Christopher Botta — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:20:00 EST

Filed under: Islanders, Eastern

According to team officials, New York Islanders right wing Kyle Okposo has been diagnosed with the H1N1 flu.

The 21-year-old Okposo did not travel accompany the team on its flight on Tuesday afternoon to Washington, where they face the Capitals on Wednesday. The team did not release any further details on Okposo's illness or a timetable for his recovery.

Okposo will likely miss at least the first three games this week on a road trip that also takes them to Carolina on Friday, Florida on Saturday and Boston on Monday. In 17 games this season the 6-0, 200-pound right wing has three goals and seven assists for ten points. He is also widely considered a solid candidate for a spot on the United States Olympic team.

The Islanders also announced that captain Doug Weight has an upper-body injury that will sideline him for 4-6 weeks. The 39-year-old Weight missed action two weeks ago with the swine flu.

Islanders' Okposo Diagnosed with H1N1 originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Islanders vs. Devils Live Blog

Christopher Botta — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Devils, Islanders

The Devils are a perfect 7-0 on the road this year, but a pedestrian 2-4 at The Rock in Newark, where they'll be hosting the Islanders Friday night. After six straight losses to open the season, the Isles have won four out of their last five behind John Tavares, who has four points in that stretch. FanHouse's Christopher Botta is live-blogging the Atlantic Division contest from the time the puck drops at 7 p.m. ET.

&lt;a href="http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php?option=com_mobile&amp;task=viewaltcast&amp;altcast_code=7ac6a3e17c" &gt;New York Islanders at New Jersey Devils&lt;/a&gt;

Islanders vs. Devils Live Blog originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Marian Gaborik Out Against the Islanders

Christopher Botta — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:31:00 EST

Filed under: Islanders, Rangers, NHL Injuries

UNIONDALE, NY -- New York Rangers sniper Marian Gaborik will miss Wednesday night's game against the Islanders. Gaborik suffered what appeared to be a leg injury in the third period of New York's win over Phoenix on Monday at Madison Square Garden.

"He won't be playing tonight," Rangers coach John Tortorella said after Wednesday's morning skate at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. "I'm not going to get into what he has."

Tortorella said Gaborik's injury is not related to the hip, groin and back ailments that forced the All-Star to miss 65 games in 2008-09, his last season with the Minnesota Wild. The coach also said, "I have no idea" when asked when Gaborik will be able to return to the lineup. The Rangers' next game after facing the Islanders is on Friday in Minnesota.

In Gaborik's absence, New York recalled forward P.A. Parenteau from Hartford. The 26-year-old Parenteau leads the American Hockey League with eight goals this season and is tied for first in AHL scoring with 14 points.

Tortorella said the loss of Gaborik, "doesn't change anything." The coach casually said he has to add a player to the Rangers' power play and "other guys get bumped up." He pointed out that "four or five guys" have struggled offensively and this was an opportunity for them to step up. Rangers captain Chris Drury and alternate Ryan Callahan each have two goals and three assists in 12 games. Left wing Christopher Higgins has no goals and two assists in 12 games.

Marian Gaborik Out Against the Islanders originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:31:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Five Steps to a Capitals Comeback

Christopher Botta — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 00:15:00 EST

Filed under: Capitals, Islanders, NHL Press Box

UNIONDALE, NY -- What does a Stanley Cup contender do when nothing is working, their feisty underdog of an opponent is giving them fits and they're down 2-0 with 15 minutes left in the game? To hear the Washington Capitals tell it after coming back to beat the New York Islanders 3-2 on Saturday night, a few things.

More: Cherry Rips Ovechkin Again

Be Aggressive: "The coaching staff told us before the third they wanted all the defensemen rushing the puck and getting it deep," said veteran blueliner Tom Poti. "There shouldn't be any wasted time in the neutral zone."

Defenseman Mike Green scored at 6:02 of the third period to close the gap to 2-1. Although the Islanders out-shot the Capitals 16-8 in the third period, the stat is misleading. While the Islanders had their chances to put the game away, Washington had a significant territorial edge in the final 10 minutes.

Get Angry: The Islanders won most of the one-one-battles through two periods and the game was chippy, with star wing Alexander Ovechkin engaging in personal battles with Andy Sutton, Sean Bergenheim, Jon Sim and Radek Martinek during the game and after whistles. Emotions boiled over when Islanders center Nate Thompson put a penalized knee-on-knee hit on Green, who was hobbled but stayed in the game.

"When Mike scored that goal," said Washington coach Bruce Boudreau, "you could tell how badly he wanted it, how badly he wanted to win. He got mad, like 'What the heck, let's win this game.' He played like he's capable of playing. For me, he was the best defenseman in the league last season."

Pray for Goaltending: A 1-0 Islanders lead after the first period could have been a lot more if the home team finished their chances and Capitals goaltender Jose Theodore didn't make several key stops.

"They really came hard and out-worked us," said Theodore. "As a goalie, especially with the talent we have, you just want to keep it close."

Said Boudreau: "I was thinking on the bench, Jose has played so well for us with not much to show for it. Let's win one for him."

Make Adjustments: Mid-way through the game, Boudreau split up Ovechkin and veteran right wing Mike Knuble. "I didn't see the chemistry," said the coach. "They were fighting the puck. I thought it was best for Knuble and Alex."

Keith Aucoin, just called up from the AHL, scored on a scramble near the crease off Islanders second-year center Josh Bailey to make it 2-2. Assists were credited to Ovechkin and Jeff Schultz.

Never Quit: Less than 10 minutes after scoring the overtime goal to give Washington the win, Capitals center Brooks Laich made it clear that the Islanders gave his team all they had.

"We have a lot of respect for that team," said Laich. "They work hard and are extremely well-coached. Teams talk a lot about working hard, but I don't think you can say that for every team in this league. The Islanders do. There's a reason five of our last seven games against them have gone to overtime."

Laich wasn't aware of the Islanders' recent tendency for blowing third period leads (New York is now 1-0-3 this season when leading after two periods). But he did think the Islanders could be taken.

"On the ice you could see fatigue in their faces in the third when we started carrying the play," said Laich. "They looked a little tired."

Boudreau cited the Islanders having played their third game in four nights, but his pride over his team's comeback out-weighed any disappointment in their disjointed first 30 minutes.

"Any time your team comes back from down 2-0 in the NHL, you're happy," said Boudreau. "It means you never quit."

Five Steps to a Capitals Comeback originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Sun, 25 Oct 2009 00:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Boudreau Defends Fined Ovechkin

Christopher Botta — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 13:45:00 EST

Filed under: Capitals, Islanders, NHL Discipline

UNIONDALE, NY -- Washington Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau came to the defense of Alex Ovechkin on Saturday morning, after the superstar forward was fined $1,000 for his alleged "slew-foot" of Atlanta's Rich Peverley on Thursday.

"It's a dangerous play, so I'm glad the league is looking at those things," said Boudreau. "But I don't think whatever Alex does there is ever with the thought of injury. I don't think anything he does is malicious."

After the Capitals' morning skate on Saturday in preparation for a game on Long Island against the Islanders, Ovechkin seemed both relieved and a bit embarrassed.

On the lack of suspension, Ovechkin said, "It is good I don't miss any games." But on the play and the fine he said, "It is a bad situation for me and I don't look good right now."

After a rare point-less performance in Washington's 5-4 win in Atlanta Thursday, coupled with the league punishment, Ovechkin is primed for the game against the Islanders. For the second straight game he'll be without linemate and master playmaker Alexander Semin, said by Boudreau to be "sick and sore." Semin did not make the trip but skated Saturday at the team's practice facility in Virginia. "He's doing better," reported Boudreau.

Saturday night is the first head-to-head meeting in the NHL between Ovechkin and Islanders' 2009 first overall pick John Tavares. Ovechkin told FanHouse that he has met Tavares once -- at the 2008 World Championships in Quebec City. "He's a great guy," said Ovechkin. "He loves to play hockey -- which is the most important thing."

Tavares returned the compliment from his fellow first overall pick: "He loves the game and he loves to show it. His passion is incredible."

Ovechkin said he hasn't seen Tavares play in the NHL yet, but knows the 19-year-old will be a good player. "He was the first overall pick," said Ovechkin. "He has to be good."

Boudreau Defends Fined Ovechkin originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Sat, 24 Oct 2009 13:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fight of the Week: Pairing Off

Bruce Ciskie — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Avalanche, Flames, Hurricanes, Islanders, Oilers, Wild, NHL Fights, NHL Videos

Every Friday, FanHouse sifts through the rubble and picks the best NHL fight, with the help of HockeyFights.com.

Sometimes, one fight just isn't good enough. Such was the case in Calgary recently, as the Flames and Canucks met for one of six matchups between the division rivals this season. It took just 2:32 for two fights to break out. Even though there were two good scraps going on at once, there was a clear winner for our Fight of the Week honors.

Beatdown of the Week: David Koci vs. Derek Boogaard

Boogaard missed the first few games of the season, and he hasn't had many opportunities to drop the gloves. In fact, this fight with Koci was his first of the season. Needless to say, the Wild fan favorite didn't look very rusty, as he quickly and decisively polished off Koci.

Runner Up: Rick Rypien vs. Zack Stortini

If we measured the quality of a fight simply by counting the number of punches thrown, this one would be a solid candidate for the best fight of the season. However, the problem is that Rypien appeared to throw the vast majority of the punches, and Stortini struggled to get any shots in.

Runner Up: Scott Walker vs. Brendan Witt

Walker is a proven tough guy in this league, and this looked like a bit of a mismatch when it started. The heavily-tattooed Witt held his own, however, and helped turn this into a very entertaining fight. In the end, though, it's hard to argue against this being anything but a decisive win for Walker.

Fight(s) of the Week: Darcy Hordichuk vs. Brian McGrattan/Tanner Glass vs. Brandon Prust

The Prust/Glass fight was pretty solid, but it doesn't hold a candle to McGrattan battling Hordichuk. The two exchanged some solid blows right up to the end, which came when McGrattan absolutely leveled Hordichuk with a right. Prust and Glass got off to a fast start, but it quickly turned into a wrestling match on ice. The linesmen broke it up when they were up against the glass for too long.

Fight of the Week: Pairing Off originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Islanders Notch First Win in Shootout

Christopher Botta — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 23:25:00 EST

Filed under: Hurricanes, Islanders

UNIONDALE, N.Y. -- The New York Islanders joined the ranks of the NHL's teams with victories this season when they went 3-for-3 in the shootout to defeat the Carolina Hurricanes 4-3 on Monday night at Nassau Coliseum.

"It's a relief," said Islanders coach Scott Gordon.

The 0-6-1 Maple Leafs are now the league's only winless team. Toronto's next game is Saturday in Vancouver. The Islanders (1-3-3) play Thursday in Montreal.

Jeff Tambellini, Frans Nielsen and John Tavares scored the three shootout goals for the Islanders against Hurricanes netminder Cam Ward. Dwayne Roloson allowed one to Jussi Jokinen but stopped Sergei Samsonov. Up 2-1 in the shootout, Tavares's goal sealed the second point for the Islanders.

"I wanted to make sure I sold the fake," said Tavares, "and got the puck up and under the crossbar."

The Islanders' first win of the season was not without drama. Leading 3-1 midway through the third period, the Islanders appeared to be riding all the momentum after killing a penalty to Andy Sutton, who looked for revenge after Carolina's Andrew Alberts hit Tavares with an unpenalized late hit. Instead the Islanders' penchant for blowing third period leads continued when Eric Staal scored at 14:01 and Jokinen followed up at 15:03 to tie the game.

"A perfect way to end the game would have been at 3-1," said Sutton. "But I thought we kept our composure and finished the game strong. We've worked hard since the start of the season and have had our share of bad luck. We'll take a win any way we can, and we'll enjoy it and see if we can string a few together."

The Islanders were led in regulation by their high-skilled youngsters like Tavares and Kyle Okposo, but also by gritty and clutch performances by several of their grinders and by Sutton. The 6-6 Sutton, encouraged by head coach Scott Gordon to skate and move the puck despite his reputation as a stay-at-homer, collected a goal and assist.

Sutton's assist came on a first period goal by Matt Moulson, who said the big defenseman "looked like Paul Coffey" on the play. The Islanders took a 3-1 lead on a pair of goals less than a minute apart in the to middle of the second period by fourth-line right wing Tim Jackman (off a nice feed from checking center Nate Thompson) and Sutton, who was fed by unheralded young defenseman Jack Hillen.

With play-making center Frans Nielsen off injured reserve and making his season debut, Gordon was able to roll four effective lines. Still, the Islanders were not able to hold the two-goal lead late in the third period.

"We didn't quit," said Gordon. "The bench was lively. It was more like, 'Let's go get this.' "

Perhaps they just wanted to put the puck on their franchise phenom's stick in the shootout with the game on the line.
"It's great to be part of my first win in the NHL, but it's really special for everybody," said Tavares. "Everyone has given all they have to the team and we've just come up short. Now that we finally have our first win, we have to get on a roll and get into the Eastern Conference picture."

Islanders Notch First Win in Shootout originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 23:25:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2-on-1: Teams Without a Win

Adam Gretz — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Islanders, Maple Leafs

Every Monday during the season, two of our hockey writers will debate one topic. It's the 2-on-1. This week, Adam Gretz and Bruce Ciskie talk about the two teams without a win (the New York Islanders and Toronto Maple Leafs) and end up focusing on what's wrong with the Leafs?

Adam Gretz: OK, Bruce, we have two teams without a win, the Islanders and the Maple Leafs: Which team gets a win first?

Bruce Ciskie: That's easy. Has to be the Islanders. After all, they're too young to understand how bad they are, and therefore are generally still trying most of the time. The Maple Leafs have ridden their outstanding veteran defense to an intolerably bad start, and it looks like their spirit is broken. Plus, the Islanders play two games before Toronto plays again. Yes, I cheated.

Gretz: The Islanders have at least been competitive on most nights. Prior to their game with San Jose, every loss was a one-goal loss, and three of them were in a shootout or overtime. So they've been close.

But, admit it, you didn't expect Toronto to stumble this bad out of the gate, did you? Did anybody? I didn't have them as a playoff team before the season started, but I at least figured the Leafs would hang around in the race for the No. 8 spot. And, granted, they still could, but it hasn't been a very inspiring start, that's for sure.

Ciskie: No way did I expect this. Burke added some guys on the blue line that I figured would make them better defensively, and while I knew they would miss Phil Kessel until he was ready to play, it looked like there was enough talent up front to keep the team competitive until he returned.

Instead, the defense has been terrible, the goaltending is worse, and there hasn't been nearly enough offense. I'm not one to second-guess Brian Burke, but shouldn't he be considering bringing up a forward from the Marlies who can at least present a goal scoring threat? It's nice to have attitude, but it does you no good when no one on your team can score.

Gretz: Obviously, it's still very, very, very, very, very, very early, but the team that has to be laughing the hardest at Toronto's early struggles is the Boston Bruins with that first-round pick (Taylor Hall!) sitting in their possession. I mean, obviously Toronto needs to get Kessel in the lineup, and they could probably get better goaltending from Goldberg of Mighty Ducks fame than what they're getting out of Vesa Toskala and Joey MacDonald, but is the return of Kessel and "The Monster" going to be enough to get this team out of this funk?

That's a lot of pressure on two guys, especially one guy that has two NHL games under his belt.

Ciskie: Unless you think Jiri Tlusty is the answer to solving their offensive problems, you better believe in Kessel.

As for The Monster, well he did look better than either MacDonald or Toskala. Not that I'm saying very much there.

Reality is that neither of these teams look like they're going to be a serious playoff contender. That's not exactly surprising, because we all knew there was still work to be done, but what is really surprising about Toronto is that they just aren't competing consistently. It's the one aspect of this team I thought Burke would be able to fix. So far, no dice, because they look like the same crappy, loafing bunch that he said wouldn't watch again after last year.

Gretz: The thing is, they were a top-10 team in goals scored a year ago, and, on paper anyway, seemed to upgrade their defense. It's just a very confusing team so far. The only positive is they have plenty of time on their side to get this thing back in the right direction (and I still think they will!).

2-on-1: Teams Without a Win originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tavares Scores, Sid Shows How to Win

Christopher Botta — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 23:50:00 EST

Filed under: Islanders, Penguins

UNIONDALE, N.Y. -- The kid didn't even try to act cool.

Immediately after backhanding the puck past Marc-Andre Fleury at 7:01 of the second period for his first NHL goal, John Tavares joyfully pointed toward the hysterical home crowd and jumped into the arms of linemate Matt Moulson. The 2009 first overall pick didn't have to act like he'd been there before. He hadn't.

What a scene.

More Coverage: Islanders Owner Says He'll Listen to Other Cities

This is the way Tavares and the Islanders would have drawn it up if they had the chance. Send a message that the Islanders belong on Long Island. Place the puck near the goalmouth and on the stick of the 19-year old with the golden hands and cherish the delirium that ensues as it sails into the net. Defeat the defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins in front of an overflow crowd ...

(CUE: RECORD SCRATCH SOUND EFFECT)

Okay, so it didn't all wrap up neatly into one big happy ending, like an episode of "Entourage." The Penguins, proving that champions don't take a night off even after raising their banner, came back twice, scored a heartbreaking goal with under four minutes left in regulation and defeated the Islanders 4-3 in a shootout.

Still, in a league where even losing teams can pick up a point in the standings, John Tavares had made his.

"Awesome" was how the 19-year old described the reaction of his teammates and the home fans to his goal. The moment was extra special for Tavares because the first assist came from Moulson, a lifelong family friend from Ontario, and because his mother, father and sister were in the stands. "They sacrificed so much for me to get here," he said.

Tavares carried the right balance of pride in his one-goal, one-assist performance Saturday night and his disappointment at the final result. You get the feeling the last time Tavares will be just happy to be here was his first NHL game. The opening ceremonies and milestones behind him, the 19-year old has plenty of other goals in mind. "I think this franchise is going to continue to build and get better and even this year we might surprise some people," he said. "There is a lot of talent here."

Tavares and the Islanders would be wise to look back on this game as a lesson taught by their masterful opponents. The Penguins raised their Stanley Cup banner during an emotional celebration Friday night in Pittsburgh, then defeated the New York Rangers 3-2 in an often grueling battle. No one would have batted an eye if Penguins head coach Dan Bylsma, after his team landed on Long Island and crawled into their hotel beds early Saturday morning, told his players to simply show up two hours before the faceoff against the Islanders.

Instead, Bylsma and the Penguins were at the Coliseum for the traditional hockey morning skate. Picture the NFL's Adrian Peterson taking a pounding in a big Vikings win over a division rival on Sunday night, then putting the pads on Monday morning for a workout and playing another game that night. This is essentially what Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and the rest of the Penguins did in a 24-hour span.

"They are our young leaders," said Pittsburgh veteran Bill Guerin, captain of the Islanders last season. "They work so hard. What you saw tonight is what great players and leaders do. Our effort was there, but for two periods our execution wasn't. With Sid and Geno leading, we didn't stop working until the final horn."

Crosby had a goal, an assist and the second of two Penguins goals in the shootout, which they won 2-0 to take home the second point. Bylsma's decision to treat the Islanders' game as a serious business trip - "We didn't want a hangover," he said - paid off. The team that should have been drained out-shot the rested-since-April Islanders in the third period, 18-5.

"It wasn't so much the flash and the tic-tac-toe plays," said Bylsma. "It was getting off our knees, fighting for possession, winning pucks. That's what sets the tempo and tonight our leaders set it."

Islanders head coach Scott Gordon was not in much of a mood to herald his opponents as role models in work ethic. He chose to focus on his own team in his post-game briefing, calling the Islanders' need to learn how to win "a process" and saying last year's 30th-place finish "was as low as we can possibly go."

For his part, John Tavares - NHL veteran of one game, recent former fan - tipped his hat to the Penguins for their gritty comeback. "That's why they're the Stanley Cup champions," he said. "We're going to be in a lot of close games like tonight. We can learn from this."

Just watch Crosby and company in the the third period. It's all on the tape.

Tavares Scores, Sid Shows How to Win originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Sat, 03 Oct 2009 23:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Islanders Owner: I'll Listen to Other Cities

Christopher Botta — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 18:43:00 EST

Filed under: Islanders

UNIONDALE, N.Y. -- With his deadline for politicians to give him certainty on the Lighthouse Project about to pass, Islanders owner Charles Wang announced Saturday night that he is exploring options for his New York Islanders.

Saying he is "angry," disappointed" and "disgusted," the Islanders owner revealed that for the first time he is faced with the reality of the Islanders leaving Nassau County. "And that is very sad," he said.

"I asked (Kate Murray) to keep it confidential, so we're not going back and forth in public. I picked up the newspaper today and there it was." Wang shared his discontent and plans in a media briefing just prior to the Islanders' season opener at home against Pittsburgh. Dropping the puck in a ceremonial faceoff is Tom Suozzi, the Nassau County Executive who has led the Lighthouse Project to county approval with its developers, Wang and Scott Rechler. However, it is the Town of Hempstead that Wang blames for stalling the progress of the transformation of the Coliseum and surrounding property.

The Islanders owner was even bitter about Town of Hempstead Supervisor Kate Murray's decision to share the details of a recent conversation with him with Newsday, the Long Island newspaper. "I asked her to keep it confidential," he said, "so we're not going back and forth in public. I picked up the newspaper today and there it was."

So now Wang is open to courtships from outside municipalities, refusing to name possible sites. (FanHouse has reported that at least six cities are interested in bringing in the Islanders, including Queens and Brooklyn). Asked if he would prioritize a meeting with the Town of Hempstead or an outside suitor, Wang said, "There's time to do both. Enjoy the journey."

But he will listen. "It's not what I want," said Wang. "But it's not like they are giving me many choices."

Islanders Owner: I'll Listen to Other Cities originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Sat, 03 Oct 2009 18:43:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Welcome to the NHL, John Tavares. Here's Sidney Crosby.

Christopher Botta — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Islanders, Penguins, NHL Press Box

UNIONDALE, N.Y. -- When the NHL schedule was released in July, John Tavares could not help but notice the opponent for his National Hockey League debut. Not looking to break in the 2009 first overall pick easily, the hockey gods matched up his Islanders with the defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins.

"Sure, I noticed it," Tavares said with a smile Saturday after the Islanders' morning skate at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. "It doesn't make it any easier, that's for sure. This is going to be quite a challenge, but I'm excited for it."

On the other side of the faceoff dot Saturday night will be Sidney Crosby, former Canadian junior sensation turned international hockey icon at the ripe age of 22. While the expectations for Tavares are not quite in the stratosphere as the ones Crosby faced -- and has already matched -- the Islanders' center is facing a role model tonight.

"You watch the way he has handled things, the way he plays," Tavares said of Crosby, "and you learn from it. His influence is big on me."

Crosby remembers his NHL debut four years ago, a loss in New Jersey. "My first shift, I had a really good scoring chance and missed," he recalled today after the Penguins' workout. "I skated back to the bench and thought, 'It could be worse.' We lost the game, but I'll remember the experience forever." His advice for Tavares? "Enjoy it. Your NHL career is not going to be judged on this one game."

The curtain opens on Tavares' career tonight as the Islanders attempt to keep those expectations at a reasonable level. "You have to understand he's 19," said coach Scott Gordon. "We have to let John grow into a superstar. We don't want to give him the burden of saving the franchise."

The young center will play tonight on a line with potential star right wing Kyle Okposo and former Kings farmhand Matt Moulson to his left. But you could not blame Tavares for looking straight ahead a few times. In Crosby, Tavares can see what it's like to have the weight of the league and a town on your shoulders, and carry it with excellence and grace.

Penguins' Projected Lineup
Forwards
Matt Cooke - Jordan Staal - Tyler Kennedy
Chris Kunitz - Sidney Crosby - Bill Guerin
Ruslan Fedotenko - Evgeni Malkin - Pascal Dupuis
Mike Rupp - Craig Adams - Eric Godard
Defensemen
Brooks Orpik - Sergei Gonchar
Mark Eaton - Kris Letang
Jay McKee - Alex Goligoski
Goalies
Marc-Andre Fleury
(Brent Johnson)

Islanders' Projected Lineup
Forwards
Matt Moulson - John Tavares - Kyle Okposo
Jon Sim - Josh Bailey - Trent Hunter
Jeff Tambellini - Richard Park - Sean Bergenheim
Joel Rechlicz - Nate Thompson - Tim Jackman
Defensemen
Mark Streit - Bruno Gervais
Brendan Witt - Radek Martinek
Freddy Meyer - Andy Sutton
Goalies
Dwayne Roloson
(Martin Biron)

Game Notes: Pittsburgh's scratches will likely be W Chris Bourque and D Martin Skoula ... Max Talbot (offseason shoulder surgery) is not expected to return to the lineup for two months. Alex Goligoski, an offensive defenseman prospect on the verge of a breakout, was arguably the Penguins' best defenseman throughout training camp and had two points in the team's 3-2 win in their home opener against the Rangers on Friday night.

Islanders scratches are forwards Doug Weight, Rob Schremp, Blake Comeau and defenseman Jack Hillen. Weight, named captain on Thursday, is coming back from a groin injury and Gordon does not want to push the veteran back too soon. The Islanders' second game of the season is not until Thursday in Ottawa. Dwayne Roloson gets the start in goal.

Welcome to the NHL, John Tavares. Here's Sidney Crosby. originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Sat, 03 Oct 2009 13:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The John Tavares Handbook

Christopher Botta — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Islanders, FanHouse Exclusive

John Tavares is serious. As he prepares to make his NHL debut on Saturday night when the Islanders host Pittsburgh, the 2009 first overall pick has reminded observers of Derek Jeter in his approach. Everything is about team. Nothing is about him. Tavares is friendly and hospitable but he isn't going to post on Twitter or fill a reporter's notebook. In other words, Tavares has been a coach's dream -- which is what a 19-year-old who hasn't played a game in the NHL should be.

Without dazzling quotes from the young man himself, FanHouse spoke with several people around Tavares and the NHL to talk about the player and his highly-anticipated rookie season. We'll check in with Tavares, too.

NHL FanHouse Season Preview:
Season Predictions | Other Predictions
Hot Seat Coaches | Coaches in Waiting
Ray Shero Discusses Life After the Stanley Cup
The John Tavares Handbook

The Head Coach -- Scott Gordon

"When we drafted John, I broke down nine of his games from last season in the Ontario League. There was a lot of skepticism about his ability away from the offensive zone. To be honest with you, I looked and looked and didn't see a lot of evidence of that. He was very reliable. His instincts in the 'D' zone were strong.

In our preseason games so far, I've counted all of two defensive errors. One was a turnover that he recognized before we addressed it. The other was a mis-read on coverage. I'm very pleased with his all-around play.

Now that I've watched him every day for more than two weeks, the thing that jumps out at me is how hard he is to knock off the puck. I've seen some of our big guys try to move him and John just doesn't budge. His competitiveness is equaled by his ability around the net. There just aren't many players around who can do what he can in the offensive zone.

I know there will be a lot of talk about numbers for John, but for me the statistics -- especially in the first half -- are secondary. I want to see him progressing as a hockey player every week. If he does, and as a team we do our jobs, John is going to be fine."

******

The Agent -- Pat Brisson

"John is only focused on his NHL career. After he was drafted, I sat down with (GM) Garth Snow and later on I met with some of their PR and marketing people. Everyone is on the same page. The only thing that is important is John's development on the ice. Garth has a strong grasp of this and has been very supportive. The franchise has been outstanding to deal with.

"Never mind 19-year-olds; I don't see many 30-year-olds with the skills John has. As his career continues, his development is going to come down to his will to be the best player night in and night out. ... This is something I know John understands." -- Martin Biron Of course, there are going to be opportunities for John. He has endorsement deals with CCM and Reebok. I know the Islanders were working on a merchandising deal where fans could take their tickets from opening night and the team will insert the ticket into different kinds of collectible collages based around John's NHL debut. All of that stuff is nice. Nothing wrong with that.

John has taken part in some media training with a company I work with at CAA called Game On. John had a session in Los Angeles and another one with (Colorado third overall pick) Matt Duchene. The training is about spreading the right messages and being comfortable. From everything I've seen so far, John has done well with the press demands. He understands the importance of the coverage.

The way I approach it, my job is not just about negotiating contracts. It's on me to have John in a position where he is able to perform at his best. By working with the Islanders, I believe we have done that so far and I'm excited to see John get started in the NHL."

******

The Cagey Teammate -- Martin Biron

"I was watching John on the power play at practice today and noticed his stance along the half-wall. He had his head up and stick rockered on the ice. The way he was positioned reminded me of Alexei Kovalev. I said to a few of the guys, 'Hey, doesn't he kind of look like Kovy on the power play?' Ah, maybe it's just me.

What you want to see from John is a progression. His goals will come. There isn't even any question about that. The key for him is starting at a level and then by the end of the season playing at a much higher level. From what I see of his work ethic and commitment at practice, he's going to get better and better.

I have to tell you, I didn't know Tavares at all when we first got to training camp in Saskatoon. But I've spent a lot of time around him the last few weeks, and he's just a tremendous guy. Not just as his teammate and friend but as a hockey fan, I'm excited to watch him this season.

Early on, John is going to stand out because of his talent. Never mind 19-year-olds; I don't see many 30-year-olds with the skills John has. As his career continues, his development is going to come down to his will to be the best player night in and night out. Look at Crosby and Ovechkin. They are unbelievable talents, but what separates them and Malkin from the pack is their heart and soul. This is something I know John understands."

******

The Goal Scoring Legend-in-Residence -- Mike Bossy

"John possesses three elements that will help him to succeed in the National Hockey League: vision, talent and desire.

When you're forecasting a hockey season, there are so many unknowns. The biggest, of course, is injuries. You hope John stays healthy, and you hope the players Scott Gordon has planned to be on his line or with him on the power play stay healthy because you want that continuity.

I believe John has too much talent to not score at least 25 goals in his rookie season."

******

The Stanley Cup-winning Analyst -- Peter Laviolette

"I would think 15-20 goals would be a reasonable amount for a first-year player like Tavares, who's known as a goal-scorer. If you want an exact number, put me down for 18 goals.

It's difficult for young players to come in and play against men and experience the same success they did in junior or college. Eric Staal scored 11 goals his first year in the NHL in 81 games. In the AHL during the lockout, Eric's numbers increased and his confidence started to grow. It was in his third year of pro that he blossomed in the NHL with 45 goals and 100 points. He learned about the league and how to compete and be successful. He became stronger physically and played a more important role because of his experience. He went from fourth-line minutes to first-line minutes with power play.

Growth and maturity bring success. It is more difficult, although not impossible to be a goal-scoring impact player as a rookie. John will score a lot of goals in this league and maybe he does it this year, but history says there will be a learning curve."

******

The Celebrity Friend and Fan -- Kevin ("E") Connolly of Entourage

"When John came to Los Angeles over the summer, we went out to lunch. I'm friends with his agent, and he set it up. John's an impressive young guy. I was raised on Long Island so I was telling him stuff like, 'You should really check out this place,' but I had to remind myself the guy is only 19 during training camp. He can't get into some of the places I suggested.

You can tell he's mature, ready to handle whatever's ahead. He's already been a big deal in Canada. He's prepared for stardom. I'm really excited about him being on our team for a long time. I'm coming back to the Island for his NHL debut on Saturday."

******

The Press Box Predictions

Pierre McGuire, TSN, NBC and SI: "John's going to do very well in his rookie season. I have no doubt about it at all. He will score more than 20 goals."

Billy Jaffe, Islanders and VERSUS color commentator: "Twenty-four goals is my number for John Tavares. I'm very impressed by his work ethic and his dedication to improve at this level. Inside the blueline, he is phenomenal."

Greg Wyshynski, Puck Daddy editor: "I'm not convinced yet that Tavares will be one of those rookies that makes an immediate impact without a solid push from his linemates, a.k.a. someone who 'makes his linemates better.' So Tavares's success will be predicated on the play of guys like Sean Bergenheim and (my fantasy team-willing) Kyle Okposo. Point prediction? Based on past No. 1s, less than Sidney (102) but more than Patrick Kane (72). I'd say in the 80-point range."

Jim "Boomer" Gordon, NHL Home Ice mid-day host: "The forecast is gloomy. I have always felt that Tavares was overrated in junior, and I believe he will struggle in his first season on the Island. Steven Stamkos had around 23 goals and 46 points in his first season and I think Tavares will struggle to match that target. Seventeen goals and 36 points is my uneducated guess."

******

The Young Man of the Hour -- John Tavares

"My season is going to be judged by how much team success we have. That's all that matters. There are a lot of areas of my game that I have to work on if I'm going to be effective at the NHL level. I'm going to need guidance from the coaches and leadership from my teammates. We will grow together.

The coaches have been great to work with, giving me extra time and instruction on the ice and breaking down video with me. We look at the positives and the negatives. This is a new system for me. Most of the guys know it from last year. I'm getting there, but I'm sure there will be some bumps along the way. The key for me will be putting any slumps or frustrating times behind me. I know there will be tough stretches, so I'm prepared to deal with them and focus on doing my best in the next game.

I understand people are going to make predictions. That's one of the fun things about sports. I'm a sports fan, too. It's just not my place to make one about myself. The truth is, I've never set personal goals for points or anything like that. If you do, you're setting limits."

The John Tavares Handbook originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Tue, 29 Sep 2009 12:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Weight Makes Tavares Feel at Home

Christopher Botta — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: Islanders, FanHouse Exclusive

Doug Weight, his wife Allison and their three children live on the North Shore of Long Island. For the next month or so, the NHL veteran and his family will be joined in their house by a teenager: 2009 first overall pick John Tavares.

"They've made me feel right at home," said Tavares. "Some home-cooked meals, a nice family to be with. It really was a kind gesture by Doug and his wife."

Weight roomed with Tavares when the Islanders spent the first 10 days of training camp in Saskatoon. The 38-year-old Weight and 19-year-old Tavares struck a friendship almost immediately. When Weight heard that his young teammate was delayed from moving into the place he rented, he got the green light from Allison and extended the invitation.

The veteran center also remembered the leadership he received as a young player with the Oilers. This was a chance to pay it forward.

"Kelly Buchberger and his family took me into their home in Edmonton when I started there," said Weight. "Their kindness had a big impact on me and helped me with being able to focus on the game. Kelly was so good to me, I stayed the entire season. Every month I'd tell him, 'No really, I'm looking for a place. I'll be out of here any day now.' The truth was, I didn't want to go anywhere else."

Weight was very happy when Tavares accepted his offer. "You never know how a young man like John is going to react," said Weight. "I didn't want him to move in just because he thought it might hurt our feelings if he said no. But when I asked him at the end of camp in Saskatoon, he was genuinely excited about it. I don't think he wanted to stay in a hotel during his first month in the NHL. He was so appreciative. That made me feel good."

So on Thursday night, the teammates picked up Weight's children at their after-school activities and went home to grill some steaks. "A night like that, just relaxing with friends and having a great meal, I can't thank Doug and his family enough," said Tavares. Said Weight, "John's a big part of our franchise, but he's just a terrific, humble kid. Allison and I want him to feel comfortable. And besides, my kids love having John around."

Hmmm ... is it possible the cagey veteran has an ulterior motive?

"Well," said Weight with a laugh, "John doesn't know this yet, but he's going to be doing some babysitting. There's also a lot of youth hockey and soccer practices he'll need to be at."

Weight Makes Tavares Feel at Home originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Fri, 25 Sep 2009 16:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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No Farewell Tour for Brendan Shanahan

Christopher Botta — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 22:02:00 EST

Filed under: Devils, Islanders, FanHouse Exclusive

UNIONDALE, N.Y. -- There won't be a final season tour for Brendan Shanahan. "I don't think I'd get any pre-game flowers from the other team," he said.

There won't be any premature announcements of retirement. "I don't think that's a good idea," said Shanahan with a smile. "You don't ever want to un-retire."

And you won't see the 22-year veteran purposefully avoiding the rigors of training camp. "Nah. Camp is hard for all the players, but it's helpful."

Shanahan, one of 12 players in NHL history to play more than 1,500 games, does not know when his last season will be. He politely declined a request from FanHouse to declare whether 2009-10 would be his final NHL season.

"I honestly don't know either way," the right wing said before his New Jersey Devils played a preseason game against the Islanders on Wednesday. "It could be my last season, but I could also play a few more years."

"You get in trouble when you're chirping all the time. It doesn't work if you always have something to say."The 40-year-old Shanahan has signed one-year contracts each season since the lockout of '03-04. This has been by design.

"I've had two-year offers, but I've preferred to go one season at a time at this stage of my career," he said. "The way the CBA works, teams have some cap flexibility signing players older than 35. For me, earning a contract year after year is motivating. Plus, if the season goes poorly for me or the team is not happy, you're not locked into a second year."

After joining the Devils -- the franchise that drafted him second overall in 1987 -- as a free agent for the second half of last season, Shanahan's first choice was to return to New Jersey for season 22. His teammates were happy to receive a full year of education from one of the top leaders of this generation.

"Brendan's been in every situation in the league and he knows how to handle them," said Devils fourth-year center Travis Zajac. "The thing he does best is keep everyone calm when we're getting too high or too low. He's not a loud or talkative guy. He really picks his spots when he says something in the room or to you individually. So when he has something to say, everyone listens."

Shanahan almost bristles at the concept of locker room loudmouths. "You get in trouble when you're chirping all the time," he said. "It doesn't work if you always have something to say." With Jamie Langenbrunner returning as captain and a roster with veterans such as Martin Brodeur, Brian Rolston, Colin White and Patrik Elias, the Devils do not lack for leadership. "You don't have to play a long time to be a leader," Shanahan said. "We have a room full of guys who are natural leaders."

Zajac, with 51 goals over his first three NHL seasons, said he marvels at Shanahan's approach at the rink. "Here's a guy who has over 650 NHL goals and he's out there every day working on his shot," said Zajak. "As a guy who wants to score more, I watch him at work. He has that incredible release, but he seems to do something different with every shot. He still has it."

Whether Shanahan will be sniping beyond this year is anyone's guess, especially his. "I'll know at the end of whenever my final season is -- not the beginning of the next one," said Shanahan, who lives in Manhattan. "It will be a gut instinct. It will come down to love of the game and whether I'm confident I can play at a level that's more than acceptable for me."

ETC: The Devils defeated the Islanders 4-2. Yann Danis made 20 saves for New Jersey, Martin Biron 27 for New York. There were approximately 4,000 fans in attendance for the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum debut of 2009 first overall pick John Tavares, who had one assist on a goal by Matt Moulson. Announced attendance was 8,256.

Islanders RW Trent Hunter suffered a strained pectoral muscle in the team's preseason game in Kansas City on Tuesday night and is listed by the team as day-to-day. Forwards Doug Weight and Sean Bergenheim are out with groin strains and have begun skating with the hope of returning to practice by next week. Devils C Patrik Elias underwent what the team termed "minor" groin surgery last week and is expected to be sidelined anywhere from 3-6 weeks.

The Islanders have yet to release a prognosis on the health of second-year RW Kyle Okposo, who suffered a concussion after a crushing center-ice check by Calgary's Dion Phaneuf in a preseason game last Thursday. On Monday, Okposo -- possibly on the verge of his breakout season -- returned to New York from the team's training camp in Saskatoon.

FanHouse asked Brendan Shanahan, who suffered a concussion in February of 2007 in a collision with the Flyers' Mike Knuble, for his advice to Okposo. "Thankfully, I've had just one in my career, but it was a serious one," said Shanahan. "The key thing I'd tell him is, when you think you're ready, you're probably not. I was cleared to play and I felt like I could play. But each week after I came back I'd think, 'Wow. I feel much better than I did last week.' Maybe I shouldn't have come back when I did. After the concussion, I had vertigo for a month. It is a serious, serious injury. You have to take your time with it."

No Farewell Tour for Brendan Shanahan originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Wed, 23 Sep 2009 22:02:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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