Group: 40-Man Roster
Posts: 13,107
Joined: 22-February 06
From: Long Island
Member No.: 21
Favorite Sport: NHL
The Rivalry Continues
New York Islanders @ New York Rangers
Madison Square Garden
QUOTE
Islanders and Rangers face off in heated home-and-home series; Smith named AHL Rookie of the Month – Islanders at Rangers; 7 pm, TV: FSN NY 2, Radio: Bloomberg 1130
The NHL schedule makers created an interesting scenario between New York's bitter rivals this season. Following four meetings between the Islanders and Rangers in the first two months of the season, their next meeting wasn't scheduled until over two months later. That time has now come.
This week is gearing up to have intense and exciting battles at both Madison Square Garden on Tuesday and the Nassau Coliseum on Thursday.
"We talk about emotion," said head coach Ted Nolan following practice at Iceworks on Monday. "It's always there for the Rangers-Islanders games. You could play them on a Sunday afternoon in mid-June and the excitement would be there. It's a big week for us. We have the Rangers back-to-back and then Philly on Saturday, but we can't focus on too much more than one game."
Looking at the remainder of the schedule, 11 of the final 15 regular season games are against Division rivals – Rangers (4), Philadelphia (3), New Jersey (2), Pittsburgh (2).
The Islanders will meet the Rangers for the fifth time this season on Tuesday. In their previous four meetings, the Islanders hold a 3-1-0 advantage. Since taking over as head coach of the Islanders last season, Nolan's Islanders are 8-2-2 in 12 games.
"I don't know what it is," said Nolan, when asked about his success against the Rangers. "Maybe against the Rangers we've gotten the breaks at the right time. This game is about work and creating opportunities. And it's about luck. I believe the harder you work the luckier you get, so we have to continue to work and hopefully we'll get some lucky breaks.
CONGRATULATIONS TREVOR SMITH!
Trevor Smith Forward Trevor Smith, who signed with the Islanders organization on April 2, 2007 was named the American Hockey League's Rookie of the Month for February.
Smith has found his niche with Bridgeport after being sent to the Islanders' ECHL affiliate in Utah for much of the first half of the season. His 25 points in Utah's 22 games earned him a spot on the ECHL All-Star roster. Just prior to the All-Star Game, Smith was recalled to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, the Islanders' AHL affiliate.
Smith tallied eight goals and seven assists for 15 points in 13 games for the Sound Tigers last month. In 36 games with Bridgeport, Smith has recorded 11 goals and 11 assists for 22 points, placing him fourth on the team in goals. With Blake Comeau, Jeff Tambellini, Frans Nielsen and Jeremy Colliton recalled by the Islanders, Smith has take on a greater responsibility with the Sound Tigers.
BRUNO'S STATUS
Defenseman Bruno Gervais left Sunday's game with a thigh contusion and concussion following a heavy hit at center ice. He will be out Tuesday against the Rangers and is listed as day-to-day.
With Gervais out, Aaron Johnson will be back in the lineup tomorrow against the Rangers after missing the past two games as a healthy scratch.
NOLAN REFLECTS ON THE CORE OF THE FOUR
"It was great to see all of those guys like Clark Gillies, John Tonelli and Denis Potvin hoisting the Cup," said Nolan. "You can sit down and listen to these guys for hours. You can hear the stories a thousand times because they're entertaining and fun. That's when the game is just pure. Those guys were from a whole different generation. You can see why they're Stanley Cup Champions."
Chris King and Steve Mears have the call on Bloomberg 1130, while Howie Rose and Billy Jaffe can be seen Tuesday on FSN NY 2.
Project NYI Lineup Hilbert-Comrie-Dollar Bill Bergenheim-Vasicek-Satan Tank-Park-Hunter Comeau-Neilsen-Tambellini
Witt-Marty Meyer-Berard Johnson-Big Rob
DP
I am so siked for a Ranger-Isles game. It's been forever since one, so I decided to put up a GDT for one. Since we don't have that puke Simon, who will defend us from that even bigger puke Sean Avery.
Screw draft position, I just can't root for the Rag$. Go Isle....even if we can't make the playoffs, let's make it difficult for those Rag$ to.
Discuss the game here
I'll be there to support my boys when they play the Rangers next time at the NVMC
This post has been edited by milburyruinedmylife: Mar 3 2008, 06:29 PM
"Tyree, a fifth-year player out of Syracuse, missed the regular-season opener with a fractured wrist and played predominantly on special teams. He finished the regular season with four catches (for zero touchdowns) and added a single catch in the three previous playoff games. He also lost his mother during the season.
'It's been a difficult season,' Tyree said. 'Most people wouldn't understand.'
'My opportunities are too far and few to let that one go. It was supernatural, you know? Some things just don't make sense, and that catch is a good example.'"
"Tyree, a fifth-year player out of Syracuse, missed the regular-season opener with a fractured wrist and played predominantly on special teams. He finished the regular season with four catches (for zero touchdowns) and added a single catch in the three previous playoff games. He also lost his mother during the season.
'It's been a difficult season,' Tyree said. 'Most people wouldn't understand.'
'My opportunities are too far and few to let that one go. It was supernatural, you know? Some things just don't make sense, and that catch is a good example.'"
well, the game is over and this gamethread was still disregarded by pretty much everyone except you LOL
at least the islanders won for him
--------------------
"Tyree, a fifth-year player out of Syracuse, missed the regular-season opener with a fractured wrist and played predominantly on special teams. He finished the regular season with four catches (for zero touchdowns) and added a single catch in the three previous playoff games. He also lost his mother during the season.
'It's been a difficult season,' Tyree said. 'Most people wouldn't understand.'
'My opportunities are too far and few to let that one go. It was supernatural, you know? Some things just don't make sense, and that catch is a good example.'"
GDT NY Islanders at NY Rangers--Tuesday March 4th 7PM, MSG/FSNY--R. DiPietro at H. Lundqvist
Mar 3 2008, 06:27 PM
