Islander News Articles 11/4: LaFontaine Coverage Included

http://www.newyorkislanders.com/gameday/postgame110303.html

Isles Break The Streak, Beat Sens
Islanders 6, Ottawa 3
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http://www.newsday.com/sports/hockey/islanders/ny-isles043525297nov04,0,6775628.story?coll=ny-islanders-headlines

Finally, It's Over: Isles end home winless streak vs. Sens

Kvasha, who earlier this week swore off post-goal celebrations, pumped his fist after this one.

Ottawa coach Jacques Martin might have wanted to shake his fist at his uncharacteristically sloppy team, which is winless in three (0-2-1). "They're a good hockey club," Martin said of the Islanders. "You can't give them freebies."

"We finished the game strong, which is what good teams do," Yashin said. "We have to build this mentality."
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http://www.newsday.com/sports/hockey/rangers/ny-hall043525294nov04,0,6695157.story?coll=ny-islanders-headlines

Hall of Fame induction for LaFontaine puts . . . Icing on His Career
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http://www.newsday.com/sports/hockey/ny-nhlpowerrankings,0,1593968.htmlstory?coll=ny-islanders-utility

A look at the NHL, from top to bottom, by Newsday's Alan Hahn and Arthur Staple.

Islanders 12th from 6th: 5-3-2-0
The best team no one wants to see, considering their home attendance. The worst team to predict, considering their maddening inconsistency. This group on a given night goes through more personality changes than Robin Williams.
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http://www.newsday.com/sports/hockey/ny-stat043525245nov04,0,3824041.story?coll=ny-hockey-headlines

Stat of the Day

Empty Nets

Through Sunday, there were 17 goaltenders with goals-against averages below 2.00, including the Islanders' Rick DiPietro and the Rangers' Mike Dunham. Those with five or more games played:
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http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/hockey/story/133627p-119139c.html

Yashin & Isles pay back Sens

Instead of adding to that negative history, though, the Isles responded with what Stirling called "our best third period of the season" to complete a rousingly entertaining 6-3 decision in front of a vocal weeknight crowd of 10,957 at Nassau Coliseum.

RW Mattias Weinhandl (ankle surgery) has resumed skating at Bridgeport and could be cleared for game action next week. ...
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http://www.nypost.com/sports/islanders/42269.htm

SENS CAST FROM COLISEUM

Trent Hunter, the league's top-scoring rookie with four goals, got the Islanders even at 1-1 when he uncorked a slap shot from the right point late in the first period. He has five points in the last four games he's dressed, while Mariusz Czerkawski scored again, putting him on a pace to score 67 goals this year.

"It was a great challenge today," Yashin said.

* Arron Asham is day-to-day with a strained neck . . . Jason Blake (knee sprain) left the game in the first following a rubout by Alfredsson, and will be re-evaluated today.
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http://www.nytimes.com/2003/11/04/sports/hockey/04FAME.html

Hall of Fame Welcomes LaFontaine and Fuhr
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http://www.nytimes.com/2003/11/04/sports/hockey/04ISLE.html

ISLANDERS 6, SENATORS 3
Islanders Finally Make the Senators Feel Unwelcome
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http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/OttawaSun/Sports/2003/11/04/245985.html

A forgettable Island trip
Error-prone Senators run out of luck vs. Isles

''Before, we hadn't beaten ourselves. We did (last night),'' said Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson. ''We made a lot of individual mistakes. That's what cost us.
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http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/OttawaSun/Sports/2003/11/04/245986.html

Game Story
Islanders 6, Senators 3 HOW THEY SCORED:

IT LOOKED LIKE THEY DIDN'T KNOW: Former Isles great Pat Lafontaine and former Isles assistant coach Brian Kilrea were inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame last night. And there was nary a mention of it at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum -- until about nine minutes remained in the game, that is.

A KNOCKOUT HIT: Playing the point on the power play, Alfredsson looked a little like Denis Potvin the way he crushed Jason Blake into the boards on a first-period break. Blake, the Isles second-leading scorer last season, left the game with a sprained knee.
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http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/OttawaSun/Sports/2003/11/04/245987.html

All good things come to end for Bonk

Hours later, Islanders hotshot Rick DiPietro did something no other goalie has done this season.

He kept Bonk off the scoreboard.
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http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/OttawaSun/Sports/2003/11/04/245989.html

LaFontaine 'the luckiest guy'
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http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/OttawaSun/Sports/2003/11/04/245990.html

'Nothing better'
Kilrea savours hockey's highest honour

For all but two of his now 30 years in coaching, Kilrea has been with the 67's (he spent one year as only the general manager of the 67's). He spent two years (1984-86) as an assistant with the New York Islanders.
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http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/OttawaSun/Sports/2003/11/04/245983.html

Isle right at home
Ex-Hab Czerkawski rediscovers scoring touch

"I never wanted to leave here in the first place," said Czerkawski, who averaged 24 goals in five seasons with the Islanders before he was traded to the Habs in the summer of 2002 for Arron Asham and a draft pick. "I'm very glad to be back. I've had the opportunity to play with some good hockey players, with Oleg (Kvasha) and (Alexei) Yashin, and to get some ice time.
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http://www.canada.com/ottawa/ottawacitizen/news/sports/story.html?id=8cefd47e-0934-4ac5-8760-631bb0f912fd

Fantasy on Island comes to an end
Senators' first loss in Islanders' arena since 1996; Islanders 6, Senators 3
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http://www.canada.com/ottawa/ottawacitizen/news/sports/story.html?id=a4a38f52-6a5a-47d9-90ce-1a25bb0a02f7

Czerkawski revels in quick start

Three New York and three Ottawa reporters were at Mariusz Czerkawski's dressing room stall following yesterday morning's practice.

A TV crew from Czerkawski's native Poland was also on hand. Then came pesky Islanders left-winger Jason Blake with his own video camera, saying, "I just want to be part of Mariusz Czerkawski media day, too."

"If someone told me I would have three goals after 10 games, I would have taken it, but I'm not apologizing for having eight goals. I've had some opportunities, some lucky bounces off skates. I know it's a long season."
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http://www.canada.com/ottawa/ottawacitizen/news/sports/story.html?id=8843c913-e8dc-4e44-92ab-a8e6f4c2f0dd

Hockey Notes
Being No. 2 Just Fine With Yashin

Hahn writes with emotion:

"Meanwhile, Yashin put it away on the Islanders' second power play. He one-timed a shot off the far post at 15:58 to make it 5-3."

how about, in the past two games Yashin has gotten the most critical goals to preserving a win: ANA 3-1; OTT 5-3. both games he got that extra goal that the Isles never got last year and allowed teams to get back in by tying it up.

and that was not a just a 'one-timed a shot' Alan, that was a laser that hit the top right post that left Lalime helpless to defend against it.

give credit where it is due...since you spend all of last season criticizing him!!!! oh, except that 'how he prepares his stick for a game' piece...

"Islanders forward Jason Blake suffered a knee sprain as a result of a first-period hit from Daniel Alfredsson."

Blake was TACKLED last night...