Official GameThread: Dallas vs Islanders

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

Shoot-Out with the Stars (7:00 p.m.)
Dallas Stars at Islanders (FSNY, ESPN Radio 1050 AM)

The Stars are one of just three Western teams the Isles will see twice in the regular season. The two teams will meet again, in Dallas, on Feb. 11, to wrap up the season series.
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http://www.newyorkislanders.com/gameday/insider.html

The Insider: The Book on the Stars
Dallas Stars vs. Islanders
7:00 p.m., November 6 @ Nassau Coliseum

Jere Lehtinen, is currently out with back spasms.

Last Time Out
The Stars are in the midst of a three-game Northeast corridor tour, which started Tuesday night at the Garden where they were blanked by the Rangers, 3-0. Dallas failed to capitalize on three powerplay chances, and were stopped on all 33 of their shots, including 17 in the third, when they out-shot New York by 14. Turco stopped 15 of 17 shots faced.
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http://www.newyorkislanders.com/gameday/scoop.html

The Scoop on the... Dallas Stars

Not going to be easy. Dallas is a good team that was on a roll before the Rangers, but that was their third in four nights after traveling.

Last year when these teams played Ozzie literally stole the two points as Dallas was taking target practice when Laviolette took a timeout just to stop the onslaught which produced close to 50 shots against and most of them were quality chances.

Somehow the Isles scored a few opportunistic goals on the few shots they had and got the win but the game was a total mismatch as Bates had a shorthanded goal and Manlow had a goal.

Both teams are a little different now. Most of the East is getting their points, Atlanta scored seven goals vs Buffalo.

No such thing as an off-night.

Who is getting the start today for the Islanders?

I think teams like OTT and DAL are a good challenge for NYI. They built some confidence and played pretty well after the 1st ten games. If the NYI want to prove to the rest of the NHL that they are a solid team taking the leap to the next level, beating the upper echelon teams (or competing well against them) will get attention...

who plays net tonight? Ricky v. Marty?? that would give Snow a start on Sat v. ATL.

I expect a open game tonight. emphasis will be on the speed in the lineup to make plays...

NYI 4-1 DAL..

Though keep an eye on the Morrow - Arnott - Guerin line and the Boucher - Matvichuk pairing, they are carrieng this team more then anyone. Former Isle Pierre Turgeon is playing pretty solid too.

Still.. Stars suck balls right now..

Like Ottawa, this will be another test for the Isles. the Isles have had recent success against Dallas at home, but what's in the past is in the past. We'll see what happens...

~TL

Is Godard playing tonight? He hasn't pounded anyone lately so he should be good to get in a fight or two tonight.....if he plays. I'd think Erskine would go with him and Downey,if he plays.

Let's hope they aren't overconfident after their big win over the Sens.They should look at this game as another big challenge.

With the injuries among the forwards,these next few weeks are a good chance for the isles youngsters to step up and make the coaches take notice.

Isles need to get some offensive production from Peca(1 goal) and Parrish(3 goals I think.2 in one game).

Just hope Isles don't suffer "Rag$ hangover syndrome" tonight. That being, the game after an emotional game vs. the Rag$ they usually play poorly. Monday's game wasn't vs. the Rag$ but was indeed very emotional and played at a high intensity level vs. Sens. That plus all the rookies in the lineup tonight (because of the injuries) against an elite team and who knows what will give. Whoever is in goal could see a lot of shots from the stars. Hope it's a good one!

-19

Just hope Isles don't suffer "Rag$ hangover syndrome" tonight. That being, the game after an emotional game vs. the Rag$ they usually play poorly. Monday's game wasn't vs. the Rag$ but was indeed very emotional and played at a high intensity level vs. Sens. That plus all the rookies in the lineup tonight (because of the injuries) against an elite team and who knows what will give. Whoever is in goal could see a lot of shots from the stars. Hope it's a good one!

-19

you and CREW are dead on about the 'hangover' - something this team has struggled with the past 2 yrs...

maybe Peca comes to play tonight as leader for the kids and shows us his wrist shot ON NET/IN THE NET!

This game scares me!...Stars coming off a shutout loss and the Isles coming off a impressive win against one of the NHL's best.

5-2 Stars :mad:

NYI 4-1 DAL..


Good call, M=G.

The ball keeps rollin! :rolly:

A tight checking game,and a game the Isles played great untill the Morrow goal.Instead of rolling over and surrendering the game after that they persevered and got the lead back and then burried them.A great game all around.

A little more silent night from the big line but still many chances.

The second line and mostly Parrish were very good tonight not only defensively against the Arnott line but offensively as well.

Hunter was great even before the game winner as he was strong on the puck and taking and throwing hits regularly.The game winner was beautiful! :handclap:

Bergenheim continues to impress and really looked good when he joined Bates and Hunter.

Jonsson especially and Hamrlik to a lesser extent were exceptional tonight,as were basically the entire d-corps.

DiPietro was really good tonight and made what is the save of the year so far which was big at the time in 1-0 lead.Rick should play Saturday!

Agreed. This was a great game for the Islanders and even another test passed by them. This was a very physical game where it seemed like everyone was taking the body, especially Trent Hunter. He was phenomenal again. Who would've seen his outbreak coming? Bergenheim seemed like a suitable replacement for Blake on the Bates-Hunter line, moreso than Papineau. I've always compared Bergie with Blake, and the combination fit well. Great to see that the Isles can still win a game with six men under 24 years of age: DiPietro, Godard, Mapletoft, Hunter, Papineau, and Bergenheim. It also seemed like the referees were a little more into watching the game than calling the game. :p Seriously, no penalties in the second and third periods?? That's a little crazy. Onto another task now: Atlanta. A perfect 4-0 homestand would be nice :) I was at the game tonight, so I'll give you the belated-final scorecard :p

FINAL SCORE
DALLAS STARS - 1 (7-6-1-0 = 15 points
NEW YORK ISLANDERS - 4 (7-3-2-0 = 16 points)

SCORING
First Period: None
Second Period: NYI - Parrish 4 (Weimer, Peca), 1:43
Third Period: DAL - Morrow 2 (Young, Turgeon), 6:41; NYI - Hunter 5 (unassisted), 16:40; NYI - Bates 3 (Kvasha), 19:00; NYI - Peca 2 (unassisted) - EN, 19:54

PENALTIES
First Period: NYI - Niinimaa (Hooking), :20; DAL - Turgeon (High Sticking), 9:36; NYI - Butenschon (Holding), 15:19; DAL - Arnott (Goaltender Interference), 19:25
Second Period: None
Third Period: None

SHOTS ON GOAL
DAL: 13 - 8 - 7 = 28
NYI: 6 - 9 - 8 = 23

GOALTENDERS
DAL: Turco: (22 shots, 19 saves)
NYI: DiPietro: (28 shots, 27 saves)

3 STARS
1. Trent Hunter
2. Rick DiPietro
3. Kenny Jonsson

SWEET!!!!

Isles gave Stars a little too much respect in 1st period but kept them to the outside all game.

Kenny was an animal and all over the place. One of the best games I've ever seen him play. Even with his concussions, it's nights like these why he hasn't been traded yet. He almost singlehandedly shut down the Dallas offense - OK with a little help from his friends but you get the drift!

Hunter was physical all night and his goal was a sign of confidence and very timely!

DiPi was solid and made that 1 huge save that was incredible.

Typical Parrish goal - rebound in front.

The top line had their chances and again was on their game. Is Kvasha in a contract year? Because he's a different player this year and playing for something - maybe pride maybe $$ but his "potential" we've heard so much about is making the difference in many of these games. He never gives up on the puck.

Many times in the past the Isles would find a way to lose a game like this. Kenny, Hunter, Dipi etc. made sure they didn't last night!! Very nice to see!!!!!

-19

Good 60-minute effort. 7, 17, 27, and 37 score. Peca's best game of the season. KJ was awesome, didn't get outsmarted once. Trent Hunter, this guy is a rookie? You kidding me? Another great performance by Ricky. My endorphins are raging!

That was an awful lot of fun. Five rookies in the lineup and the
Islanders not only stay with a veteran team like Dallas, but get the
big goal late and take the game and did not have to hang on and
scramble in their own end.

Even more impressive the Isles gave the Stars few quality chances in this game and when they went ahead 2-1, they were all over Dallas and forced a third goal before Turco could be pulled.

All things good teams do. The kind of games I have been looking for from the Islanders.

Not even during the 11-0-1-1 start did the Isles show this kind of
effort, that was more about goaltending keeping them in games. DiPietro was not forced to steal two points, his team gave him a chance.

Another win that felt a lot different than last season. One where
this team is showing progress, it's not just the scoreboard but how
they carry themselves over sixty minutes.

DiPietro had to make the one huge save on Modano and did. Incredible save on Modano. He did not wander as much and when the Stars gave him room shorthanded he was an extra penalty killer and on the telecast the annoucers called that the Stars were staying away from DiPietro with the dump-ins.

As for the team play the pk was sharp, the pp did not do much but
Dallas was not giving much. Isles took a lot of icings and that led
to the Stars goal. Dallas did not give much against Turco, the goal
by Parrish was huge as he banged in the loose change from Wiemer's
shot. Peca did some hitting, maybe the open-net get's him going.

Most of the game the Isles seemed a pass short or a play short
of really getting great chances at Turco, but they were working and
keeping the pressure on, just as Dallas was pressuring the Isles into
those icings.

As for individual play, Bergenheim hardly looked lost with more time,
he seemed even better for it and more visible than Papineau. Hunter's work on the winning goal was impressive but what caught my attention was his diving to block a shot and another shift where he took the puck around the net went all the way back to the point in traffic and fed Niinimaa as if he owed the puck. On the winner he just did not throw it at the goal, he waited and got in position where he had an opening on Turco. Very impressive.

iYashin had a play in the third where he got thru the defense and another where he tried to stick handle between three players and lifted the puck to himself, he is showing a ton of confidence. Kvasha had the patience to move into the middle and hit Bates for the goal that put the game away, he also had some tough shots that seemed very heavy and bothered Turco. Czerkawski seemed too generous with the passing but was visible.

On defense another game where Jonsson was everywhere. First time he got some recogintion for it, but it's been every night. A little
scary when he was kneeling on the ice defending a two one one with
his head at knee level.

Even though the defense gave Modano his chance, if you watch the replay, look at the Islander on the ice ? Full body extension, gave the player only one place to go with the centering pass to
Modano, it got thru but that's how you defend.

As for the rest of the defense everyone seemed on their game, Aucoin was very visible and blasted one Star player, he almost scored and hit the post. Niinimaa, Hamrlik also had good games and so did Cairns and Butenschon.

I'll take this over 7-2 vs Pittsburgh any time.

As for the kids, it seems like they not only want to be here but are
really able to help. A lot different than past youth movements.
Mapletoft did not look lost, he played his position as well as in the
past and looked like he wanted to go to the net. Godard is not
playing much but seemed to get more time than usual.

Also seems like the Islanders are giving DiPietro more and more and
he is giving them no reason to play Snow.

Saturday vs Atlanta. And Pat LaFontaine Hall of Fame Night.

Would not ruin my day if they just put his jersey in the rafters.

Very impressed with the last couple of games.

Good call, M=G.

Yeah. I'm impressed too. Though, to Dallas' credit, the game was a lot closer than that score.

well, wins vs. ANA, OTT, DAL at home...

biggest thing that i noticed in these three games is that when NYI have had the ONE GOAL LEAD, then have gotten that extra goal to make it a 2 goal lead. that is huge IMO and something this team lacked the past years...it left NYI scrambling in the final minutes of many games and like 19 said, they would find some way to lose the game once they gave up the tying goal...

looking forward to ATL contest...

some thoughts about the game:

Bergie/Papineau - the biggest problem i see here is that neither player knows how to protect the puck when driving around the defensemen...their speed is definitely key, but they keep the puck too close to the d-man...this is why Pap's always losses the puck or gets stalled once he comes to traffic...and why both players are getting off weak shots on net

Hunter: great goal...he had great location and possession on that play...Turco stayed down too long expecting a low shot and not for Hunter to get about 7 feet away to roof it...

Bates goal: glad he kept driving to the net and the puck hit his leg b/c he should have passed to the trailing Yashin...anyone notice, how wide open Yashin was and that was EXPECTING the pass from Bates...he didn't even celebrate the goal...i think he was happy for the goal, but wanted the pass for him to score it...

DP: Sterling hasn't said it, but i think NYI are heavily leaning towards Ricky being the #1...maybe they will not state it, but this is happening a lot quicker than i thought (i thought Feb at the latest)...wow! what a save off Modano...

Peca's line: nice defensive dominance all game...i think this line is a keeper for now...Weimer is definitely looking like a different player than before the were combined...he made the smart move on Parrish's goal by just getting it on net and see what happens...Peca, hopefully his empty netter will spark some offense out of him...1st goal in 7 seven games, now let's get a 'real' goal...

PK not tested but that's sort of a good thing, especially when Wolkom (from OTT game) was one of the ref's...he doesn't have an NYI whistle, rather an opposition whistle....

finally, NYI gave up only 2 SHOTS in the last 12:45 secs of the 3rd period...that is wonderful when playing with a tie, then a one goal lead...