Isles Add 215 Pounds of Grit & Toughness in Gillies

Unfortunately not the type of Gillies that comes to mind for Isles fans, but the Islanders have agreed to terms with Trevor Gillies to a NHL contract.

Gillies has played in 18 games with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers scoring a goal and accumulating 123 penalty minutes. Yes, that's right, 123 penalty minutes in 18 games. With the added penalties, Coach Gordon needs to take a good luck at the Islanders penalty killing unit and make sure they can handle having an enforcer taking penalties all game. Gillies at 6'3 215 pound, should challenge Carcillo early in the game on Saturday and get the Isles blood pumping early.

If Gillies sticks around long enough to face the Rangers in march, I look forward to him pounding Voros into the ice.

DP Changing the Isles Defensive Style?

Oh how we love Ricky D. here in Islanders Country. Despite the fact that he is from Boston, we embrace him like he grew up in Huntington. After his first few starts, DP's won two games and lost three, while giving up 15 goals and a goals against average of 2.62.

Not bad for a guy who hasn't played competitive professional hockey in over a year.

Ever since his return to the Islanders, there's been a shift in the way the Islanders play defense. As we all already know, DP is an extraordinary athlete, with great hand eye coordination and a good feel for playing the puck. But how much is too much??

I've noticed that when the opposing offense dumps the puck into the Isles zone, the defense simply interferes with the forwards rushing in for the puck, while DP comes out of the net and tries to make a play. In my mind, DP is over playing the puck, and causing the defense to take a lazy approach to chasing the puck into the corners and battling with the opposing offense.

Something I always like about Rolle, is that he is less active behind the net than DP. In last nights game vs. Carolina, DP nearly gave the puck away right in front of the net, which would have lead to another Hurricane goal. I hope that was a wake up goal to quiet it down back there. I'd like to see the defense get the nitty gritty going in those corners and not rely on DP to handle every puck that's dumped into our zone. Just a quick thought.

Hurricanes Too Much to Handle for the Slumping Islanders

Just last week, I wouldn't believe that I'd be writing the Islanders a headline like this, but I guess that's what this season has been like for a lot of teams in the Eastern Conference. I'm not quite sure how to put my finger on last nights loss to Carolina. Were the Islanders even there? Did they show up? There was a span of 5 minutes in the first period and 2 minutes in the third period where I saw some life, but it didn't last.

My first question to everyone is does this team know that hockey is a physical game? Granted Sutton is afraid to send someone flying or smash their face into the boards due to his suspension for his hit on the Penguins Dupois, but last night a Hurricane beat him one on one straight to the net, and he was forced to put us on the penalty kill.

My next Question is where was Jon Sim last night? With a guy like Cam Ward in net, we needed Sim in front and around the net all game. I don't believe I heard a thing about Sim until he came to life for a few minutes and got us a power play.

Offensively, the Isles really aren't creating good chances for themselves. Its been the routine, bring the puck up the side and take a hard angle shot with little traffic in front. This is Trent Hunters favorite shot (although from time to time he sinks it). The puck movement needs to improve big time and we need more shots from the point.

The Defense last night was not horrendous, but at the same time they don't get a good grade.

Although two of the goals were completely DP's fault, the intensity wasn't there and they need to start being more physical and making better passes out of the zone.

If I can be positive for a moment, I cant tell you how excited I am about Robbie Schremp. The kid is golden and you can feel the excitement every time he touches the puck. What a play maker and what a sniper! This guy is going to the lead the team in points one day. Great job Snow!

Isles play Philly on Saturday (Matinee), its time for someone to step up in a big way. The key to this game will be getting physical (Get ready for Carcillo, he wont step down) and getting the puck to the net and crashing for rebounds.

I personally would like to see Rolle get the start. I think we are throwing DP into the mix to quick and he didn't get us here in the first place.

Isles look for a big win in Carolina

Its been a long time since I wrote this blog, but I have decided to pick it back up again. With the recent loss of Jack Hillen (6-8 Weeks), the Islanders find themselves in a bit of a hole defensively. Expect Brendan Witt to sit out (calf injury) another game tonight, which doesn't help the cause. But I have to say, with all the good fortune we have had this season, I have faith that Dustin Kohn will step up in a big way. My only concern is if he could handle the amount of playing time as Hillen and also whether or not he will play effectively from the point on power plays. I hate to be too skeptical, but the goalie situation has been under par in the last week. I'm not sure who gets the start tonight yet, but with the Hurricanes on a role (and we all know they are indeed a dangerous team) we need some solid goaltending.

Offensively, I'd love to see some goals scored from the point tonight. Cam Ward absolutely shut down the Rangers last night. The name of the game is deflections in front on shots from the point and big rebounds. I expect to see the Isles forecheck to be strong and for Jon Sim to annoy the hell out of Cam Ward. Matty M should buy himself some real estate in front of Carolina's net tonight if were going to win this one.

My pick for tonight's unexpected hero is Richard Park. He's been quiet all season, but his hard work will pay off.

Regardless of Carolina's record, tonight's game is huge for the Islanders. We can continue to fall behind or jolt ourselves up to the 6th spot with a win. I hate to be too cliche, but lets just say we hold our own destiny in our hands.

A win tonight will also give us momentum going into Philly for Saturday's matinee.

Go Isles!