Islanders vs. Devils Preseason Game Story

Devils Dominate Isles, 3-0

by: Brian Bohl | Senior Writer - NY Sports Day | Friday, October 3, 2008

UNIONDALE, NY — First-year coach Scott Gordon inherited an Islanders team that ranked last in the 30-team NHL in goals (189) and goals per game average (2.30).

Despite a fresh face on the bench at Nassau Coliseum last night, the same offensive problems were on full display in a 3-0 preseason loss to the Devils. First line forwards Bill Guerin and Doug Weight did not dress while goalie Rick DiPietro also sat out.

Devils coach Brent Sutter played almost all of his top players. Martin Brodeur played all 60 minutes, logging 17 saves to post the shutout. The Islanders struggles to pressure the future Hall-of-Fame netminder. The top line-consisting of Frans Nielsen, Jeff Tambellini and Trent Hunter--couldn’t sustain rushed while prized rookie Kyle Okposo registered just two shots in 23:07 of ice time.

“I need to shoot more,” Okposo said. “That’s the bottom line. I made some poor decisions with the puck. I was in the slot several times where I didn’t shoot. I just have to get that cemented into my brain that I need to shoot that puck.”

Opening Day is one week from Friday when the Islanders travel to the Prudential Center to face the Devils. But the exhibition preview didn’t go well for Gordon’s Coliseum debut. Zach Parise took advantage of backup goalie Joey MacDonald’s mistake, skating around defenseman Jack Hillen before banking home his first goal of the preseason 14:24 into the first period.

MacDonald mishandled the puck on the side of the net, chipping it into the slot where Parise took the puck away from Hillen before backhanding a shot past the out-of-position goalie. Gordon said miscommunication between the rookies Hillen and MacDonald led to the scoring opportunity.

“I think Jack might have told Joey to play it, but in saying that, it was probably Jack’s puck all the way,” Gordon said. “But it was one of those things where he was trying to hit it with his backhand instead of his forehand.”

Patrick Elias added some breathing room 5:21 into the second period, ripping a slap shot from the left circle that beat MacDonald stick side. Elias also set up the final insurance marker, finding defenseman Anssi Salela with a cross-ice pass before the blue liner ripped a slapper from the high slot for a 3-0 edge 14:03 into the third.

Mike Comrie nearly put the Islanders on the scoreboard four minutes into the second, sending his backhand attempt just wide of the goal line with a shot that beat DiPietro but flew just wide. That futility was indicative of the team’s struggles, especially on the power play. In eight minutes with the man advantage, the Isles went 0-4 with just three shots.

“It’s tough because you want to get the ball rolling,” Comrie said. “We’re trying to do our best to learn the system. At the same time, we have to let our creativity and hockey sense take over in the offensive zone.”

Gordon took over for Ted Nolan over the summer, inheriting a team that did not claim one 30-goal scorer last season. Miroslav Satan and Ruslan Fedotenko both signed with Pittsburgh as free agents while the Islanders signed Weight and defenseman Mark Streit to bolster the offense and the lineup. Weight will wait to make his home debut Oct. 11 against St. Louis and Streit, who is being counted on to quarterback the power play, was minus-2 and took two minor penalties against the Devils.

To help maximize talent, Gordon is trying to install a system similar to the one he used to earn AHL Coach of the Year honors with the Providence Bruins. The 45-year-old said the problems can be identified using film work and the three remaining preseason games.

“Our transition from defense to offense was too deliberate at times,” Gordon said. “We have forwards who are waiting for the puck and we’re holding on to the puck. We have defensemen going back to the puck and our forwards not going back to help them. You just show them the video and usually a picture paints a thousand words.”

http://www.nysportsday.com/news/combined/Devils-Dominate-Isles-3-0.php


Audio piece aired on 88.7 FM (www.wrhu.org) on Oct. 2, 2008. All pictures courtesy of the Associated Press.

Islanders Kyle Okposo Story

Is Okposo the Real Deal?

by: Brian Bohl | Senior Writer - NY Sports Day | Friday, October 3, 2008

UNIONDALE, NY — It can be difficult for any highly touted rookie to make an immediate impact. A young scorer can galvanize a moribund franchise in the NHL, providing excitement to a franchise struggling to forge an identity.

The Islanders front office insisted all summer that the club is going through a transition, with the rebuilding project centered on young prospects like Kyle Okposo. After a nine-game introduction at the end of last season, the 20-year-old winger is looking to fulfill the expectations fans and ownership has placed on the seventh overall draft selection in 2006.

Okposo’s acclimation could determine if the Islanders can avoid the last-place predictions found in many industry publications. Mike Comrie was the Islanders leading scorer last season. But he logged just 49 points, which ranked 108th among all NHL scorers. No Islander cracked the 30-goal mark and just Comrie and Bill Guerin registered more than 20 goals.

New Islanders coach Scott Gordon put Comrie at center on Okposo’s line. The results weren’t pretty in a 3-0 preseason loss to the Devils Wednesday night at Nassau Coliseum. Comrie said Okposo possesses the skills to become an impact player.

“He’s a great player,” Comrie said about his linemate. “He’s one of those guys who creates a lot of plays because he’s so strong and his feet backs the defensemen up.”

Okposo scored two goals and added three assists in his brief call-up, capping a season that started when the 6-0, 195-pound forward was still playing in college for Minnesota. The St. Paul, Mn., native said his game plan before the Oct. 10 season opener is to get more shots on net.

“I want to make that play and get my teammates involved, but sometimes you have to be willing to pull that trigger,” Okposo said. “I’ll be looking to do that more.”

Gordon watched Okposo get off two shots—one each in the second and third periods— in 23:07 of ice time.

The Islanders scored just 189 goals last season and only added 37-year-old Doug Weight in the offseason. Miroslav Satan and Ruslan Fedotenko left for Pittsburgh, meaning the new coach needs to get offense from some new faces.

“The Devils are a pretty big team and they take up a lot of space,” Gordon said about the defense Okposo faced. “There were a lot of opportunities. He probably should have taken advantage of the shot opportunities. But the fact is he had the puck in the offensive zone, which is an important part.”

Okposo isn’t the only member of the self-proclaimed youth movement to garner attention. The organization announced the signing of 2008 first-round pick Josh Bailey to a three-year entry level contract Thursday.

“This is an exciting day for the organization as we continue to build our team with young players like Josh who have very bright futures,” Islanders General Manager Garth Snow said in a statement.

Bailey, who scored 28 goals and contributed 67 assists for 96 points in 69 games for the OHL’s Windsor team, is slated to begin the season with AHL Bridgeport barring an unexpected development.

“This is an exciting day for me and my family, especially when you sign your first NHL contract on your birthday,” said Bailey, the ninth overall draft pick. “It’s certainly a day I’ll never forget. I still have a lot of work to do and I’m willing to do it.”

http://www.nysportsday.com/news/combined/Is-Okposo-the-Real-Deal.php

Below is the audio piece that originally aired on WRHU, 88.7 FM on Friday, October 3, 2008.

All pictures courtesy of the Associated press