MAYNOR LEADS SECOND HALF SURGE AS VCU EDGES PRIDE 66-62

Recap | Box Scores
Hempstead, NY --

Senior guard Eric Maynor exploded for 21 of his game-high 33 points in the second half, erasing a double-digit Hofstra lead as the Pride dropped a 66-62 decision to CAA-rival Virginia Commonwealth University Saturday afternoon at the Mack Sports Complex.

Sophomore guard Charles Jenkins (Queens, NY) scored a team-high 22 points for the Pride and sophomore guard Nathanial Lester (Brooklyn, NY) finished in double-figures for the third straight game, chipping in 12 points and junior guard Tony Dennison (Long Island City, NY - picture) added seven of his nine in the second half. But it wasn't enough to extend the Pride's winning streak to five, as Hofstra fell to 14-8 and 6-5 in the CAA with the defeat. Hofstra also lost for just the second time this season in games decided by five points or less, dropping to 9-2.

Maynor was the difference-maker, erasing a 58-all tie by scoring six straight points down the stretch to help the Rams improve to 16-6 and 9-2 in the conference. VCU entered the matinee just a game behind Northeastern for first place in the CAA.

Hofstra led by as many as 12 points before freshman guard Bradford Burgess (11 points) and Maynor, the reigning CAA Player of the Year, mounted the comeback. Burgess hit a three-pointer near the top of the key to tie it at 58 with 4:16 left.

VCU rode Maynor to a six-point lead after he hit a free throw, buried a three-pointer and added a jumper on the Rams subsequent trio of possessions, moving the Rams ahead 64-58 with 1:42 left. After making a free-throw, Maynor stole a pass-at midcourt and raced in for an uncontested lay-up to build the lead to three. On the other end of the floor, Maynor blocked Jenkins's driving attempt and secured the win by hitting a deep three-pointer from the left wing make it 64-58.Jenkins added four free throws afterwards, but the Pride never got closer than 66-62 with a half-minute showing on the clock as it missed three shots in the final 20 seconds, including two three-pointers to try to cut the lead to one.

Maynor and Jenkins entered the contest as the conference's top two scorers and served as their offense's focal points. Fresh off a career-high 33 point-effort in a last-second win over UNC Wilmington, Jenkins notched his 10th 20-point game of the season, adding six rebounds and three assists.

VCU came out strong in the second half after the Pride led 36-29 at the break. Sophomore forward Larry Sanders scored back-to-back baskets in the paint, pulling the Rams to within 42-39 with 13:13 left. Jenkins responded with a three-pointer right in front of the Pride bench and Dennison added a driving reverse lay-in on the next possession to build up the lead.

Maynor scored the game's next seven points, hitting a top-of-the-key three-point near NBA range to tie it and followed a Pride turnover by drilling a jump shot to give VCU a 48-46 lead with 10:54 remaining, marking the first time the Rams led since the second minute of the contest.

Playing man defense, Jenkins held Maynor scoreless through the first 10 minutes before the country's 11th-leading scorer heated up. Maynor was off from the floor in the first half (2-8) yet converted all seven of his free throws to tally 12 points at the break.

Jenkins' jumper built a 28-16 lead with 5:20 left in the first half, Hofstra's largest of the game. VCU posted a modest 5-0 run to close the gap before Hofstra started driving to the lane, converting on its last five foul shots. Maynor cut into the deficit before the buzzer, drawing a foul on junior guard Cornelius Vines (Syracuse, NY) from beyond the three-point arc. Maynor hit all three of his free throws with 2.2 seconds left, though the Pride still entered the break with a 36-29 edge.

Maynor has a chance to be selected in this year's NBA draft. That would follow in the career path of former Pride great Craig "Speedy" Claxton, who had his No. 10 retired in a pregame ceremony. Claxton, currently with the NBA's Atlanta Hawks, was drafted by Philadelphia in the first round of the 2000 draft after a stellar career for Hofstra. Now 30 years old, the Hempstead native led his hometown school to the NCAA Tournament in 2000 and still holds the team record for career assists (660), steals (288) and ranks sixth all-time in points (2,015).

Claxton, who won a championship ring with the Spurs in 2002-03, is the third Hofstra player to have his jersey retired this season. Claxton (1996-2000) joined Bill Thieben (1953-56) and Steve Nisenson (1962-65) in being honored with a banner hanging from the Mack Sports Complex's rafters. Rich Laurel (1973-77) will join the list later this year.

Hofstra will be off the next two days before traveling to Virginia to take on another challenging conference opponent in George Mason on Tuesday night on ESPNU. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.

HOFSTRA ALUM CARRIES PRIDE BANNER INTO SUPER BOWL

Hempstead, NY --

Former Hofstra offensive lineman Willie Colon will look to become just the fourth Pride alumnus to capture a Super Bowl ring if his Pittsburgh Steelers beat the underdog Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII Sunday in Tampa Bay.

Colon started all 33 games at right tackle his last three seasons at Hofstra from 2003-05, earning first-team I-AA All-American honors after his senior season. The Bronx native got the attention of the Steelers, which drafted Colon in the fourth round and made him its starting right tackle with two games left in his rookie campaign.

After being inactive for the first 14 games of his professional career, Colon has started every game at right tackle since then, helping Pittsburgh move within one game of winning its NFL-record sixth Super Bowl title. Speaking to reporters from Raymond James Stadium, Colon said the offensive line is looking to show the world it is not a liability despite taking criticism during the regular season.

"As a unit we have been through so much," Colon said. "From injuries to guys dealing with serious off- the-field issues, from our unit getting bashed week in and week out no matter how good or bad we played. From a standpoint all that fire that we took motivated us to get better. We all came together as a unit and realized we all had to be accountable for ourselves."

Colon will be charged with keeping quarterback Ben Roethlisberger upright and springing running back Willie Parker for big gains. The 25-year-old came to the Steelers the year following the franchise's Super Bowl XL victory against Seattle in 2006 and said even with the veterans around to give advice, he will still be nervous come opening kickoff.

"I think every day that goes by the tension builds up more and more," Colon said. "My biggest thing is the ability to calm down and open my eyes. I get so worked up. When I am on the sideline about to go on I have to suck it in, leave it out and realize it is a regular game so I can execute. For me personally, this is a great experience, but I don't want to go home without the trophy so I am going to be as much of a help as I can."

Only three other former Hofstra players have played a role on a Super Bowl contender. John Schmitt, who had his number retired at James M. Shuart Stadium in the fall, was the starting center for the Jets during one of sports' most famous championship games, anchoring a line for Joe Namath in Super Bowl III.

Schmitt (class of 1964) was joined on that Jets team by defensive back Mike D'Amato, who graduated Hofstra four years after Schmitt and was a rookie on a Gang Green team that shocked the heavily favored Baltimore Colts at the Orange Bowl.

After watching his No. 77 go up on the façade of Margiotta Hall during the Pride's homecoming win over Rhode Island, Schmitt said he was proud of becoming the first Hofstra player to make it to the NFL and still wears the ring from what is still the only title in Jets history. Schmitt played for the Jets from 1964-73 and was named to the All-Pro team in 1968 and 1969.

"I just wanted to make the team," Schmitt recalled about his first training camp. "No one from Hofstra had ever made anything.

"When the Jets signed me, they didn't need any tackles. They needed me as a center, but I had no knowledge of how to play or snap field goals; anything like that. It was a heck of an adjustment. Nobody helps you when you go to the pros."

Nearly 40 years later, receiver Ricky Bryant earned a championship ring with the Patriots, playing on New England's practice squad during the 2004 season, which culminated with a victory over Philadelphia in Super Bowl XXXIX.

The Pride could add a fourth name to its list of NFL champions. Dave Cohen, Hofstra's head coach, came to Hofstra the year after Colon graduated. But Cohen was Delaware's defensive coordinator in 2005, when the Pride out-lasted the Blue Hens, 10-6. Having to game-plan against Colon as a coach for a conference rival showed Cohen the lineman's potential for succeeding at the next level.

"I knew coaching against Will in 2003, 2004 and 2005 that he was special," Cohen said. "Will was a dominating player from the time he was a sophomore and has enjoyed equal success since his graduation in the NFL."

Former Hofstra coach Joe Gardi, whose last season as Colon's senior year, helped the Cardinal Hayes High School pass-rushing force switch from the defensive line to the offensive side. Colon red-shirted his first season and played in just one game as a freshman before becoming a stalwart on the right side starting his sophomore year.

"It was great for me at Hofstra," Colon said to Newsday earlier this week. "I came away with so much, and now here I am, at the center of the [football] world. . . Go Hofstra."

Colon and New Orleans Saints receiver Marques Colston were each drafted out of Hofstra in 2006. Colon made the playoffs in his second year and Colston has amassed 3,000 receiving yards and set a league record for most receptions by any player in their first two seasons with 168.

"It is an honor for the Hofstra football family to have one of our own to be starting in the upcoming Super Bowl," Cohen said. "Willie Colon represents what Hofstra Football stands for: earning a degree, being a good person and having great work ethic."

Colon credited his family's support for putting him in position to possibly hoist the Vince Lombardi Trophy and reach the pinnacle of his profession.

"It's a dream come true," he said. "I was a project kid, growing up on the streets and running the streets in New York. But I'm just sticking to my dream and am staying good to myself. It's a blessing. I give much credit to my mom for sticking by my side through the rough times. I know people from back home are cheering me on.

"My father is Puerto Rican. He's a proud Hispanic who raised me to be proud of our last name and be proud of where we came from. Everywhere I go I try to represent somehow, some way not only for my family but for the Latino community. Everything is going well for me right now."

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Colon is one of four former CAA Football players in the Super Bowl this Sunday. Click here

Hofstra made more news during Super Bowl week.

" >Click here for video of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell's comments about former Hofstra player and coach and new Tampa Bay Bucs head coach Raheem Morris. -30-

PRIDE CAN'T COMPLETE COMEBACK, FALL TO DREXEL

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Recap | Box Scores
Hempstead, NY --

Junior center Jess Fuller (Queens, NY) led Hofstra with 11 points, but it wasn't enough as junior forward Gabriela Marginean provided more than half of Drexel's offense, scoring 29 points as the Dragons posted a 57-50 victory over the Pride in a CAA matchup Thursday night at the Mack Sports Complex.

Freshman guard Nicole Capurso (Staten Island, NY) hit a three-pointer from the left elbow with 1:42 remaining, cutting a second-half deficit that was as high as 16 points down to four. Yet Andrea Peterson converted two free throws on Drexel's next possession to secure the win. Hofstra dropped to 12-7 overall and 4-4 in conference play. Marginean finished 12-20 from the field as Drexel improved to 11-8 and 6-2 against the CAA.

The Pride was seeking its fifth win in seven games before Marginean's fast start. The Romanian native surged to a hot start, shooting 7-10 in the first half, helping her team build a 27-19 lead at the break. Fuller gave the Pride an answer in the low post, scoring nine points before the break to keep it close.

Freshman forward Joelle Connelly (Arcade, NY) added four rebounds and fell just two points shy of scoring in double figures for the 10th time this season to complement Fuller in the paint. Senior guard Natty Fripp (Oakland, CA) chipped in nine points and seven rebounds.

No other Drexel player besides Marginean scored in double figures. The Dragons still extended its formidable lead early in the second half with a 10-2 run capped by Marginean's three-point play to extend the Drexel's lead to 41-25 with 14:44 remaining. The Dragons have now won four straight in the series.

Capurso, who added eight points off the bench for the Pride, made it a two-possession game with her trey late in the game, slicing Drexel's lead to 53-49. The Dragons survived thanks in part to its strong start.

Marginean would tally 12 of Drexel's first 13 points in the contest as the Dragons opened a 13-7 advantage at the 10:48 mark of the opening 20 minutes. Sophomore forward Ashley Wilcots (Virginia Beach, VA) came off the bench for Hofstra and scored seven first half points in just eight minutes of play to pace the Pride's first half offensive efforts. Wilcots twice helped Hofstra cut the deficit to four as she had a jumper at the 6:53 mark to cut the gap to 15-11 and they converted an old-fashioned three-point play with 5:20 left to make the score 18-14.

Drexel would outscore Hofstra, 14-6, over the first 5:16 of the second half to push its lead up to 41-25 before the Pride mounted a comeback. Fripp would hit a layup moments after Drexel took the 16-point advantage and then added a three-pointer at the 14:11 mark to close the gap to 41-30.

With the visitors ahead 43-32 after the two teams exchanged buckets, Hofstra would use a 5-0 spurt to narrow the deficit to 43-37 following Connelly's lay-up. The Pride would cut the gap even closer with less than four minutes left in the second half after Fripp forced a steal from behind and raced down court for an uncontested layup to make it 48-44 Drexel with 3:38 left in regulation.

Hofstra returns to the Mack Sports Complex court on Sunday when they host James Madison at 2 p.m.

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Photo by Brian Ballweg for Hofstra Athletics

Hofstra Wrestling Preview vs. Ohio State

This is video I shot on January 22, 2009 for a preview of Hofstra' wrestling match vs. Ohio State Sunday, January 25, 2009. Jim Sheehan is asking the questions to Pride head coach Tom Shifflet.

Ovechkin Living Up To Hype

Ovechkin Living Up To Hype

Jan 23rd, 2009 | By Brian Bohl | Category: Hockey, Top Story

Alexander Ovechkin has 31 goals this season. (Jim Leary/NYSD)

UNIONDALE, NY- Alex Ovechkin usually makes highlight films thanks to offensive rushes that formulate into memorable plays. Yet the NHL’s reigning MVP and scoring champion is also capable of destroying teams with subtle actions.

Before centerman Nicklas Backstrom takes an offensive zone faceoff, Ovechkin deftly lines up directly behind the circle, waiting to unleash a lightning-fast snapshot off a clean draw. But Ovechkin can also score any place on the ice, evidenced by his two-goal performance, including the overtime game-winning tally, in Washington’s 2-1 victory over the Islanders earlier in the week.

Ovechkin is just in his fourth season but will likely reach 200 career goals in the next month. The 23-year-old winger has the potential to threaten some of the league’s most heralded scoring record. Against the Isles, he notched goals No. 30 and 31 to move past Philadelphia’s Jeff Carter for the top mark. It was the first time all season the Art Ross winner sat alone atop the leader board, though Ovechkin said he didn’t mind giving the competition a chance 47 games into the season.

“It’s happened,” he deadpanned. “I give a chance to a different guy.”

Ovechkin and Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby are the NHL’s two most marketable stars. The Islanders can also take some solace in the fact that the Capitals finished 23-46-10 for a dismal 49 points in 2003-04. Washington won the No. 1 overall pick and selected Ovechkin, and the 6-2, 212-pound forward galvanized the franchise and led the Capitals to the playoffs last season.

His goal totals in the first three seasons: 52, 46 and 65. Ovechkin is on pace to surpass the 50-goal mark at a time when there have been just 10 50-goal seasons after the lockout (including two from Ovechkin). One player can turn a lackluster club with no direction into a must-see event and contender in the conference.

“I don’t want to put myself on top of anybody,” Ovechkin said. “I just try and do the best that I can and try to help the team to win. I play hard all the time. No matter what happens, I just try, try, try and never give up.”

The Islanders have a chance to potentially select a player like that this spring in John Tavares. If the Isles, which enter the All-Star break 13-29-5 and eight points away from the second-worst team, win the draft lottery, the reeling team could finally have an impact scorer to put people in the seats and possibly even keep the Islanders in Uniondale.

While it takes more than adding one great player to morph into a championship contender, Washington coach Bruce Boudreau said a player like Ovechkin makes everyone else better.

“He raises the bar in that he wants everyone else to play as hard as him,” Boudreau said. “You watch how hard he plays, how can you not want to play with that intensity and passion every night when he’s doing that?”

Yann Danis began the season as the top netminder for Bridgeport in the AHL. He then stepped into the starting role following injuries to Rick DiPietro and Joey MacDonald and was burned twice by Ovechkin. The first goal was a laser from the left point and the second was an easy one-timer off Alexander Semin’s centering pass during an overtime power play.

Danis was making just his 14^th career appearance, though more experienced goalies have talked about the need to account for impact players like Ovechkin every second they are on the ice. That type of dominant player can open up room for other scorers and add a different dimension to the offense.

“You can definitely see why he scores a lot of goals,” Danis said. “He’s got a good shot, quick release and very skilled. You have to steady ready when he’s on the ice, that’s for sure.”

Capitals goaltender Jose Theodore saw the Hart Trophy winner score an overtime goal to beat the Islanders at the Coliseum Dec. 16. When asked if Ovechkin has a comfort level playing a hapless opponent in an old arena, the netminder didn’t hesitate to respond.

“There are a lot of buildings he likes to play in,” said Theodore, who posted 27 saves for his 200th career victory.

Ovechkin is still two years away from being able to rent a car at a reasonable price. Yet he already joined Hall of Famer Mike Gartner and perennial All-Star Peter Bondra as the only Capitals with four-straight 30-goal seasons.

Once timid and unsure of himself as a rookie off the ice, Ovechkin now speaks fluent English. Standing inside the visiting dressing room at Nassau Coliseum, Ovechkin spoke with a gold chain of his uniform No. 8 around his neck. He will play in his third All-Star game this weekend in Montreal and has the Capitals in contention for a second straight Southeast Division crown.

It seems everything is coming easy for Ovechkin, who unlike DiPietro, is living up to his huge contract. Ovechkin signed a 13-year, $124 million contract that is shorter than DiPietro’s 15-year pact but nearly twice the size in salary. Consider he has a whopping 194 goals, 175 points and 369 points in just 291 games, and so far the Capitals seem to be getting a bargain.

“Sometimes I have lucky bounces and luck goals,” Ovechkin said. “But you know, goals are goals. Sometimes my teammates give me great passes.”

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Tags: Alex Ovechkin, Alexander Ovechkin, Art Ross, Career Goals, Faceoff, Goal Mark, Goal Performance, Goal Seasons, Islanders, Jeff Carter, Leader Board, Nicklas Backstrom, Nysd, Offensive Zone, Overtime Game, Overtime Victory, Sidney Crosby, Solace, Three Seasons, Uniondale Ny, Winger

WRHU Alex Ovechkin Wrap January 23, 2009

WRHU Islanders Report January 21, 2009

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vEY6oOz4dQ

Ovechkin Continues Isles Misery

Ovechkin Continues Isles Misery

Jan 20th, 2009 | By Brian Bohl | Category: New York Islanders, Top Story

Ovechkin just too much for the Isles. (Brian Bohl/NYSD)

UNIONDALE, NY– Injuries and a sputtering offense continues to exacerbate problems in a dismal Islanders season. But for all the organization’s talk about a youth movement, the club was able to see what a young, home-grown star really looks like.

Alex Ovechkin continued the Islanders misery, scoring both of Washington’s goals in a 2-1 overtime victory for the Capitals in a Monday matinee contest. The Islanders continued to be winless in 2009 but picked up a point for the first time in January thanks to Kyle Okposo’s game-tying power play goal 12:18 into the third period.

Okposo was just one of the many young players who spent time in AHL this season or 2007-08, though Washington seems to be doing just fine going young. The 23-year-old Ovechkin is the reigning Art Ross trophy winner as the NHL’s leading scorer and notched goals 30 and 31, including the game-winner off Alexander Semin’s one-time feed 1:46 into overtime. Ovechkin has cracked the 30-goal plateau in his first four seasons.

“It was a sick pass,” said Ovechkin, who also scored a game-winning overtime goal at the Coliseum in December. “I thought he gave it to me a little earlier, but it’s Semin, so he created opportunities for me to score goals.

“They played hard and played a physical game against us. I think we were kind of sleepy and didn’t play our best game today. But it’s always fun when you win the game, especially in overtime.”

Islanders fans might want to look away instead of processing the numbers. Take your pick: 0-7-1 record this month, a 2-17-3 mark in the last 22 games and 0-3-1 in the past four home contests. Don’t forget 29 points, which is the league’s lowest total by eight points.

Yann Danis started the season as the third string goalie but made his third straight start filling in after injuries to Rick DiPietro and Joey MacDonald. Danis was making his 14th NHL experience and looked shaky early in the opening period.

Brendan Witt’s roughing penalty put the Capitals on the power play. Washington took advantage, working along the blue line to find open space. Mike Green slid a hard pass to Ovechkin, who fired a one-time shot from the top of the left circle past Danis for a power play goal 6:35.

It marked Ovechkin’s fourth straight 30-goal season. He joins elite company in Capitals history. Only Peter Bondra and Mike Gartner accomplished at least four consecutive 30-goal seasons in the franchise’s history.

Danis settled down, turning aside 36 shots. He still dropped to 0-6 this year and is looking for his first NHL win since 2005. The Islanders have scored just one goal in four straight games, making it tough for any goalie to succeed.

“I’m feeling a lot more comfortable as I play in more games,” Danis said. “I felt good.”

Okposo finally ended the Isles pointless streak at seven. Nicklas Backstrom put the home team on the power play and Ovechkin turned it into a 5-on-3 situation four seconds later when he lifted a clearing attempt over the glass for a delay-of-game penalty.

Mike Comrie kept the play alive with a good keep at far left blue line, sending it to Mark Streit at the other point. The All-Star defenseman sent it down to Frans Nielsen, who fired a hard pass across the crease to an open Okposo.

The winger added his sixth goal, firing a one-time shot from point-blank range to tie it at 1 with 7:42 left after Washington’s Jeff Schultz couldn’t get over in time to stop the pass and Jose Theodore was late getting over.

“In three out of the four games, we were right in there,” Okposo said. “We outplayed teams at times. We just haven’t been able to get the breaks but our chance will come.”

Theodore made 27 saves. Danis outplayed his counterpart for the most part, making 20 saves in the second and third period. He nearly made one mistake with 14:32 left in the third and Caps nursing the 1-0 lead. Okposo broke his stick on a power play attempt and Danis raced far out of the net to clear the puck. Instead, his weak pass went right to a streaking Ovechkin’s stick blade.

The perennial All-Star couldn’t capitalize, sending a shot at the vacant net’s right side. Danis enjoyed a fortuitous bounce, gloving the puck while diving pack to the crease. Danis started the season as the Sound Tigers starting goalie. Thrust into the spotlight, the 27-year-old has played well in allowing just seven goals in his three starts, though coach Scott Gordon was not willing to give his netminder a pass for his mistakes.

“Obviously, he made some pretty good saves,” Gordon said. “I have concerns about the first goal going through him, and also the puck play that almost resulted in an empty-netter. Right now he’s got an opportunity and he’s got to make the most of it.”

There was some controversy regarding the Capitals overtime power play goal. Ovechkin drew a slashing penalty on Witt in neutral ice. Ovechkin said the reason for the infraction was simple.

“He broke my stick,” Ovechkin said. “That’s why it [the minor penalty] was called.”

Witt disagreed.

“I didn’t break it,” he said. “I’m not that strong to do it with one hand.”

Regardless, the penalty set up a 4-on-3 because of the overtime rules, and Ovechkin found the open net 21 seconds later. That goal moved him one past Philadelphia’s Jeff Carter for the league lead.

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Tags: Alex Ovechkin, Alexander Semin, Art Ross, Art Ross Trophy, Art Ross Trophy Winner, Best Game, Bohl, Danis, Game Winner, Goal Plateau, Home Contests, Joey Macdonald, Kyle Okposo, Nysd, Overtime Goal, Overtime Victory, Physical Game, Rick Dipietro, Time Feed, Uniondale Ny

WRHU Islanders vs. Washington Capitals Game Wap Up, First Aired January 20, 2009

All photos by Brian Bohl
www.wrhu.org and 88.7 FM in New York

HOFSTRA POSTS CONFERENCE WIN, DEFEATS WILLIAM AND MARY

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Recap | Box Scores
Hempstead, NY --

Junior center Jess Fuller (Queens, NY) logged her third straight double-double and senior guard Natty Fripp (Oakland, CA) scored 12 of her season-high 15 points in the second half as the Pride defeated William and Mary, 55-45, in a Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) contest Sunday afternoon at the Mack Sports Complex.

The Pride defense held an opponent below 50 points for the third time this season. Hofstra forced the Tribe to shoot 24.2 percent from the field, marking the fifth time it held an opponent below the 30-percent mark. Fuller scored 11 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for her eight double-double of the season and senior Niki Williams (Pittsburgh, PA) added 10 points and seven assists from the point guard spot to help Hofstra improve to 11-5 and 3-2 against the conference. The win was Hofstra's 10th in its last 12 games.

Junior forward Tiffany Benson added 16 points and 17 rebounds for the Tribe, which fell to 10-6 and 3-2 in the CAA. Freshman guard Janine Aldridge was the only other William and Mary player to score in double figures, adding 11 points.

Junior guard Sam Brigham (Simsbury, CT) provided the complementary offense, scoring 12 points and picking up six rebounds to help Hofstra win its second straight game. But Fripp thwarted the Tribe's comeback hopes, scoring nine points and assisting on Brigham's clutch basket in a 5:26 span to give a Hofstra a 48-43 lead with 1:44 remaining.

Led by Benson, the Tribe grabbed 21 offensive rebounds, building a 46-39 advantage on the glass. Dani Kell hit an open three-ball from the top of the key, putting Tribe up 35-34 with 8:11 left. But that would be the last time Hofstra would trail as it held a conference opponent to its lowest shooting percentage since it held the Tribe to a 23.9 percent in a victory March 3, 2005 in Fairfax, Virginia.

Fripp started her run with a block and scored on Williams' down-court home run pass. Fripp tracked down the high-arching feed, catching it off a bounce and finishing with the lay-in. Moments later, she drilled a clutch left-wing three-pointer, expanding Hofstra's one-point lead to 41-37 at the 14:10 mark. The Pride responded with forcing two missed shots on the Tribe's next possession. Fripp capitalized off the stop, finding Brigham for an easy basket in the paint with 5:11 left.

William and Mary cut the deficit to 45-43 but could not find an answer down low. Fuller drew the foul on Benson and hit one of two free throws, keeping it a one-possession game. Courtney Portell saw her potential game-tying three-point attempt hit the back rim and bounce out. Fripp provided the insurance basket, hitting a far left side jumper to give Hofstra a 48-43 edge with 1:44 left.

Aldridge scored all 11 of her points in the first half. The Pride forced her to miss all four of her second-half field goals and held the Tribe's shooting percentage to as low as 20.5 percent at the 12:19 mark of the second half.

Tight defense and inconsistent shooting led to a low-scoring first half in which both schools shot less than 30 percent from the field. Aldridge and Fuller were the only players to find a rhythm early. Fuller scored eight points and grabbed six rebounds before the break as she tried to pick up freshman forward Joelle Connelly's (Arcade, NY) usual production after she picked up three fouls in six minutes of action before halftime.

Aldridge ran the point for the Tribe and scored nearly half of her team's points in the opening 20 minutes, pouring in 11 on 4-6 shooting, including three three-pointers. William and Mary also racked up a 26-19 rebounding edge, actually getting more offensive boards (14) than defensive (12) to build a 24-22 halftime lead.

Hofstra will hit the road Thursday when it travels to Richmond to take on Virginia Commonwealth. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.

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(Photograph by Brian Ballweg for Hofstra Athletics)

Isles Still Winless in 2009

Isles Still Winless in 2009

Jan 17th, 2009 | By Brian Bohl | Category: New York Islanders, Today's News | Edit

The Islanders pre-game ceremony for Bill Guerin and Doug Weight was the only thing worth celebrating for the Isles Saturday. (Brian Bohl/NYSD)

UNIONDALE, NY-The Islanders went back to its roots with its third jerseys, tailoring uniforms that are similar to the ones the franchise sported in the 1970s. It was fitting the Isles wore those uniforms last night, since the effort in a 3-1 loss to the Devils would be a performance worthy of the club’s 1972-73 expansion team.

New Jersey scored in nearly all ways possible. Zach Parise scored on the power play, David Clarkson found the twine at even strength and Travis Zajac provided a short-handed marker as the Isles remained winless in 2009, falling to 0-7 in January.

“Too many turnovers and too many odd-man advantages,” said Trent Hunter, who had five of the Islanders 33 total shots. “With a team like that, they can just sit back and wait for that stuff. They have a lot of skilled players to capitalize on that.”

As small consolation, the Isles won’t finish with the same 30 points as it did during the first year. But at 12-29-4 and an NHL-worst 28 points though 45 games, the Islanders can threaten the 2000-01 team, which finished with 52 points. That total is currently the second-lowest in team history for a full season, which looks to be in jeopardy considering goaltender Rick DiPietro and Joey MacDonald are out of the lineup and the offense has failed to score more than two goals the past five games.

The Devils are similar to the Islanders only in that both clubs lost its franchise goalie to an injury. Unlike the Isles, who are down to former third-stringer Yann Danis in net, Scott Clemmensen has his unit in contention for the Atlantic Division crown. Clemmensen did his best Martin Brodeur impersonation in front of a sold-out crowd, stopping 32 of 33 shots as the Isles dropped to 1-10-2 in the division.

“We didn’t play for two periods, and that pretty much says it all,” coach Scott Gordon said. “Not many teams can afford to play like we did for two periods like we did. We’re in that category.”

Danis started the season at AHL Bridgeport and was expected to be on the bench backing up newly signed Wade Dubielewicz. The Columbus Blue Jackets claimed Dubielewicz off waivers after the Islanders morning skate, forcing general manager to call up Peter Mannino from the Sound Tigers.

Danis played well for a third straight game, making 33 saves. The 27-year-old is still looking for his first NHL win since he was a Montreal Canadian in the the 2005-06 season, dropping to 0-5 in the current campaign. Blake Comeau ensured the Isles were not shut-out for the fifth time, lifting a rebound attempt past a diving Clemmensen for his fourth goal 10:35 into the third.

“We have to keep getting pucks on net,” Comeau said. “We have to get more traffic; those second and third opportunities. There were a few rebounds tonight we could have pounced on.

“We have to play with speed. We need our defense to join the rush. The forwards have to do a better job of getting pucks on the net and we have to go through the neutral zone with a lot more speed.”

The Devils came out strong and forced Danis into a costly giveaway. Parise knocked the puck loose from Danis when the netminder skated behind the net, knocking it loose to Zajac in the slot, who sent it home into the open net for a shorthanded tally 6:06 into the contest.

“I went out to get the puck, but it was spinning and I couldn’t stop it,” Danis said. “I just ran out of time to make a play.”

Danis atoned for that mistake by preventing Zajac’s second shorthanded goal just 2:10 later, snaring the centerman’s shot with his glove to stymie a breakaway and keep the deficit at 1-0.

The reprieve could not generate a comeback attempt. Nate Thompson was called for boarding 12 seconds into the second and Zajac capitalized, setting a screen in front of Danis. Patrik Elias’s shot attempt deflected off Zajac and into Danis pad. The rebound slid right on Parise’ stick blade, allowing him to slam in the second chance for a power play goal.

Almost four minutes later, Clarkson’s bench-side shot skipped past Danis, opening a 3-0 edge before the game’s midway point.

Notes: Brendan Witt was only feet away from Clarkson when he was hit in the face by a blue line slap shot. Witt skated off the ice on his own power 3:45 into the final period and returned minutes later… Radek Martinek, who missed 14 games with an upper-body injury, picked up his first point of the season, assisting on Comeau’s goal. Clemmensen stopped Martinek’s hard shot from the right side before Comeau converted on the rebound chance.

The Islanders honored Bill Guerin with a framed jersey that had his name and the number 400 on it to commemorate his 400th career goal. He accomplished the milestone as part of a two-goal game against Toronto Dec. 26. Dough Weight was also honored in similar fashion, getting a special shirt with No. 1,000 across the back for picking up 1,000 career points January 2 in Phoenix.

Tags: Bill Guerin, Bohl, Division Crown, Doug Weight, Expansion Team, Five Games, Goaltender, Impersonation, Joey Macdonald, Martin Brodeur, Odd Man, Rick Dipietro, Scott Clemmensen, Skilled Players, Small Consolation, Travis Zajac, Trent Hunter, Uniondale Ny, Yann Danis, Zach Parise

WRHU Islanders Report, First Aired January 19, 2009

Dubie, Dubie Don't

Dubie, Dubie Don’t

Jan 17th, 2009 | By Brian Bohl | Category: New York Islanders, Today's News | Edit

Yann Danis tried to make most of chance after Wade Dubielewicz was claimed on waivers. (Brian Bohl/NYSD)

UNIONDALE, NY - Fans walking in the frigid air outside Nassau Coliseum saw the unintentionally ironic banner that read “we’re all Islanders.” Two days prior, the club generated news by agreeing to play a preseason game next season in Kansas City, which could be a potential relocation spot for the franchise.

The marketing slogan also provided another contradiction when the Islanders found out that goaltender Wade Dubielewicz would have to leave Nassau County. Despite agreeing to terms with the netminder Thursday, the Columbus Blue Jackets claimed Dubielewicz off waivers.

Dubielewicz started the season in the Continental League in Russia, signing with Ak Bars Kazan before getting released. Under NHL rules, Dubielewicz needed to clear waivers first before joining the Islanders, which Columbus prevented by making a claim Saturday afternoon just hours after he participated in the pregame skate. Before long, Dubielewicz was off to Vancouver join his new team for a road game.

“I have mixed emotions,” Dubielewicz said to reporters before leaving. “Once I signed with the Islanders, my heart was set on being here.

“I’m disappointed, too. At the same time, I’m very thankful he gave me the opportunity to come back here, and I appreciate that.”

Peter Mannino was called up before the Devils game to backup Yann Danis. Rick DiPietro and Joey MacDonald, the top two goalies on the depth chart, are both injured. DiPietro could be placed on Injured Reserve any day and MacDonald is out 2-4 weeks with a groin injury.

Dubielewicz played 20 games for the Islanders last season, going 9-9-1 with a .919 save percentage. The 29-year-old is best known for filling in for an injured DiPietro at the end of the 2005-06 season, when he won his final four starts to help put the Islanders into the Stanley Cup playoffs. He was 11-8-3 for his Russian team before returning to the United States.

Danis turned aside 30 shots against New Jersey but still dropped to 0-5 this season. Blake Comeau scored the only goal in the 3-1 loss to the Devils and said he was surprised Dubielewicz was on the move so quickly.

“It’s part of the game,” Comeau said. “Guys were a little surprised because he was out skating with us, but I don’t think it was in too many guys’ minds when the game came around.”

Dubielewicz has an NHL record of 16-13-1-1 with a 2.55 goals against average and a .920 save percentage. He wasn’t the only player to participate in the Islanders 3-1 loss to the Devils. Future Hall of Famer Brendan Shanahan, who signed a one-year deal with New Jersey, did not make his 2008-09 debut. Devils coach Brent Sutter saw his veteran winger sit out a second straight game since agreeing to a contract but could play Monday when the Devils travel to Nashville.

“I really do believe the next step for me is probably playing on Monday night,” Shanahan said. “I’m sure that Brent will ease me into the lineup, fit me in where I can help and use the games to move ahead to the next level.”

Tags: Ak Bars Kazan, Clear Waivers, Columbus Blue Jackets, Continental League, Dubie, Frigid Air, Groin Injury, Joey Macdonald, Mixed Emotions, Nassau Coliseum, Nassau County, Netminder, Nhl Rules, Nysd, Peter Mannino, Preseason Game, Rick Dipietro, Road Game, Stanley Cup Playoffs, Uniondale Ny, Wade Dubielewicz, Yann Danis

PRIDE KNOCKS OFF FIRST-PLACE NORTHEASTERN

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Recap | Box Scores
Hempstead, NY --

Sophomore guard Charles Jenkins (Queens,NY - pictured) scored a game-high 23 points and junior guard Tony Dennison (Long Island City, NY) scored all nine of his points in the second half and had a key steal in the final minute as the Hofstra Men's Basketball team defeated first-place Northeastern, 57-52, in a Saturday afternoon conference matchup at the Mack Sports Complex.

Senior forward Arminas Urbutis (Kaunas, Lithuania) nearly registered his first career double-double, finishing with eight points and nine rebounds as the Pride snapped a two-game losing streak, improving to 11-7 overall and 3-4 in the CAA. The Huskies entered the contest tied with George Mason for first place in the Colonial Athletic Association at 6-0 but suffered their first conference loss as they fall to 11-6 and 6-1. Junior guard Matt Janning led Northeastern with 14 points, but missed his last six shots from the floor.

Northeastern battled back from a 40-33 second half deficit to tie the score at 49 on Chaisson Allen's low-post bank shot with 2:38 left. Junior forward Manny Adako followed a Jenkins missed free throw with a lay-up to put Northeastern ahead, 51-50, with 1:47 left on the clock.

Hofstra turned the ball over, and Northeastern was denied a chance to extend its lead as Janning missed a runner and junior forward Nkem Ojougboh was called for traveling on the offensive rebound. Jenkins then drove to the basket coast-to-coast and was hit by Adako, who fouled out with 45.6 seconds left. Jenkins hit both free throws to give Hofstra a 52-51 lead.

On the next possession, Dennison forced a key turnover, knocking his deflection off Allen to give the ball back to Hofstra nearly 10 seconds later. Senior guard Greg Johnson (Harlem, NY) was fouled on the ensuing inbounds pass and made both free throws, extending the lead to 54-51.

Janning was fouled next possession but could hit only one of two free throws with 18.7 seconds remaining. Dennison hit one of two free throws with 18 seconds left, still leaving it a one-possession game at 55-52.

Hofstra's perimeter defense negated Northeastern's final stand. Janning missed a three-pointer from the top of the key and Chris Alvarez couldn't convert on Northeastern's offensive rebound, missing a three-pointer from the sideline with 3.6 seconds left. Jenkins grabbed the rebound and drew the foul, making both free throws to secure the win.

Urbutis scored all of his points in the first half. The senior forward teamed with Dennison to provide scoring off the bench, with Hofstra's reserves outscoring their counterparts 17-11.

Urbutis' final points put the Pride up 26-21 with 1:30 remaining in the first half. Northeastern responded by generating an 8-0 run, capped off by Nkem Ojougboh lay-in off Chaisson Allen's high-arching pass at the buzzer, giving the Huskies a 29-26 halftime lead. Hofstra then answered in the second half, as Jenkins hit a three-pointer to put Hofstra ahead 35-33 with 13:17 left, sparking an 8-0 run to make it 40-33 at the 8:14 mark.

Jenkins shot 8-16 from the floor for the game, including 5-7 in the second half, when he scored 16 of his 23 points. Sophomore guard Nathaniel Lester (Brooklyn, NY) made his first start of the year and contributed a career-high five assists. Adako was the only player besides Janning to score in double figures for Northeastern, finishing with 13 points.

Following a three-day layoff, the Pride will return to action Wednesday when it hosts William and Mary in a conference matchup. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.

(Photo by Brian Ballweg for Hofstra Athletics)

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WRHU Report first aired January 15, 2009

Isles Lose Goalie and The Game

Isles Lose Goalie and The Game

Jan 14th, 2009 | By Brian Bohl | Category: New York Islanders, Today's News

Danis played well, but it just wasn't enough. (Brian Bohl/NYSD)

UNIONDALE, NY- A groin injury forced an Islanders goaltender off the ice and into the trainers’ room.

Rick DiPietro’s groin, knee and hip injuries have made that sentence a familiar refrain. But it was Joey MacDonald who had to exit the Nassau Coliseum ice just 5:01 into Tuesday night’s game against the Rangers with a sprained groin.

Yann Danis, who started the season third on the organization’s depth chart, entered in relief and did his best to steal one for the Isles by making 24 saves. But a turnover and an odd-man rush in the second period resulted in goals by Chris Drury and Nigel Dawes, allowing the Rangers to escape with a 2-1 victory.

Henrik Lundqvist stopped 33 shots and shut down the Isles injury-depleted lineup, making a door-stop pad save on Mark Streit’s shot in a frantic sequence in the final minute. Lundqvist also made a stop on Blake Comeau’s initial attempt, allowing the Rangers to start its five-game road trip 3-0.

But Danis gave the Islanders a chance. With DiPietro scratched and likely headed backed to Injured Reserve, Danis was called up from AHL Bridgeport, making the 1 ½ hour drive from Connecticut to the Coliseum.

Nearly five minutes into the game, coach Scott Gordon needed to deploy his backup netminder and have team officials get permission from the NHL to have the club’s goaltending consultant and former Islanders netminder Mike Dunham be eligible to play in case anything happened to Danis.

“I saw him before the game and he was scraping up his crease,” Gordon said about MacDonald. “I was watching him and thought there was something wrong. We looked back after a couple of shifts and there was something there. I haven’t talked to the doctor about it [yet].”

Captain Bill Guerin joked that Danis nickname was yo-yo for his constant status as the backup on-call. The Islanders have constantly shifted the 27-year-old from Bridgeport to the big club depending on DiPietro’s recovery from knee surgery and his recent groin problem.

“I didn’t see what happened, but you have to be ready at all times,” Danis said about entering the game on short notice. “I know I can play in this league. I felt confident and felt solid the whole game.”

Danis, who last recorded an NHL victory in the 2005-06 campaign for Montreal, saw his team support him with Chris Campoli’s goal with 1:10 remaining in the opening period. Guerin slid a backhand pass to Campoli, who fired a slap shot from the left circle that blazed through traffic and beat Lundqvist stick-side for his fifth goal of the season.

Campoli couldn’t prevent the Rangers from tying it 12:31 into the second. With Richard Park’s penalty expiring, Campoli tried unsuccessfully to clear the puck from the Islanders end. Scott Gomez gloved Campoli’s attempt to go up the sideboards, carrying it in deep before leaving a dump pass for Drury between the circles. Drury fired a hard shot from between the circles, beating Danis high stick-side to the cheers of a sold-out crowd which predominantly comprised Rangers fans.

“There are a lot of playoff games like this and also down the stretch,” Drury said. “You have to be comfortable with 2-1 leads. We managed it well tonight.”

Ryan Callahan set up the Rangers go-ahead tally just 1:56 later, skating to right circle on a 3-on-1 rush near the end of a power play chance. Callahan pushed a centering pass right on a streaking Dawes’ stick blade. Danis was too late sliding over to make the save as the Isles dropped to 12-27-4 and have the NHL’s lowest point total at 28.

“They capitalized on breaks they got,” Guerin said. “It was an up-and-down game and a good game.”

The Islanders out-shot its geographical rival and looked good for stretches. But the club is 0-5 in January and was missing Doug Weight and Andy Hilbert because of injuries. Despite the reasons for distress, Campoli said the game could be seen as a positive in a few respects.

“We skated and were physical,” Campoli said. “If we do that, we can skate with any team in the league.”

Notes: Defenseman Andy Sutton had surgery and will be out 8-10 weeks. Sutton broke his foot in December…The announced attendance was 16,239… Frans Nielsen and Nate Thompson both played significant minutes after being activated from Injured Reserve. Nielsen logged 20 shifts and 15:42 of ice time, registering three shots and won three of nine faceoffs. He suffered a leg injury on Nov. 21. Thompson played 10:21 on 17 shifts with one shot and won six of 11 faceoffs.

WRHU Report Islanders vs Rangers January 14, 2009

All Pictures by Brian Bohl

Smith Off To A Good Start

Smith Off To A Good Start

Jan 2nd, 2009 | By Brian Bohl | Category: New York Islanders | Edit

UNIONDALE, NY — Trevor Smith raced near the left circle and fired a hard shot that hit Panthers backup goalie Craig Anderson in the chest two minutes into the third period. Making his NHL debut, Smith came close to registering his first career goal. Instead, the 23-year-old had to settle for a 4-2 Islanders victory over Florida Wednesday afternoon at Nassau Coliseum.

Smith was called up after the Islanders after veteran center Mike Sillinger was placed on injured reserve as he tries to recover from a hip injury that limited him to seven games this season and 52 during the 2006-07 campaign.

Wearing No. 77, Smith played left wing on a line with veteran center Doug Weight and Richard Park. The rookie logged 10:58 of ice time, going minus-1 thanks to his time on the ice when Brett Mclean put the Panthers up by a goal to start the contest.

But Smith still finished with three shots in 15 shifts while also blocking two shots. Weight, who needs just one more point to become the 73rd player in league history to reach 1,000 for his career, said Smith was impressive.

“Trevor’s a good player and a nice kid,” Weight said. “He sees the ice well, skates well. Like all these young guys, he has a lot of tools. He was definitely a good player out there today. He played well.”

Smith started the season in AHL Bridgeport, scoring a team-leading 18 goals for the Sound Tigers. His 29 points in 33 games could give the Isles hope of improving an offense that has no player on pace to score even 30 goals this season.

Last season, Smith scored 20 goals in 53 games for the Sound Tigers. Smith nearly excited the home crowd early. Weight’s one-time pass went right to Smith’s stick blade, though he fired just left of the open net nearly 14 minutes into the first period.

The 6-1, 195-pound left-handed shot was not available for comment after the game, though coach Scott Gordon said his performance was impressive.

“Trevor did a good job coming up and fitting in,” Gordon said.

Before the Panthers game, the islanders also placed Mitch Fritz on waivers. The 28-year-old grinder appeared in 15 games this season, compiling 12 penalty minutes.

The Islanders start a road trip tonight against the Wayne Gretzky-coached Phoenix Coyotes. The club will also travel to San Jose, Edmonton and Calgary before returning to Long Island to face the Rangers on Jan. 13. Gordon’s club won just two games in December and carries a league-low 28 points into Arizona, though the Isles have picked up points in three of the past four games.

“There’s a little more confidence,” Weight said. “We’ve put a little more accountability in the room. It’s shown. It’s been refreshing and we have a lot of energy.

“It’s a long trip but everyone has to do it. Maybe it’s a good time for us to go out as a team and get some results as a team.”

Isles Ring in New Year with a Win

Isles Ring in New Year With a Win

by: Brian Bohl | Senior Writer - NY Sports Day | Thursday, January 1, 2009

UNIONDALE, NY — Before the Islanders took the ice to face the Florida Panthers in a New Year’s Eve matinee, the club introduced mascots of comic book heroes like Spiderman and the Hulk.

Ironman was also in attendance, though he did not take a picture with Rick DiPietro. The snapshot would have marked a dichotomy of durability, since the Isles franchise goaltender was once again unavailable for duty.

DiPietro was scratched from the lineup and Joey MacDonald got the start as DiPietro continues to battle a groin problem. It marked the second straight game he sat out after picking up his first win of the season Friday, when the netminder with a 15-year contract made his temporary return following his October knee surgery to repair a meniscus.

But MacDonald stopped 27 of 29 shots in helping the Islanders post a 4-2 victory Wednesday at Nassau Coliseum. Mike Comrie added his first multi-goal game of the season, scoring the tying and go-ahead goals while Sean Bergenheim and Mark Streit adding the insurance markers.

It marked a rare bright spot in a dismal month as the Isles lost 12 of its 14 games in December yet will embark on a four-game, seven-day West Coast road trip with points in three of its last four contests.

“We’ve seen the last three of four Stanley Cup winners, weren’t expected to be in a playoff race. Anything can happen,” said Doug Weight, who needs just one more point to reach 1,000 in his career after assisting on Comrie’s second goal. “I hope no one in this organization is writing off this year.

“I like the way we’re playing now. You never know. You go run off eight out of 10 and some teams stumble and you can find yourself in striking distance.”

MacDonald, who was named one of the NHL’s three stars of the month in November filling in for DiPietro, consistently negated defensive lapses. One of his best saves came early in the final period, when he protected a 3-1 lead by fully extending his left arm to get a glove on Gregory Campbell’s laser, preventing a Panthers shorthanded mark.

“We had a tough month but I thought over the past five games, we’ve played really well,” MacDonald said. “We’re getting a lot more puck possession and forcing the other team to get some penalties.”

The Islanders trailed Florida 1-0 after the first period but could have faced a larger deficit. MacDonald compensated for loose play in the defensive zone, making two spectacular glove slaves on Nathan Horton early in the opening moments.

“Joey, in the first seven minutes, was the difference for us,” coach Scott Gordon said. “We shot ourselves in the foot with the turnovers that we made coming out of our end.”

DiPietro has played in four games this season and has endured surgeries to both hips and knees since signing his record contact before the start of the 2006 season. Gordon said DiPietro’s recent groin injury is not serious and was not the result of being rushed back to the lineup.

“Ricky is in pretty good shape,” Gordon said. “It’s not like it was an issue about his knee being fully recovered. It’s a normal groin pull anybody can have. He skated this morning and right now he wants to get in and play. The injury he sustained wasn’t from his preexisting injury.”

Richard Park nearly gave the home team the lead, firing a left circle shot that went past Thomas Vokoun before getting waved off. Jon Sim tried to screen Vokoun, stationing himself right outside the crease. When the shot went in, the officials whistled Sim for goaltender interference and took the goal off the board.

Florida escaped a goal and added a tally with 1:36 left. Trevor Smith, making his NHL debut, twice failed to clear the puck in the zone, allowing Brett McLean to bang a shot that hit off the post and past MacDonald for a one-goal Florida lead heading into the first intermission.

Comrie helped the Islanders surge to a quick start in the second, where the Panthers were out-shot, 11-3. The Kyle Okposo-Comrie-Blake Comeau line continued to generate scoring chances, with Comrie tipping in Okposo’s one-time pass to tie the game 7:50 into the period.

Just 7:15 later, Comrie registered his first two-goal game since Feb. 28. While on the power play, Comrie skated to the goal line on the right post and banked a shot off Vokoun’s right leg and into the back of the net for the 2-1 lead.

“We see what can happen when we play a whole game when we play hard and skate,” Comrie said.

With 14 seconds remaining in the period, Sean Bergenheim provided MacDonald with a cushion, beating Vokoun glove-side after skating past Karlis Skrastins along the penalty box-side boards. Bergenheim raced in and released at shot at the bottom of the right circle for 3-1 lead.

Streit added another power play goal 13:34 into the third and Horton added a goal in garbage time, scoring with just 28 seconds left to add a meaningless goal for the Panthers.

“We were blocking shots defensively,” MacDonald said. “When you have guys pitching in like that, you’re going to get some good results. I think we’ve made a lot of strides the last five games. We need to keep going in the right direction.”

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