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)