Isles Open Up Coliseum With Win

Isles Open Up Coliseum With Win

by: Brian Bohl | Senior Writer - NY Sports Day | Sunday, October 12, 2008

UNIONDALE, NY - Rick DiPietro dressed for Saturday night’s home opener but sat on the bench for a second straight game. DiPietro's status for future games is still uncertain. 

But the Islanders provided the best remedy for an unstable goalie situation by producing an offensive explosion. Last season, the Islanders scored a NHL-worst 189 goals. Yet the Isles started a new campaign at Nassau Coliseum by erupting for four first-period goals, galvanizing a sold-out crowd en route to a 5-2 victory over St. Louis in the home opener. 

Andy Hilbert, Bruno Gervais and Doug Weight each registered a multi-point game, helping the home team improve to 1-1. First-year coach Scott Gordon also picked up his first NHL victory, earning a congratulatory handshake and souvenir from captain Bill Guerin. 

“Billy gave me that game puck and said, ‘I hope there are many more to follow,’” Gordon said. 

Guerin, who added an empty net goal in the final minute, said his coach took the milestone in stride. 

“He keeps himself in check pretty well, but I think he was pretty happy,” Guerin said. 

Mike Comrie, Trent Hunter and Sean Bergenheim propelled the Isles to a 3-0 lead in the opening 16 minutes, supporting backup netminder Joey MacDonald. After stopping 27 shots in a 2-1 season opener, MacDonald logged his first NHL victory since March 27, 2007, posting 24 saves. 

“I didn’t know him coming here, but he’s a hard worker and he deserves everything he’s getting,” Gordon said. 

Comrie initiated the scoring just 2:18 into the game, taking Richard Park’s feed before slamming a hard shot past Chris Mason. 

The Islanders continued the pressure and showed more positive signs that Gordon’s system could pay early dividends. The power play was the league’s second-worst last season, though Hunter ensured the club of a power play goal for a second straight game to make it 2-0 at the 13:47 mark. 

“That was pretty close to the efforts we had in the games we had during exhibition season,” Gordon said. “From top to bottom in our lineup, that was a pretty consistent effort from everybody.” 

Barret Jackman’s interference penalty put the Isles up a man. Hunter capitalized on the opportunity, taking Weight’s pass near the blue line before blasting a 50-foot shot past Mason (29 saves). 

Hilbert, who heard boos towards the end of a playoff-less 2007-08 season, turned the jeers into thunderous applause in the opening period, first by setting up Bergenheim’s tally and then on a highlight-reel worthy shorthanded goal. 

“The building was rocking,” Hilbert said. “It sure was a lot of fun. They were so enthusiastic and loud.” 

Hilbert battled in the corner near the Blues bench to keep the puck in the offensive zone; a move that paid off when Bergenheim took the pass and fired a wrist shot between the circles. His shot wasn’t hard but hit Mason’s leg pad on the low stick-side, trickling past the goal line for a 3-0 lead just 1:33 after from Hunter’s goal. 

“As long as there is the right support there for a defenseman and a third man coming back, we’re going to be as aggressive as possible,” Hilbert said. “We don’t want to quit on any play. We kept the play alive and Bergy had a great shot.” 

St. Louis tempered some of the enthusiasm when Brad Boyes completed a one-timer off Paul Kariya’s centering pass. Boyes was left alone near the crease, preventing MacDonald from sliding over in time to stop the slapper. 

The Islanders reestablished the three-goal edge before the first intermission despite playing down a man. Hilbert raced into the Blues zone, making a swift backhand-to-forehand move before firing a quick shot. Mason made the save as Mark Streit collected the rebound and slid a pass right on Hilbert’s stick blade. Boyes was late getting back, helpless to prevent Hilbert’s skillful backhand goal. 

MacDonald prevented the Blues from forging a comeback. Keith Tkachuk, who scored two goals in the Blues opening game win, made it 4-2 with 12:13 remaining in the game, converting a power play opportunity off a rebound. Kariya, a former perennial All-Star, picked up his second assist of the contest when Tkachuk scored his third off the season. 

St. Louis would not score again as MacDonald ensured he did enough to earn his first victory since his time as a Boston Bruin. Gordon credited the 28-year-old for playing well for a second straight day as DiPietro continues to rest his surgically repaired left knee. DiPietro dressed and served as the backup, much as he did in the loss to the Devils. 

MacDonald’s best save came late in the second. Tkachuk exited the penalty box at the same time the puck slid to center ice. The former 50-goal scorer raced in for a breakaway, getting off a low shot that MacDonald stopped by kicking out his leg to preserve the three-goal lead. 

“It’s a turning point in the game if they would have scored,” MacDonald said. “My job is to come up with the saves when I have to and the guys put the puck in the net when they had to. That’s the difference between last night and tonight.” 

Hilbert also cited the Tkachuk breakaway stop as a momentum-shifter. 

“He was unbelievable tonight,” Hilbert said. “That save was one of the better ones I’ve ever seen. He’s really picked us up and played great tonight.” 

The Islanders tight defense allowed the club to forge a 34-26 edge in shots. MacDonald also earned a few chants from the home crowd, especially after turning aside two Jay McClement shots in succession with 3:34 remaining. 

“You don’t hear that in too many arenas,” MacDonald said. “It’s pretty good. It’s great fan support and I’m glad we gave them a great effort tonight.”

DP Still Sitting As Isles Begin Season

DP Still Sitting As Isles Begin Season

by: Brian Bohl | Senior Writer - NY Sports Day | Sunday, October 12, 2008

UNIONDALE, NY — Any lingering questions about Rick DiPietro’s status for last night’s home opener against St. Louis were answered when Joey MacDonald led the Islanders from the dressing room to the Nassau Coliseum ice last night for the pregame warmup. 

First-year coach Scott Gordon was vague about DiPietro’s availability to start following the pregame skate. Entering the third year of a guaranteed 15-year deal, DiPietro dressed for a second straight night and acted as MacDonald’s backup as he recovers from surgery to his left knee he had during the offseason. 

Gordon decline to address DiPietro’s specific condition and would not confirm if the left-handed netminder would be the choice to start Monday’s matinee against Buffalo at home. 

“You know what, I’ve done a lot of talking about Rick and I love talking about him but I’m not going to take away from what our team did tonight,” Gordon said about taking questions about DiPietro’s health. “For the time being; we’re going to pass on that tonight and I appreciate your patience with that.” 

DiPietro said after the game that reports about his knee experiencing swelling were inaccurate and added he is working his way into game shape. He also said he could have played in an emergency if MacDonald was injured. 

“I don’t know where that came from,” DiPietro said about the report previously published on TSN’s website saying DiPietro had “swelling and fluid” around the knee. “If there was enough swelling where it was a problem, I obviously wouldn’t be on the bench backing up.” 

MacDonald made 24 saves in picking up his first NHL victory since March 27, 2007 when he was a member of the Boston Bruins. The 28-year-old helped a four-goal first period for the Islanders stand-up, including a stop on Keith Tkachuk’s breakaway late in the second period to preserve a 4-1 lead in front of a sold-out crowd. 

Wade Dubielewicz was not brought back as DiPietro’s replacement in the offseason, allowing MacDonald to make the jump from AHL Bridgeport to the big club. The 6-0, 200-pound goalie said his current predicament will help him become accustomed to playing on short notice. 

“It’s a long season and a lot of games,” MacDonald said. “Rick is going to play a lot, and it’s important for me to be ready when I get the opportunity to be there and give the team a chance to win when I get to play.” 

Bill Guerin, the Islanders captain, said MacDonald has provided the club with a boost. 

“Joey really stepped up the last couple of nights and play great, and that’s what we needed,” Guerin said. 

At least DiPietro was in uniform, which wasn’t the case for a handful of his teammates. Mike Sillinger, recovering from hip surgery, came to greet the sold-out crowd in a suit. First-round pick Josh Bailey and Blake Comeau also were in street clothes because of undisclosed injuries. Both players sat out the Devils game and are waiting to make their 2008-09 debuts. 

Neither DiPietro nor Gordon would say if the former No. 1 overall draft pick would be ready for Monday. 

“If I wasn’t backing up, there’d be something to talk about,” said DiPietro, who also had hip surgery in March. “I’m going to do everything the doctors tell me to do and whatever the coach tells me to do. The doctors have a plan for me so that once I start playing, I’m not going to have to take nights off.”

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

Rangers Game Report

Rangers Close Out Garden Preseason with a Loss
By: Brian Bohl Senior Writer - NY Sports Day Sunday, September 28, 2008

NEW YORK - Henrik Lundqvist skated to the bench with his head down while boos crashed down from the Madison Square Garden rafters. The jeers came despite the fact the contest was a meaningless preseason affair that featured more than 30 scratches, including rivalry mainstays like Martin Brodeur, John Madden, Zach Parise and others who didn’t even make the trip into midtown Manhattan.

Luckily for the Rangers, the 4-2 loss to New Jersey will mean nothing once the regular season commences. But coach Tom Renney said the miscues needed to be curtailed before his team commences the NHL season with two games against Tampa Bay in the Czech Republic starting Saturday night.

Renney said his decision to pull Lundqvist at the 10:35 mark of the second was designed to do more than just relieve his All-Star caliber netminder. “We cut his losses and maybe suggest to others that they better step it up,” Renney said about his decision to insert backup Stephen Valiquette.

The shakeup came following the second goal from the Patrick Elias-Brian Gionta-Brian Rolston line, as the trio combined for eight points. Elias opened the scoring 1:32 into the contest. Veterans Dainius Zubrus registered his first preseason goal just 1:36 later, converting on Bobby Holik’s pass for a 2-0 lead.

Elias tallied his second goal of the game, slamming home Zubrus’ feed to convert a power play opportunity 4:46 into the second. Gionta added the final total for the Devils, ending Lundqvist’s outing. New Jersey pulled starter Kevin Weekes, who turned aside all 10 shots he faced, at the time same time. Scott Clemmensen entered for the former Rangers and Islanders goalie.

The afternoon wasn’t a total waste for the Blueshirts. Prized free-agent acquisitions Markus Naslund and Nikolai Zherdev each scored goals for the first time in a Rangers uniform to restore some competiveness.

The Rangers played most of its starters, prompting Renney to say he was confident about his line combinations yet expressed frustration about the work ethic during the matinee.

“I liked the combinations before the game and I certainly liked the lineup,” Renney said. “If this lineup can jell and be more conscientious with the puck, I think this lineup will win. I like the looks of it. That’s why I want to avoid knee-jerk reactions.”

Naslund signed as free-agent this winter to help replace the scoring left by the defections of Jaromir Jagr, Sean Avery and Brendan Shanahan. The former Canuck star scored his first goal as a Ranger 14:23 into the second, notching a power play goal that energized an announced crowd of 15,361 despite thousands of empty seats.

Following the exhibition, the Rangers were scheduled to fly to Switzerland later in the evening. After playing six games in eight days, the Blueshirts will play two more exhibitions there before heading to Prague to open the season against the Lightning.

“I expect us to get going here,” said Naslund, who has 452 career goals and is playing in an NHL uniform other than Vancouver for the first time since the 1995-96 season. “It will be intense. We have a lot of travel and a lot of games but I think at this point, we need that.”

Scott Gomez said traveling more than 4,000 miles can be a positive team-building endeavor. “It’s a chance to get to know each other better,” Gomez said. “There are a lot of new faces. I think it is great. We are going to spend some quality time together and get to know the new guys.”

http://www.nysportsday.com/news/combined/Rangers-Close-Out-Garden-Preseason-with-a-Loss.php

All photgraphs below are courtsey of Getty Images. The audio is part of my piece for WRHU (www.wrhu.org)

Ducks Lose Opener

Ducks Drop Game 1, 5-1

by: Brian Bohl | Senior Writer - NY Sports Day | Wednesday, September 24, 2008

CENTRAL ISLIP, NY — Four years ago to the day, Lance Davis pitched the best game in his Ducks career, going 7 2/3 innings as the Flock won a one-run game to advance to the championship round en route to the organization’s only Atlantic League title.

Davis—the only Duck remaining from the 2004 squad—couldn’t find his dominant form Tuesday night. The southpaw was tagged for four runs in 5 2/3 innings as the Camden Riversharks won, 5-1, in Game 1 of the Liberty Division playoffs in front of 4,910 at Citibank Park.

Camden sent nine men to the plate during a four-run sixth inning, taking control of the best-of-three set. The Riversharks will have two chances to close out the series at home starting Wednesday night. Game 3, if necessary, will also be held at Campbell’s Field.

Kevin Walker quieted the Ducks bats, limiting the home team to just six hits in seven innings. The Ducks have lost its last seven postseason games dating back to the first round in 2005. Staff ace Randy Leek will go in the elimination game, giving manager Dave LaPoint reason for some optimism.

“There’s no panic situation,” LaPoint said. “We have a 12-game winner going for us and it’s not like we haven’t hit up there [Camden]. It should another great game. I would look for us to break out a little more offensively. We’ll be more in a groove.”

Walker allowed a run in the second but quickly found his grove. The lefty retired 12 straight batters from the third to the seventh inning. Walker induced two double plays and silenced the heart of the Ducks order. LaPoint watched his 2-5 hitters go a combined 2-16.

Carl Everett, who hit a team-record 29 home runs during the regular season, was 1-4 with a single. Ray Navarrete posted a franchise-record 103 RBIs, was just 1-4 and hit a bases-loaded fly out. Edgardo Alfonzo and Pete Rose Jr. each went hitless in four at-bats.

“We know what’s ahead of us,” Rose said. “We can’t look ahead to Game 3. We have to go out tomorrow and play. With the guys we have in here, I don’t think anyone is going to put any extra pressure on themselves. We’ll just go out and do whatever we need to do.”

Davis pitched out of trouble until the sixth when the Riversharks racked up four runs and five hits to chase the former Cincinnati Red. Shawn Boyd and Nic Jackson started the frame with singles. Following a flyout, L.J. Bierbaum erased a 1-0 deficit by lifting a RBI single to right.

Tyler Von Schell’s run-scoring groundout broke the tie the next batter. Third baseman Bryant Nelson didn’t field the grounder cleanly yet recovered to get the out at first. Biernbaum was running on the pitch, negating any chance of a double play on the grounder.

Bierbaum’s aggressive base running contributed to two insurance runs. Sheldon Fulse ripped a double off the base of the wall in left-center to score Biernbaum and Michael Thompson’s single plated Fulse and ended Davis’ evening with the Ducks trailing 4-1. Davis would not speak to the media after the game.

“He threw good and gave us a chance to get ahead,” LaPoint said about Davis. “The other guy just threw better.”

Davis escaped out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the second. After retiring the first batter, Davis allowed two singles and a walk before striking out ninth-hitting Josh Arhart on a 2-2 pitch and inducing David Espinosa to ground into a fielder’s choice to squash the scoring threat.

The Ducks responded by breaking open the scoring in the bottom half of the inning. Camden’s Juan Francia tapped a bases-loaded soft roller to third, where Michael Thompson scooped the grounder and fired to first. Thompson’s throw was in time, but first base umpire Dan Wilson ruled Von Schell bobbled the ball, allowing Nelson to score the game’s first run. Ray Navarrete couldn’t add to the lead, flying out to right to end the rally.

“He [Walker] didn’t change his game plan,” LaPoint said. “He just threw outside, outside, outside. He had really good control. He had a good changeup and sinker going into the same spot. The differential in speed…he was getting ahead of everybody with the fastball and a good sinker. It didn’t do us any good if we were aggressive or if we waited on him.”

Shawn Boyd belted a solo home run off Ryan Knippschild in the eighth, padding the lead to 5-1. Ben Grezlovski gave the Ducks offense a chance to make a comeback, tossing 2 1/3 scoreless innings in relief of Davis. Grezlovski surrendered just one hit and walk, striking out three.

Test, Actual Multidia Project

Ducks Break Streak

by: Brian Bohl | Senior Writer - NY Sports Day | Saturday, September 13, 2008

CENTRAL ISLIP, NY — When the Ducks collectively drove to the ballpark Sunday morning, the playoff picture looked murky. Six losses in the past seven games, including a three-game losing streak, cut the Flock’s lead in the Liberty Division standings to just a half-game entering a doubleheader against York.

But Randy Leek helped the Ducks take the opener and a late rally gave them an extra-inning win, salvaging a 3-6 record on the road trip. That sweep propelled the Ducks to a late season surge that lost momentum Thursday night after it blew a four-run lead.

Staff ace Randy Leek fell apart in the sixth and the lineup failed to push across any more runs after the fourth inning as the Patriots averted a four-game sweep with a 6-4 win. The Ducks saw its five-game winning streak end along with a chance to post its second consecutive four-game sweep over Somerset.

Southern Maryland defeated Newark, cutting the Ducks lead to just 2 ½ games in the Liberty Division with 10 regular season contests remaining.

“You can’t think about clinch or think about where you’re going to do it,” manager Dave LaPoint said. “It’s one game; one-inning at a time right now. If we look too far ahead, we’ll get into a bad rut. I don’t think anyone is looking past tomorrow.”

Leek was on his way to becoming the first Atlantic League pitcher to win 12 games this year before breaking down following five scoreless. Nursing a 4-0 lead, the Levittown native loaded the bases to start the sixth before striking out Teuris Olivares.

Brandon Larson, who hit three homers and drove in five runs in a loss to the Ducks the previous game, cleared the bases with a three-run double into the left-centerfield gap.

Matt Hagen completed the comeback attempt, ripping a one-out RBI single to center off Tony Price (0-1) to build a 5-4 Somerset lead. Hagen’s hit scored Larson and allowed Somerset to win on Long Island for the first time in eight games. The Ducks magic number to reach the playoffs remained stagnant at nine, meaning any combination of nine wins or Southern Maryland losses would secure a postseason appearance.

Set-up man Jason Richardson used his fastball to neutralize the Ducks last rally after walking Jamie Pogue and allowing a single to Haverbusch to start the eighth. Dennis Donovan, who entered the game for the injured Juan Francia, failed in three attempts to move the runners over, striking out on a bunt attempt.

Ray Navarrete also struck out on a heater and Pete Rose Jr. hit a soft pop fly to center to end the threat. Richardson (9-2) struck out three in two innings to get the win.

The Ducks jumped on Somerset starter Brian Tollberg early, scoring two in the third thanks to Bryant Nelson’s RBI fielder’s choice that plated Juan Francia. Shortstop Elliot Ayala’s throwing error on the double play attempt skipped past first base, allowing Ray Navarrete to score from second base.

Kevin Haverbusch expanded the lead the next inning, taking reliever Josh Brey’s fastball over the wall in left for a two-run shot. His 12th homer of the season made it 4-0.

If Leek (11-3) maintains his normal rest, he will get two more starts, giving him a chance to set the franchise record for single season victories. He still needs one more to tie Pat Ahearne’s franchise record of 12 victories, set in 2006. The southpaw is on pace to pitch the final game of the regular season if it a must-win scenario.

“He pitched good but he’s coming back a day early,” said LaPoint, who pitched Leek on three days’ rest. “We still had a chance to win the game. The effort was there. It’s tough to sweep them two series in a row.”

The loss dropped the Ducks home record to 41-27. That stands in contrast to a 25-37 road ledger. LaPoint’s team will now play its final three games at Citibank Park before ending the season with a three-game set in Camden and a four-game set against Bridgeport.

Considering the road woes and the fact the Bluefish are just 4 1/2 games back, the regular season finale Sept. 21 could be suspenseful. But LaPoint insisted the disparity in home vs. road record isn’t causing him sleepless nights.

“We have the type of team where home or road doesn’t make a difference,” LaPoint said. “Stats really don’t matter at this time. They are a lot of people playing at a higher level. All throughout the year, you have players going in and out. You’re in flux most of the year.

“Now you know who you got and who you’re going with. So it shouldn’t matter.”

Should the Ducks clinch a playoff spot for the fifth consecutive season, Game 1 of the best-of-three first-round series would be held at Citibank Park on Sept. 23 with the final two games held at Camden’s Campbell's Field. The Riversharks own the home field advantage.