Isles Slide Continues-JT Talks Ups and Downs

It's now a losing streak, three losses in a row after falling to the bottom of the conference Carolina Hurricanes 4-1 last night. This was coming off of the embarrasing loss against the Caps Tuesday night.

The loss of Jack Hillen to injury is a huge blow and it was felt greatly as Bruno Gervais struggled mightily in these past two games. The offense has also run dry with just 5 goals in their last 3 games. It doesn't get any easier this weekend as they are in Philly and Florida for critical games in the Eastern Conference standings.

John Tavares missed a golden opportunity last night on a beautful feed from the ever improving Andrew Macdonald. It was a tough night for JT who created chances and did a great job on the forecheck but couldn't finish. He also took a lazy penalty and was -2 dropping his season total to -10.

The great Alex Ovechkin had some words of advice for Tavares: "It's pretty hard when you've got lots of attention," Ovechkin said." If I were him I'd just go on vacation during the Olympic Break and forget about the media and the attention and just worry about the second half of the season."

Check out this tremendous Tavares feature from todays Newsday on which JT appears on the back cover above.

Game Stats:
Washington:1A/-1/1SOG/17:49TOI/Faceoffs:3-6

Carolina: -2/3SOG/15:57TOI/Faceoffs:5-5

Links:
Tavares looks right at home in first NHL season

Islanders: Ward, Staal lead 'Canes to win

Islanders ripped by Capitals, 7-2

Video

Islanders Kids Getting Credit

I'm back after a brief sabbatical.

The Islanders recorded a shootout victory over Florida but fell to the Devils Saturday night. The buzz is increasing though, there have been articles this past weekend praising the young Isles as they continue to surge forth with their building process.

It also is generating noise at the gate we're the team recorded two sellouts last week and reports of financials being up across the board. There are plenty of good things occurring on Long Island and it should be a fun stretch run.

John Tavares has had his ice time cut somewhat over the last several weeks but did register an assist Saturday night and continues to fight through his recent struggles. The olympic break can only be seen as a positve for the younger Islanders to get some rest in this condensed hockey season.

Ovie and his comrades are in tomorrow.

John Tavares Stats Through 52 Games
Goals: 17 (1st among rookies)
Assists: 15 (5th among rookies)
Points: 32 (2nd among rookies)
+/=: -7
PP Goals: 8
GW Goals: 2
Faceoff Pct: 48.1 (1st among rookies)

Links:
Kids like Okposo have Isles in playoff hunt

Islanders slip up, but playoffs still in sight

Rookie Cardboard Rankings

Coliseum a hothouse where young Islanders are growing

Islanders Lose-Crosby/Malkin Dominate

The Islanders came back from deficits of 3-0 and 4-1 to tie it up at 4-4 but a power play hat-trick goal by Evgeny Malkin in the 3rd period was the game winner. Sidney Crosby also contributed six points in the Penguins 6-4 victory.

New York was undisciplined but kept coming at the champs and nearly stole a point until Andy Sutton received a major penalty with minutes left in the 3rd for a hit from behind on Pascal Dupuis. Sutton is expecting a suspension.

John Tavares had some opportunities and setup Kyle Okposo for a glorious chance but it was a tough night for KO as he was stopped on a penalty shot, two additional breakways, and came up short on his game high 7 shots on goal.

Florida comes to the Island tomorrow night.

Game Stats:
-1/ 2SOG/ 15:13TOI/ Faceoffs: 6-6

Islanders Continuing To Roll

The Islanders defeated the Devils handily yesterday and will look to keep the train rolling tonight against the defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins.

New York sent Martin Brodeur to the showers early and completed a dominating effort with a 4-0 shutout for Rick DiPietro. It was back to back victories for the returning netminder.

John Tavares had six shots on goal and added a nice assist on Mark Streits power play tally. Despite 3 points in his last 4 games JT finds himself trailing in the rookie points race for the first time in months. Matt Duchene had 3 points last night giving him 33 to Tavares' 31. But only positive signs can be taken from Tavares having 16 shots on goal in his last 3 games.

Sid the kid and friends tonight.

(SEE BELOW FOR VIDEO OF TAVARES WEARING THE RED WHITE AND BLUE!!!!)

Game Stats:
1A/ 6SOG/ +1/ 15:20TOI/ Faceoffs 9-5

Links:
Pittsburgh vs. NY Islanders Preview

Isles Playoff Push Getting Serious

Tavares, DiPietro End Droughts

It was over a year since Rick DiPietro had won a game and it might have felt that long for John Tavares since he last scored a goal but both contributed to a 3-2 Islanders victory over the Buffalo Sabres.

Tavares opened the scoring with his 17th goal of the season and first in nine games. JT also recorded 5 shots on goal for the 2nd consecutive game as he slowly breaks out of his slump.

But this night belonged to DiPietro who started his first game at home and registered his first win since December 26th 2008. DiPietro was great in the shootout and made a statement that he is back and is feeling healthy. It's a long road but the news is positive.

The great Brodeur and his Devils come in for a MLK afternoon tilt tomorrow.

Game Stats:
1G/ 5SOG/ 16:55TOI/ Faceoofs: 5-8

Goal:


Links:
John Tavares set to debut a new look at open practice today

Islanders top Sabres in DiPietro's Coliseum return, 3-2

Islanders Dominate Red Wings

The title says it all. The Islanders dominated every single aspect of tonights game en route to a 6-0 victory of the Detroit Red Wings.

There were too many contributions to single out any one player, it was a great team effort. Rob Schremp got 2 more goals, Josh Bailey continues to sparkle with 2 helpers, and Kyle Okposo scored again.

John Tavares had 5 shots on goal and despite not having any points had a very solid game. I was 10 rows from the ice and you can really see the frustration on JTs' face as he was robbed on several chances. If he keeps plugging they are going to start falling but he has looked stronger over the last several games.

A nice three day break before Buffalo comes in Saturday.

Game Stats:
+2/ 5SOG/ 15:06TOI/ Faceoffs:6-6

Links:
SCHREMP HAS FIRST TWO-GOAL GAME AS ISLANDERS DOWN RED WINGS

Isles Blow Lead But Win In SO

The Islanders took advantage of Coyotes coach Dave Tippets' blunder and jumped out to a 4-1 lead after Ed Jovanovski tried to take off John Tavares' head with his elbow and was given a major penalty and a game misconduct. Tippet never placed a player in the box to serve the penalty and when it lapsed Phoenix remained shorthanded and subsequently took another penalty pretty much spending half the second period shorthanded.

New York though was their own worst enemy and subsequently blew a 3 goal 3rd period lead before salvaging a 5-4 shootout win.

Tavares registered as assist despite the elbow and a brutal crosscheck from Adrian Aucoin as well. JT needs to get going, he was more involved on this trip and with 1 game in the next 6 days it should give him an opportunity to re-charge his batteries and nurse any ailments that he might be suffering.

Red Wings come in Tuesday.

Game Stats:
1A/ +1/ 17:18TOI/ Faceoffs: 5-9

Links:
Islanders salvage shootout win

Tavares remains confident despite scoring drought