Gong Show

Just spoke to a friend here at the Coliseum who works for the Islanders' web site, and he confirmed that Chris Simon will dress tonight -- his suspension does not apply to pre-season games. But I wouldn't expect any fireworks between him and Ryan Hollweg -- Simon still must repent for what he did, and Hollweg is not holding a grudge. But that doesn't mean they won't check each other if the opportunity arises. Sam Weinman reports at Ranger Report that Darius Kasparaitis has been placed on waivers with the hope that some team claims him. Dave Liffiton has also been waived, but the Rangers hope he passes through unclaimed.

Nigel Dawes is starting on left wing with Drury and Shanahan, with Malikand Rozsival on D, so consider this another big audition for him. Anisimov is centering Hossa and Callahan. Callahan wiped out by Andy Sutton in the opening minute -- appears to be shaken up, but he stayed on for the resulting power play. Sutton out of the box with a breakaway, Montoya save, Orr goes right after him and makes him pay for the hit on Callahan. Strudwick challenges Brennan right off the ensuing face-off and doesn't fare as well in his bout. Hollweg hits Simon, Simon goes after him -- bright move, Chris. But Hollweg gets the extra two minutes -- not sure why.

Montoya still making the saves, but still mishandling the puck. Dawes looking pretty good so far. Dubinsky line hasn't seen much ice time with all the penalties. Ice Girls take to the ice for the first time -- Montoya vacates the crease for them. Now that the rough stuff has settled down, the Rangers are looking good -- Anisimov and Hossa are a good strong pair. Staal goes end to end to set up a decent play, then checks someone hard on the way out of the zone. The Islanders' top line of Comrie, Guerin, and Fedotenko are not inspiring any fear. The way Comrie wears his jersey, his #89 looks like #99 -- bogus move by the Edmonton native. Only about 500 fans in the building (OK, a thousand -- really, not a soul over 2,000). Nice rush by Dawes in the final seconds of the first period, gets off a good shot, open net on the rebound for Drury, but he shoots wide. 0-0 after one.

Hollweg hits Simon and Simon goes after him again while Hollweg's skating away -- take a hit, tough guy! Orr steps in and fights Simon -- somehow, Hollweg gets the extra two again! Meanwhile, Dawes and Staal continue to impress on a pair of early odd man rushes for the Rangers, Shanahan is playing better, and Blair Betts in his third straight game continues to play well. Islanders score on the power play -- Hutch standing around doing nothing as Fedotenko waltzes into the crease. OK, you know things have gotten out of control when Hossa and Pock start fighting -- and Pokey won his fight vs. Andy Hilbert! An now Dubinsky takes on Sutton -- gets the worst of it. Refs finally starting to protect Rangers -- Dawes draws five on three and double minor. Drury all alone in front roofs a bullet over DiP to tie it up -- still 2:52 to go on the double minor. They're calling Hutchinson with the goal, but it looked like Drury -- don't think Hutch was even on the ice (the official scorers have Drury scoring with Hutch assisting along with Shanahan). Rangers fire away on PP -- seven more shots, but nothing gets in... until Hollweg shoots -- and scores! Betts on the screen or maybe the deflection.

Now it's the Gong Show on the ice, all thanks to the biggest idiot in the world, Chris Simon. He hits Hollweg from behind into the boards -- penalty. Then he challenges Hollweg to fight, Orr tries to get in but is held off, Struds gets through his guy and gets Simon in a headlock while Simon keeps punching Hollweg. DiPietro jumps in as third man, Monty comes down the ice but doesn't want to fight. Finally goes in, tackles DiP, and then DiP rolls over on top of him and punches Monty while he's down -- real classy. While the refs are sorting things out, kicking out guys and handing out penalties, and the teams warm up their new goalies -- Wiikman and Dubliewicz -- Miro Satan is on the big board welcoming the president of the Slovak Republic. Good timing by the Islanders' PR folks there. Hollweg and Strudwick get two minutes each, Simon a major, so it's four on three Isles for two minutes, then a three minute major power play for the Rangers. Simon, Struds, Orr, Brennan, and the goalies are all gone with game misconducts -- Hollweg is in the box.

Now Guerin high sticks Rozsival for the rarest of manpower situations, a three on three. Now five on three, Drury sets up Pock for an easy open netter -- Dubie gets a glove on it, now it's up to replay booth to figure it out. It's a power play goal! The official scorers in the row below me are having a devil of a time figuring this all out. Now the Rangers get another five on three. Rozsival tries to set up Staal three times from the point, third time he passes low, puck ends up on Callahan's stick, empty net. Rangers have four goals while taking the last 15 shots on goal. Hutchinson takes another needless penalty, Rangers can't hold off five on three -- Betts and Staal block shots, Wiikman makes two saves, but Comrie gets open net rebound goal. And now Malik takes a dumb penalty, and it's another five on three goal for the Isles to make it 4-3. An so ends one of the most eventful periods in memory -- but it's just a pre-season game, it doesn't mean anything.

Another five on three as the third period begins -- Wiikman's first real NHL experience, and it's all five on three. But a good play by Malik and Staal negates it -- now four on three, and Wiik makes a good save, and then another one. Byers takes a shot off the foot/leg and limps off -- he was already hurting on his left foot from a shot he blocked in camp. They're playing the chicken dance now, but Chris Simon is not out here to play the role of chicken like he did before. Vasicek blows by the overmatched Hutchinson and beats Wiikman to tie the score -- Hutch has got to follow Kaspar onto the waiver wire. Byers is OK -- he's right back out there. And so an uneventful third period ends in a 4-4 tie and we head to OT.

And now in OT, Vasicek blows by Hutch again, but this time can't get a shot off. Shanahan goes after wee Freddy Meyer the IVth and takes a penalty. Puck pinballs around the crease, barely goes over the line, 5-4 Isles. Whew! After the game, neither Hollweg nor Renney want to implicate Simon in the meshugoss -- Renney blames Sutton more for his early elbow on Callahan, and the refs for not setting the tone by handing him a major/misconduct. Renney was unhappy that the craziness got in the way of his ability to evaluate the young players -- he says they'll be right back out tomorrow night, getting another chance to show their stuff. More tomorrow...

Comments

[bmoak]

Since when does Liffiton even have to pass through waivers?

[angry]

FYI - no trouble logging on to FSTV (Fishstick TV.com).

Rough game early. Entertaining, too. Three and a half minutes in. No scoring. A flying elbow. Two fights. A third on the way.

[roc]

I cant get this game on Islanders tv can anyone else

[bill]

anyone know if the game is on with a Rangers radio feed? The homers on the Isles radio are difficult to listen to...

[angry]

Roc - I used the link in the original post. As it says, you've got to go through the process of signing up. Once you do, you'll be given two options, one for a paid subscription, one for a free preview. I clicked on the preview and I've got the game on FSTV with Blomomberg radio as the audio.

[imitation]

Dubi there goes your prediction out the window

[roc]

I did all that but its just the pregame crap

[roc]

Can someone please post both teams lineups im curious how ,many regulars the icelanders are playing

[Puluche]

Hey Roc - I tried too and the computer freezes. Can't get access to their "TV site." Typical disfunctional Isles. It's on 1130 AM.

Most already know about Jess's Prospect site - check it out. Great stuff and good luck too him. Both the BB and "Prospect Park" give you everything you need to know about the Blueshirts. Great job guys!

Just throwing this out there. As psyched as we all are about our chances this year, Pitt is a little scary and obviously another up and coming young team that we'll have to deal with for the next 5 years plus. They gave us a hard time last year and they will be our nemesis this year. Ottawa will be tough too. But Pittsburgh will be our major, meaningful rivalry and Eastern Conference obstacle this year.

[Colorado Mark]

Funniest line by an Islander (Aaron Johnson?) in an interview: "Yeah, the Rangers game plan is probably to take our best players off their game!" LOL

Islanders broadcasters also said that the Gomez/Jagr combo "didn't work out as well as planned"!

The kids are playing well. Shanahan looks better than I had heard he looked (I haven't seen the first two games).

[rich]

islanders tv is working for me its a feed from the jumbotron at the coliseum and audio is islanders bloomberg 1130. you have to sign up at nhl.tv u have to choose islanders for this game as rangers tv is not up yet. subscription ends oct. 9th. so the first 2 games are available for free online (subject to blackout)

[JoeG]

Where did the Fishsticks get those uniforms????? They look like a pick-up team, in a beer league from Yugoslavia!!!!!! Like the way Orr roughed up Sutton after the cheap shot on Callahan. Not much cohesion in the first, but Anisimov stood out; for me. He seems to know what to do with the puck around the net.

[nyr315]

i thought staal stoodout

[Phill]

Listening to this announcers is making me want to beg for Sam and Joe. You guys think Sam and Joe are "Lalala-Lolly pop-All-Is-Well" announcers, you should hear these shills.

Listen to this dysphemism, not an exact quote, but very close to it:

"This is the first time since the high sticking incident that Simon and Hollweg are on the ice together".

. . . High-sticking? From my recollection, it was more like a baseball swing . . .

[rich]

I'd also like to point out that the Rangers are idiots for paying 7 million a year for Gomez. Should have kept Nylander and would have had money left over to get Souray, who wanted to play for the Rangers. Drury, great signing is a proven winner, leader and is great at finishing something the Rangers couldnt do well last year. Gomez should be on third line with prucha and callahan sometthing i've been saying for the past month. Also If the rangers keep Montoya his stock could rise with good play and could be of huge value at the trade deadline because Lundqvist isn't going anywhere. If Toronto is out of the playoff hunt look for Montoya for McCabe or solve LA's goalie problems and get future star Mike Camalleri (very unlikely)

[K]

Orr vs Simon!

[K]

Damn, over quickly.

[jason]

rich, back to the debate from over 2 months ago. nylander simply wanted too many years... are you gonna give a 35 year old center a 4 year contract cause i wont

[K]

Wow, Pock dropped the gloves (sort of). Man, I wish we could have instant replay here, I didn't even see how some of this stuff started.

[angry]

Dubinsky vs. Sutton.

Also over quickly.

[rich]

just sharing a piece of my mind, but if Gomez is with Jagr it will be a shaky start to the season hopefully it will work out

[kogan]

2:1
Hollweg!

[Puluche]

Brawl city!

[Marge]

Montoya the enforcer!

[angry]

DiPietro smoked Montoya. Montoya didn't want to fight.

[Marge]

That just takes me back to Cloutier and Salo, even if these guys weren't nearly as impressive.

[iceycup]

so glad im not missing this! lol.

[rich]

what a game

[JoeG]

Is there a more bush-league operation than what they got going on out there in LI. DiPietro is a joke. Gives up two goals and sees an opportunity for an early night; and takes it. What a tough guy!!!! This game is a joke!!! And where the hell is the Nhl??? Allowing Simon to play in exhibitions?? Especially against the Rangers!!!??? No wonder the league is on the verge of irrelevency!!

[pghas]

The Islanders are a beer league team with a good goalie.

[imitation]

Way to go buttman! Let guys who shouldn't be playing, play. Simon should have suspension extended ,

[Marge]

Say what you will about the fishsticks, but those chicks cleaning the crease make the coliseum games worthwhile.

[angry]

Wow. Staal skates VERY well.

[iceycup]

dawes is making some malik like meatball passes...

[Marge]

Callahan just scored a patient, poised, goal scorer's goal.

[nyr315]

staal is playing really good

[The Dark Ranger]

I cannot believe SLAP SHOT is happening as we read....
The brothers are back! Strange that Simon is vicious toward Hollweg....what the hell?

The Dark Ranger

[Marge]

I'm starting to think these two teams are conspiring to get extra special teams practice.

[angry]

Setting up for an interesting third period.

[rich]

suspended players are allowed to play in preseason in the NFL and i believe the MLB as well.

[Marge]

I can't say I'm very happy with the number of penalties seeming to result from ranger D unable to keep up with isles forwards.

[iceycup]

beauty goal by vasicek(damnit)

[Marge]

Dubi

Couldn't agree with you more on hutchinson. They might as well have traded cullen for a bag of pucks.

[martyd]

I've seen enough of hutchison. He is a traffic cone that takes penalties.

[pghas]

I still find it almost comical that the Isles are playing their A squad sans 2 defesemen and Mike Sillinger and can't easily beat a Ranger team without their top line and Prucha and Avery and Girardi and with Miika Wiikman the eighth string goalie in there.

[matt]

i just turned the game on center ice did montoya fight d.p

[Greg L.]

BLACKED - OUT !! it figures ...hope you guys are enjoying the game . I know this game means nothing , but we can't let these goofs win this game !! Colton orr is awsome , nice to hear what he did , hard to believe Boston gave up on him . I remeber seeing his broken nose from Puriton in a game against the Rangers. We break his nose and then he comes play for us , helping puriton lose his job .

[rich]

one the game isnt blacked out two rangers just lost in OT...wiikman isnt going to be in the NHL anytime soon

[Marge]

My final thoughts on the game:

1. Caveat: I missed period 1, and this is the first preseason game I saw this year.
2. Callahan was awesome.
3. Shanahan did a lot of little things well.
4. Drury is amazing at getting himself open.
5. Dawes looked good, lots of chances, but seems to get pushed around a bit. I'm on the fence on whether he's NHL-ready.
6. Hutchinson couldn't even break into the Islander lineup.
7. Love Dubinsky's heart in fighting Sutton. Other than that he seemed invisible to me.
8. Staal was the best defenseman on the ice. Tons of talent.
9. I cannot stress enough just how bad Hutchinson was.

[roc]

Did the Isles have there a squad in?