11:21 am: Dylan Reese has been diagnosed with a left MCL knee sprain. It is estimated he will miss 4 - 6 weeks. At six weeks, that's mid March.
The Isles are at the Coliseum today at Noon for media availability. Two guesses who CAN'T get there today? Yep. Okay. We'll rely on Newsday's Art Staple for any important info.
9 am: Frans Nielsen always seemed like the most unlikely hockey player. He is quiet and when he does speak, he is soft spoken. He looks more like an accountant than a hockey player. But for the Isles, he is hockey royalty. It was a pleasant surprise to have Howie Rose leak the information that Frans signed a four year deal to remain with the Isles. A four-year $11 million deal. Talk about a huge raise! Not exactly a cost of living raise like the rest of us on LI may be lucky enough to see.
Here are some quotes from News outlets and a few chirps from team mates on Twitter.
"It's nice," he said. "I'm really happy about being in this organization. I believe in the rebuild that we're having right now. I'm really proud to be part of this organization for another four years. I just can't wait to keep going here because I know we're going to be good."
Adam Kimelmen NHL.com
mattymarts17 Matt Martin
Well we will take the 2 points,Nabby was unbelievable..Congrats to Fransy on a well deserved 4 year extension! #fransilicious #danishprince
itsrhett Rhett Rakhshani
Big greasy road win for the boys! @Aaron_Ness played great in his first game And congrats to franzie for his extension! #deservesit
Art Staple Newsday with a Garth Snow quote:
“Frans is a perfect example of what we’re building on Long Island. Our organization has set the goal to build through the draft, develop our prospects and have them become a part of the young core of talented players we have. He is one of those core players that has become one of the best two-way forwards in the NHL.”
Also curious, where the hell has @Grabs40 gone? He hasn’t tweeted in a few days and he is usually a chatterbox.
About the Game:
While it was a great full-moon win for the Isles, the loss of Dylan Reese will hurt them. Certainly every time there is a hole in the line-up, it’s an opportunity for a young prospect to get a big break. But while the Isles are trying desperately to keep collecting points, this couldn’t have come at a worse time when they are already without Hamonic for two weeks.
That little head thing to Rhett Rakhshani last night also gave me concern considering the kid’s concussion history.
Here are some interesting quotes from around the net this morning:
The Flyers top line really poured it on tonight. Scott Hartnell, Claude Giroux and Jaromir Jagr combined for 16 shots on their own, and at even strength, they each had an on-ice shot differential of at least 20. Dominating stuff, really, and the only reason several pucks didn't find the back of the net was Nabokov.
Broadstreet Hockey Travis Hughes
I found it funny on Twitter he called him “effin Nabokov.”
And while Butch called Nabby’s performance “spectacular” the NY Post’s Rob Maaddi called it “sensational.”
Nabokov was sensational, turning aside every shot he faced — including two in the shootout. He recorded his 52nd career shutout and second this season in his return to the NHL after a brief stint in Russia.
“They were all decent and quality shots,” Nabokov said. “Sometimes you get a rebound, a weird bounce and they go in. That is just the way the game is.”
Of course he had to bring everyone down to earth with a little dig:
The last-place Islanders are 6-1-2 in their last nine games and 11-5-2 in their past 18.
Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/islanders/nabokov_shuts_out_flyers_vVaHIbQ0o6tJYnTsXG0nfK#ixzz1lnD82RAY
He had to get that poke in,. In the League Isles are 23rd, in the conference they are 11th and okay, in the division they’re last. He could have clarified that.
With the loss of Dylan Reese Andy MacDonald had to play over 29 minutes. Aaron Ness in his NHL debut played 14:25. Who’s on the ferry from Bport? Matt Donovan? We’ve got a big three games at the barn this week.
Anyone else find it weird there were no penalties in the first period, five in the second and only one in the third?
And for more Isles musings from around the net, there’s always Lighthouse Hockey’s comprehensive coverage:
http://www.lighthousehockey.com/2012/2/8/2784109/islanders-evgeni-nabokov-shutout-nielsens-big-extension
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