Thurs 7:30 am: And good morning people. How are you this balmy Thursday morning. I wanted to add these notes from Nino last night, but when my head hit the keyboard, I figured I'd save them for the morning.
The word Nino used during yesterday's interview on SiriusXMNHL Network Radio was 'confidence.' He said he had lost a lot of it, but it was back now and he feels great on the ice, playing more minutes. While many complained of Nino being thrown into the NHL too early, he said the pressure was intense but he learned so much that he felt it was the right thing to do.
He also does not know if he is being invited to Islanders camp or not. "I have no idea what's going to happen. We have three games this weekend. I'm trying to prepare for our next game on Friday." It's "a waiting game."
With so many NHL players playing in the AHL during this lockout, Nino said he did notice a difference in the games from last season when he ws able to play a handful of games with Bridgeport. "It's a very good league."
One that Nino has done very well in. But we'd still like to see him in an Islanders jersey.
Wed. 10:30 pm: As we get ready for this shortened season, I’ve heard repeatedly how important it will be for teams to come out of the gate strong. There is no time for slow starts or extended slumps. Every game will be worth the equivalent of four points instead of two and that coaching will be crucial. I wanted to ask head coach Jack Capuano how he feels about this shortened season but knew I couldn’t get to Iceworks. Jesse D. Eisenberg was kind enough to ask Coach Capuano for me.
I asked how Jack would personally prepare for this season. “ I’ve talked to former players around the league who went through it (a lock out) and former coaches, you do your due diligence. You look at the Islanders record the last time. I think they were 15 -28 the last time there was a shortened season. So there are different things that we’re going to do.”
Training camp is where the “structure and foundation” are built so it will be difficult in a shorter amount of time, but Jack feels they can get it done. “… when the puck drops, for me it’s about battle level; it’s about the compete level. It’s about the willingness to win hockey games.” So while it’s the mental attitude that can make a winner, this extended off season may take a toll physically.
“ I know guys are skating , but the conditioning level is obviously going to be a question mark on some guys. How you distribute the minutes might be something different but all those things will be determined on personnel once we have our physicals and once we know who is healthy and who is not healthy.”
Players are still trickling into the area but nothing official can be done until AFTER the NHLPA officially ratifies the new CBA.
Managing those minutes will determine special teams, and special teams may mean the difference between winning and losing. Who shows up in game shape will help determine the make up of special teams. “A lot of things have transpired these last few days, but we’re going to wait and see who is healthy. Once we determine our line-up, our personnel for special teams, obviously our coaches will have to teach and build that foundation and framework that we need to be successful on special teams.”
And then Jack went into off season mode.
“You know, you can look at the correlation with football and quarterbacks and goaltending with hockey…” (Football Jack?) “Goaltending is going to be an integral part so I think there will be some teams that will make some mistakes early because it’s a shortened training camp. So the goaltending and the special teams will be a huge factor in the start of the season.”
Veteran goaltender Evgeni Nabokov is back on Long Island and skated at Iceworks this week. Rick DiPietro has returned from Germany and his stint at the CBA bargaining table. At 37-years-old, Nabokov kept his training up as best he could home in California and while it wasn’t his typical routine, he feels he’s in good enough game shape to make a difference for the Islanders this January.
Let’s hope so.
"No coach will win in the NHL without a bonafide NHL goalie."
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