11:22 pm: The locker room opened early. Perhaps it was punishment. But no one was talking at first. Not even the reporters. Oh, sure. Katie Strang made her self comfortable sitting next to one of the players quietly discussing the night's events while everyone else was huddled around another. But as soon as that interview was over, everyone stood and looked at each other. Puck Prospectus author Timmo Seppa turned to Brad Kurtzberg and I and quipped "Do you cover this team?"
What can you ask a team that has just lost their 20th game to the same team along with any chance of squeeking into the playoffs? Well, you wait for Stan Fischler to come in with his camera crew to get it going. And that's what he did.
It's tough to watch on these nights when the loss is especially bitter.
Rick gave Jack Capuano credit for what he has done coming in under the tough circumstances. But with six games left to the regular season, he said they would give it their all. "We all want to win."
He also looks forward to next season -- like the rest of us. "It's a scary group of guys when we have everyone is healthy and everyone is going.... I wish we had a time machine and get to October."
While Jack looked very unhappy behind the bench, he didn't seem that concerned in his post game report. Actually he even said he was excited about the way they played. But was unhappy with the power play even trying five forwards.
He was very complimentary of the Flyers. He has to be. "They're a well coached team, a structured team. I think they'll be a dangerous team down the stretch."
When it came to answer questions about Rick, he didn't seem concerned. "It's a situation for him where, I'm not too concerned about his wins and losses or his goals against average and save percentage. I just want Ricky to get in there and get the rust off him."
He's been out of the game for quite a while. It takes time to get timing back. But what Rick has to lose is his propensity for skating out to the blue line to play a puck. No one asked Jack about that and he didn't mention it.
I would have asked -- but I don't want to die.
6:30 pm:Islanders face the Flyers tonight at the Coliseum with Rick DiPietro in net. If he wasn't in net tonight, then I would have said there was something wrong. But there he is, taking shots in warmups.
Trevor Gillies, with suspension completed, will not be in the lineup tonight. Jack Capuano made that decision early this afternoon. With only three home games after this, I'm pretty sure he will still see the ice before the end of the season here at teh Coliseum where his fans support him.
His biggest fan seems to be none-other than Zenon Konopka who came to practice today wearing a "Rock the Stache" shirt. Good for him.
Ty Wishart and Jesse Joensuu have been recalled from Bridgeport.
Okay, well, two seconds, repeat two seconds into the game Michael Haley dropped the gloves with Carcillo. Tell me that wasn't staged. Before the clock could even get to one minute into the period, Zenon Konopka and O'Donnell dropped the gloves. This is not going to be a very clean game.
The Islanders were awarded a power play and managed one shot on net.
Just like the fights came in twos within seconds, now the Flyers goals as well. First Jeff Carter off a face off beats Rick low stick side. Then James Van Riemsdyk poked his own rebund between Rick's skates to give the Flyers a two goal lead on only 5 shots.
Blake Comeau ws in the right place at the right time to bang one in over a sprawled Bobrovsky with 9:32 remaining of the first.
Rick doesn't have his head in the game yet. JVR just put another one behind Rick as he left the net wide open. That is the third Flyers goal on only 8 shots.
Will we be seeing the Big Cubano for the second period? Probably not, but there are fans here thinking it.
While the Islanders are now outshooting the Flyers, the score remained 3 - 1 as they left the ice after the first period.
In the lunch room, Sudsy was talking to Butchie about Rick's play. Wish I could HEAR the MSG feed up here.
Al Montoya came out of the tunnel wearing a ball cap. Obviously, he wasn't heading to the net. Somehow, I think he should have. at 16:36 Rick skated to the blue line to play a puck. There was a collective boo and Radek Martinek had the the foresight to stand in the crease to protect it.
According to Big Angry Man, he has seen two things wrong so far:
1) Okposo needs to learn how to lift the puck and
2) The Islanders don't know how to finish.
While Ken Dick from Okposonet.com wasn't happy with that message, he couldn't disagree with the second. The Islanders have 24 shots on Bobrovsky and there were numerous blocked so far this period. But the Islanders are down 3 - 1 anyway.
Timonen was called for Crosschecking, but it should be for mugging and yet the power play is power-less once again.
The third begins with the Islanders having 31 shots on net. Ty Wishart is tied with Matt Moulson with five shots. Read that again... TY WISHART.
PA Parenteau hit the post and couldn't believe it. Bruno Gervais has been playing very well and Michael Grabner, who Tweeted that he changed his pre-game routine today, has not had any of those rocket-fuel break-aways yet this game.
Jack Hillen is a -3 so far.
And James Van Riemsdyk seals the deal with his third goal of the game, his first career hat trick, to make it 4 - 1 Flyers.
Matt Martin takes a 5 minute major as he drops the gloves with O'Donnell with less than 8 minutes to go in the third.
So I guess that means the Islanders will now have lost 20 of 21 games to the Flyers. Ugh.
With 1:55 left of the 3rd and the Isles trailing by 3 goals, there isn't a snowball's chance in hell of this game changing.
Even if they manage another goal, it is pointless. Face it. The Flyers have the Islanders number every time. It's just hockey voo doo. That's all. Some day, maybe it will change.
New York Islanders Blogger • 
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