Tag Archive for 'trent-hunter'
Not a bad game from the Orange and Blue last night. Solid first and second periods leading to a 2-0 lead, Tampa comes storming back in the third to tie and Hunter responds with a rebound goal off a Tambellini shot. Unfortunately, the boys give that goal right back to the Lightning letting them earn a point for the night’s work. In OT, the Isles catch a break on a sloppy play by Kolzig and Nielsen and Hunter make them pay for it with the OT winna. Even better because I have Hunter in my Fanatsy Hockey league.
Since the season ends today, we figured why wait on handing out the hardware. So, without further ado, some of my thoughts on who did right by us Isles fans this season, with a top choice and a runner-up. I also refrained from picking any one player for two different awards. I love making up rules for myself. Murph, let us know what you think, too:
MVP - 1) Rick DiPietro 2) Brendan Witt
Ricky was the obvious choice here. On a team with very little firepower and a no-name defense, DiPietro stood on his head a ton of times to keep the Isles in the thick of things before going down with the injury. His play and Ted Nolan’s coaching were the primary reason the Isles had a shot at the playoffs for most of the season. For that reason, I almost picked Nolan as the runner-up but then I thought it was lame to pick a coach. Brendan Witt personified the team’s toughness and did a very good job manning the backline until, he too, went down with an injury (I sense a pattern here). Honorable mention goes to Mike Sillinger, Bill Guerin, Mike Comrie, and Trent Hunter.
Hardest Worker, aka the Jason Blake Memorial Trophy - 1) Trent Hunter 2) Bill Guerin
Both of these guys leave everything on the ice every night. I know a lot of Islander fans are disappointed in Hunter’s lack of points (just 12 goals this year and 40 points), but the guy is one of the few Isles playing physical from end to end, each and every game. He’s also the type of player who would be lighting the lamp much more regularly if the Isles were fortunate to have a true sniper on the team. Guerin is exactly what we thought he’d be. The guy works hard. He’s a little older now and maybe a little slower but it’s hard to gauge when there is just so little offensive talent around him.
The Wow He’s Actually Pretty Good Award - 1) Richard Park 2) Dubie
Richard Park! I can’t tell you how many times I caught myself getting excited at something Park had accomplished and then saying to myself, “Hey, that Richard Park is pretty o.k.” Maybe not the most ringing endorsement in the world but in all honestly it can take some time to win me over and Park is slowly doing that. The guy made a host of big plays this season and was fairly consistent. He currently ranks seventh on the team in points and leads the Isles with three shorthanded goals. Maybe that’s what won me over right there. Love those shorthanded goals. Back-up goalie Wade Dubielewicz was more than solid spot-starting for DiPietro for much of the season before DP went down with the injury. Since then he’s gotten even more time between the pipes and he continues to keep the Isles in games. He’s shown that last season’s heroics wasn’t a fluke and proven he can play at this level.
The Dumbest Play of The Season Award - 1) Chris Simon
The Jarkko Ruutu play. Totally unacceptable. Simon played hard but every once in a while the guy just went off the deep end. The Ruutu play got him a 30-game ban and a ticket off of the Island. Simon won the same award last year when he hit Ryan Hollweg with his stick and was suspended for 25 games.
The Invisible Man Award - 1) Shawn Bates
Another winner without a runner-up. Bates, you know we fell in love with you in 2002 but, man, where’ve you been? For the second straight season, Bates was pretty-much a no-show. He played in just two games this season. Makes last year’s 48 seem Ironman-esque.
The Why I Can’t Wait For Next Season Award - 1) Kyle Okposo 2)Blake Comeau
The Young Guns have shown some signs of things to come in their limited action this season and should give all Islander fans some hope for the future. The Isles need to get some help from the outside if they want to take the next step, but it’s nice knowing the cupboard isn’t empty.
As always, we look to our readers to let us know where we screwed up.
[10:00 1st Period] Halfway through the first period here on Al Arbour night, the Isles are picking up where the left off Thursday night, skating hard and taking the play to the Penguins. Isles outshooting the flightless waterfowls 7-2 so far but Team Crosby just picked up a pretty weak interference call on Gervais for the the game’s first powerplay.
[12:06 1st Period] Islanders-Killer Ryan Malone bangs in a rebound to put the Penguins up 1-0. Lame. Should have never been a powerplay in the first place. Malone had two hat-tricks (out of 16 total goals) vs. the Islanders last season.
[16:46 1st Period] Who’s reffing this game…Mario Lemieux? Witt decks Malkin at center ice, breaking up a head-man pass but gets called for interference. Isles kill that Penguins powerplay and with 36 seconds left, it looks like they’ll enter the first intermission down 1-0.
End of one, good crowd at the Coliseum but I’m not sure if it’s a sellout. Might get announced as one but I’d say there’s 15,000+ change here tonight. 300’s are pretty packed but I see sections of empty seasons in the 100/200’s. Al Arbour “1500″ banners are hung around the Coliseum and will probably be available on Ebay tomorrow morning. When the Isles announced this, Coach Arbour said he didn’t want a lot of pregame fanfare. The Isles respected that and kept it simple with Bill Torrey and Scotty Bowman dropping the ceremonial faceoff before the game. Isles are wearing their white jerseys tonight, which used to be the old home jerseys back in Arbour’s days. They’ve announced on the PA that there is a post-game ceremony to raise a new banner for Coach Arbour.
Immediately after the game, Arbour will be joined on the Coliseum ice by his wife Claire, the Arbour family, Ted Nolan, the 2007-08 Islanders and several of Al’s former players as the franchise raises a new banner commemorating his 1,500th game as the head coach of the Islanders.
[1:48 2nd Period] Pens score one off the inside crossbar but no one in charge sees it. Play continues for another minute and a half before there’s a whistle. Toronto calls on the Batphone and after the review the Isles are in a 2-0 hole. Pens have also taken the lead in shots 14-12. Penguins’ 2nd goal was scored by rookie Tyler Kennedy, his first career NHL goal.
[8:20 2nd Period] Isles picking up the pace and buzzing now. Hunter bangs in a rebound for his second goal in as many games, making it 2-1. Next shift his line is at it again as Marc-Andre Fluery makes a big save on a Sillinger one-timer and then a Hunter wrist shot.
[13:56 2nd Period] Wow. Things just got crazy here - Isles get a 4 on 1 rush, I think it went missed net-save-missed net. Terrible. The Pens come down on a rush and Crosby high sticks DiPietro under the mask. Refs call goalie interference at first, then DiPietro heads off ice to be attended to. The refs call DP back to the ice to see if he’s cut - he is, so they change it to a double-minor high stick. Crowd (and Jumbotron) starts the DP chant as he walks back up out to the rink, only to have him turn around and head back in the dressing room to be attended to. Probably needs a couple of stitches. Doobie’s in for now.
[18:59 2nd Period] Isles have plenty of chances on the four minute powerplay but can’t beat Fluery. Sid the Kid is now public enemy #1 around here, the home crowd is booing him everytime he touches the puck.
[End 2nd Period] End of two, Isles after a slow start outshoot the Pens 18-11 in the period as the teams exchange goals. Isles did a really cool thing between the 1st/2nd - they showed and introduced all of their 15+ year season ticket holders on the Jumbotron. The season ticket holders are in hallway outside the locker room. A very nice gesture for the most die-hard of the die-hards. Just now they showed Eddie Westfall on the Jumbotron, he’s here too.
[20:00 3rd Period] Start of the third…Doobie leads the troops out onto the ice. No sign of DiPietro.
[3:56 3rd Period] Doobie makes 2 huge saves on Malone standing on his doorstep.
[5:30 3rd Period] Sutton clears the puck out of the Islanders zone which somehow springs Vasicek on a bad angle breakaway. He pulls up, feeds it across to Satan who ties the game. Fluery got a piece of it, but not enough. 30 seconds later…Crosby rings one off the post behind Doobie. Whew!
[17:19 3rd Period] Shot from the point from Bergeron, save Fluery but he puts the rebound right onto Satan’s stick for the go-ahead goal. Less than 2 minutes away from Coach Arbour’s 740th win.
FauxRumors thinks so, they’ve got the scoop on a possible big trade involving the Isles. Campoli, Hunter, and Satan are all mentioned as possibly being involved with a Western Conference team.
So much for the quiet dog days. LOL We were called early yesterday evening from a reliable source who mentioned that the NY Islanders may be closing in on a deal to ‘bolster their roster’. The source did NOT have all the specifics right now other than that its a Western conference team involved and there could be as many as 4 players and or picks involved in the deal.
Check out FauxRumors for the full report and any updates.
Before Sunday’s Ranger game it was announced that Trent Hunter won the Bob Nystrom Award for this season. The Nystrom Award is voted on and presented by the NY Islanders Booster Club each year.
Since 1991, the New York Islanders have presented the Bob Nystrom Award, to the Islander “who best exemplifies leadership, hustle and dedication.”
In 2004 - the Booster Club had the honor of voting exclusively for this award. Once again, for this season, the 2006-2007 winner will be voted on by the members of the Club.
In a very close vote - the winner for the 2006-07 season was #7, Trent Hunter. Before the Sunday game against the Rangers, NYIBC President Claire Harding, got to present Trent with the award. Congratulations to Trent on winning this prestigious award!
Chris Campoli got credited with a goal off a shot near the blue line early in the Isles game versus the Flyers. Replays look like the goal may have come off a deflection by Blake. If so, it would be his 30th. Isles lead 1-0.
Randy Robitaille, Blake, and Chris Simon tear down the ice on a 3-0 rush. Robitaille keeps the puck, shoots, save. Blake is right behind him for the rebound. SCORE.
Isles lead 2-0. Coliseum is real loud. Team looks strong.
Got sidetracked by a phone call and then Chris Hansen on NBC’s “To Catch a Predator.” Show those perv’s whose boss, Hansen! Isles up 3-1 with two minutes to go in the first. Big Goal Trent Hunter scored the third goal.
20 seconds to go, Blake steals the puck right in front of the Flyers’ net, stripping Kapanen and then slides the puck past an overmatched Nittymaki. SCORE.
Isles lead 4-1. Blake has two, maybe three.
Period One over.
Flyers tally to cut the lead in half. We’re at 4-2.
Isles’ rush. Blake shoots, save. Takes rebound behind the net crosses it in front to Simon. Shoots. SCORE. 5-2!
Immediately after the ensuing face-off, Fedorek picks a fight with Simon. Simon takes control, landing three hooks and opening up a cut over Fedorek’s eye. Fedorek hangs in there and lands some shots but Simon counters with several more big hits. Isles doing everything right.
On the NEXT FACE-OFF Asham and Reed go at it! Asham’s jersey comes off but he lands three big righthands. Reed goes down. Isles lead 5-2 on scoreboard and 2-0 on the fight card. GO COLISEUM HEROES GO!
This game is awesome. In the last nine seconds, Simon scored, beat the crap out of Fedorek and Asham beat up Reed. Islander hockey.
Wait a minute. Getting ahead of myself. Flyers score when Afanasenkov is standing all alone in front of DP and puts one in. When I say all alone, I mean really all alone. Not one Islander in the picture. Settle down guys. Let’s finish the game. 5-3.
Everyone has pretty much stopped playing defense at this point. End to end action. Isles need to slow this game down a bit.
Islanders kill an Asham penalty and most of a Freddy Meyer penalty with some big-time saves from DP. After two, it’s 5-3.
We’re back with 12 to go in the game. Flyers have just scored twice in the span of about 30 seconds. I just threw up. 5-5.
OT
So at least we have one point but we really need to win this game.
Isles power play. Bergeron blasts a one-timer. Save. Bergeron blasts another one wide. Puck gets worked to Sillinger in deep. Sillinger crosses in front to Hunter. One-timer. GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Big Goal Trent Hunter comes through yet again. Islanders win and grab two huge points. What a day for this team.
Jason Blake is named the #1 star. Crowd is chanting “JASON BLAKE. JASON BLAKE.”
Blake: “Thanks guys. It’s been a tough couple of weeks. I’m just glad I’m a New York Islander.”
The win caps off the Isles’ best February since 1982.
The Islanders outlasted the Maple Leafs in another tremendous battle between the two clubs. Randy Robitaille scored the only goal of the shootout and Trent Hunter scored twice during regulation, including the tying goal on the power play in the third period, to key the Isles comeback victory.
Toronto controlled the first half of the game, building a 2-0 lead. Hunter got the OrangeAndBlue on the board with one minute to go in the second period and then tallied again in the third minutes after a Toronto goal was called off because a player was in the crease.
The OT was wide open. Mats Sundin was pretty awesome, throwing his weight around and getting great scoring chances. Blake was his usual manic self, flying all over the ice during the OT and ripping a potential game-winner off the crossbar.
Satan and Kozlov were both stoned in their shootout attempts before Robitaille beat Raycroft with a forehand, sending the crowd into a frenzy. DP erased any chance of continuing drama by pokechecking the puck off the stick of Alexei Ponikarovsky on Toronto’s final attempt.
It was the second time in a week the Isles bested Toronto in a shootout. The victory puts the Coliseum Heroes one point ahead of the Leafs with 68.
“This team continues to impress I think even themselves. It seems the Islanders are finding a way to have somebody step up to the plate and hit the ball out of the park,” Jean Potvin said during the postgame show.
Thanks to two goals in less than 30 seconds and some crazy big saves by DiPietro, the Islanders downed the Leafs 3-2 tonight in a shootout in Toronto. Hunter scored in the middle of the second period to tie the game. Less than a minute later, Satan put in a rebound off a Tambellini shot. The Maple Leafs tied the game at 2 later in the period.
The game featured one of the most exciting overtimes in recent memory. Steen shanked a wide open one-timer for Toronto. The Islanders missed on a couple of 2-on-1 breaks, including a nice play by Toronto to pick Hunter’s pocket after a great pass from Sillinger. The crowd sounded like they were on the edge of their seats the entire time.
DiPietro played out of his mind in the third period. 39 saves on the night to keep the Islanders in this one.
Rookie Frans Nielsen took the first shot in the shootout and put a backhander past Andrew Raycroft. DP then stoned the first Leaf shooter. Raycroft stayed back and waited out Satan for the save. Mats Sundin scored with a top shelf wrister from pretty far out. Viktor Kozlov countered with a huge goal to give the Isles the lead, bringing Raycroft to the ice and flipping a backhander over him. DP then made a relatively easy save on Antopov to end the game.
The Islanders win. Big win.
DP had 39 saves.
Two nights later, the Islanders skated into Montreal and left with a 4-2 win. The big news of the game was the injury to defenseman Radek Martinek who left the game on a stretcher. X-rays revealed that Martinek, who had just returned from a broken foot injury, now had a broken leg and would be out 4-6 weeks. Martinek was injured in the first period after a check by Guillaume Latendresse into the boards behind the Islanders’ net.
Hunter and Satan each netted two in the game. It’s good to see these two finding their scoring touch again. After the Montreal game, Hunter has 5 goals in 6 games.
[ev type="youtube" data="wFe0iVWO0zA"][/ev]
From NewYorkIslanders.com, Hunter returns just in time for the Isles/Rags game tonight. I’m headed out the door in 10 minutes.
I’ll be back in the lineup tonight. I feel good and I’ve been getting better every day.
We’ve been talking about it getting back in the lineup when I started practicing with the guys. After the skate this morning, I felt good, so we decided I was ready to go tonight.
I won’t need any help tonight getting the adrenaline going. There’s going to be a lot of energy in the building already. After not playing for a couple of weeks, I’m excited to get back out there and help the team.
