GDT (#68) | New York Islanders vs. New York Rangers | Mar 4 | 7:00pm

[Law]

GAMEDAY ~NEW YORK ISLANDERS~ ~NEW YORK RANGERS~

GAME #68 ~GAMESET~ MARCH 4TH | 7:00PM | MADISON SQUARE GARDEN | NEW YORK, NY FSN NY2 | MSG HD | CENTER ICE | 1130 AM | NHL.COM 2007-08 HEAD TO HEAD .....Date..... .....Home/Away..... .....Result..... .....Score..... Oct 10 Home WON 2-1 Nov 6 Home WON 3-2 Nov 19 Away WON 2-1 Nov 29 Away LOST 2-4 Mar 4 Away - - Mar 6 Home - - Apr 3 Home - - Apr 4 Away - -

2007-08 STANDINGS ~ATLANTIC DIVISION~ Rk ..........Team.......... ..GP.. ..W.. ..L.. ..OTL.. ..PTS.. ..GF.. ..GA.. ..PP%.. ..PK%.. ..Home.. ..Away.. ..Last 10.. 1. Pittsburgh 67 37 23 7 81 198 185 21.2 80.3 19-10-5 18-13-2 5-3-2 4. New Jersey 66 37 23 6 80 172 156 16.5 82.8 21-12-1 16-11-5 6-2-2 7. ~RANGERS~ 66 34 24 8 76 175 164 16.8 82.7 21-13-0 13-11-8 7-1-2 8. Philadelphia 66 33 25 8 74 203 189 22.7 82.0 14-12-6 19-13-2 3-4-3 ~ISLANDERS~ 67 31 29 7 69 164 193 15.8 83.7 17-15-3 14-14-4 6-4-0 ~EASTERN CONFERENCE~ Rk ..........Team.......... ..GP.. ..W.. ..L.. ..OTL.. ..PTS.. ..GF.. ..GA.. ..PP%.. ..PK%.. ..Home.. ..Away.. ..Last 10.. 1. Pittsburgh 67 37 23 7 81 198 185 21.2 80.3 19-10-5 18-13-2 5-3-2 2. Montreal 67 36 22 9 81 213 190 24.8 80.1 16-12-5 20-10-4 7-3-0 3. Carolina 68 34 29 5 73 203 213 17.7 76.8 19-12-3 15-17-2 7-2-1 4. New Jersey 66 37 23 6 80 172 156 16.5 82.8 21-12-1 16-11-5 6-2-2 5. Ottawa 67 37 24 6 80 217 202 17.7 81.2 20-12-3 17-12-3 3-5-2 6. Boston 65 35 24 6 76 179 180 19.0 79.5 17-12-3 18-12-3 7-2-1 7. ~RANGERS~ 66 34 24 8 76 175 164 16.8 82.7 21-13-0 13-11-8 7-1-2 8. Philadelphia 66 33 25 8 74 203 189 22.7 82.0 14-12-6 19-13-2 3-4-3 Buffalo 66 31 26 9 71 200 192 18.9 83.5 17-12-4 14-14-5 4-5-1 Washington 67 31 28 8 70 197 202 18.9 80.6 17-14-3 14-14-5 4-3-3 ~ISLANDERS~ 67 31 29 7 69 164 193 15.8 83.7 17-15-3 14-14-4 6-4-0 Toronto 67 29 28 10 68 186 208 16.0 78.3 16-12-5 13-16-5 6-3-1 Florida 68 29 31 8 66 181 196 19.4 80.9 12-13-7 17-18-1 3-4-3 Atlanta 67 29 31 7 65 178 219 17.4 80.1 16-14-3 13-17-4 3-4-3 Tampa Bay 65 26 32 7 59 183 213 18.9 80.0 16-16-2 10-16-5 3-5-2

STATISTICS ~TEAM COMPARISON~ ..........STATISTIC.......... 69 POINTS 76 31-29-7 RECORD 34-24-8 164 GOALS 175 193 GOALS AGAINST 164 #26 PP RANK #20 #9 PK RANK #12 43 PP GOALS 52 50 PP GOALS ALLOWED 48 7 SH GOALS 3 13 SH GOALS ALLOWED 3 3 SHUTOUTS 10 ~TEAM LEADERS~ ............STATISTIC............ Mike Comrie - 47 POINTS Scott Gomez - 63 Mike Comrie - 20 GOALS Drury/Shanahan - 21 Mike Comrie - 27 ASSISTS Scott Gomez - 49 Freddy Meyer - +5 +/- Nigel Dawes - +9 Andy Sutton - 86 PIM Colton Orr - 140 Radek Martinek – 22:31 ATOI MIchal Rozsival - 24:28 Ruslan Fedotenko - 8 PP GOALS Chris Drury - 11 Vasicek/Sillinger/Park - 2 SH GOALS Michal Rozsival - 2 Bill Guerin - 193 SOG Brendan Shanahan - 214 Rick DiPietro - 26 WINS Henrik Lundqvist - 29 Rick DiPietro - 2.70 GAA Stephen Valiquette - 2.13 Wade Dubielewicz - .907 SAVE % Stephen Valiquette - .917

GAME PREVIEW ~NEW YORK vs. NEW YORK~ The NHL schedule makers created an interesting scenario between New York's bitter rivals this season. Following four meetings between the Islanders and Rangers in the first two months of the season, their next meeting wasn't scheduled until over two months later. That time has now come. This week is gearing up to have intense and exciting battles at both Madison Square Garden on Tuesday and the Nassau Coliseum on Thursday. "We talk about emotion," said head coach Ted Nolan following practice at Iceworks on Monday. "It's always there for the Rangers-Islanders games. You could play them on a Sunday afternoon in mid-June and the excitement would be there. It's a big week for us. We have the Rangers back-to-back and then Philly on Saturday, but we can't focus on too much more than one game." Looking at the remainder of the schedule, 11 of the final 15 regular season games are against Division rivals – Rangers (4), Philadelphia (3), New Jersey (2), Pittsburgh (2). The Islanders will meet the Rangers for the fifth time this season on Tuesday. In their previous four meetings, the Islanders hold a 3-1-0 advantage. Since taking over as head coach of the Islanders last season, Nolan's Islanders are 8-2-2 in 12 games. "I don't know what it is," said Nolan, when asked about his success against the Rangers. "Maybe against the Rangers we've gotten the breaks at the right time. This game is about work and creating opportunities. And it's about luck. I believe the harder you work the luckier you get, so we have to continue to work and hopefully we'll get some lucky breaks. CONGRATULATIONS TREVOR SMITH! Trevor Smith Forward Trevor Smith, who signed with the Islanders organization on April 2, 2007 was named the American Hockey League's Rookie of the Month for February. Smith has found his niche with Bridgeport after being sent to the Islanders' ECHL affiliate in Utah for much of the first half of the season. His 25 points in Utah's 22 games earned him a spot on the ECHL All-Star roster. Just prior to the All-Star Game, Smith was recalled to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, the Islanders' AHL affiliate. Smith tallied eight goals and seven assists for 15 points in 13 games for the Sound Tigers last month. In 36 games with Bridgeport, Smith has recorded 11 goals and 11 assists for 22 points, placing him fourth on the team in goals. With Blake Comeau, Jeff Tambellini, Frans Nielsen and Jeremy Colliton recalled by the Islanders, Smith has take on a greater responsibility with the Sound Tigers. BRUNO'S STATUS Defenseman Bruno Gervais left Sunday's game with a thigh contusion and concussion following a heavy hit at center ice. He will be out Tuesday against the Rangers and is listed as day-to-day. With Gervais out, Aaron Johnson will be back in the lineup tomorrow against the Rangers after missing the past two games as a healthy scratch. NOLAN REFLECTS ON THE CORE OF THE FOUR "It was great to see all of those guys like Clark Gillies, John Tonelli and Denis Potvin hoisting the Cup," said Nolan. "You can sit down and listen to these guys for hours. You can hear the stories a thousand times because they're entertaining and fun. That's when the game is just pure. Those guys were from a whole different generation. You can see why they're Stanley Cup Champions." Islanders Website Preview OTHER PREVIEWS: Rangers GDT (Now Available) ESPN Preview LIVE BLOGGING: NYI Blog Box Islander Zone Live Blog

LINEUPS / INJURIES ~NEW YORK ISLANDERS~ .........................LW......................... .........................C......................... .........................RW......................... 11 -Andy Hilbert 89 - Mike Comrie (A) 13 - Bill Guerin (C) 26 - Ruslan Fedotenko 63 - Josef Vasicek 7 - Trent Hunter (A) 20 - Sean Bergenheim 10 - Richard Park 81 - Miro Satan 15 - Jeff Tambellini 72 - Jeremey Colliton 57 - Blake Comeau .........................D......................... .........................D......................... 32 - Brendan Witt 24 - Radek Martinek 44 - Freddy Meyer 3 - Rob Davison 4 - Bryan Berard 2 - Aaron Johnson ..............................G.............................. 34 - Wade Dubielewicz 39 - Rick DiPietro .........................Player......................... .........................Injury......................... .........................Status......................... RW Jon Sim Knee IR C Shawn Bates Hip IR C Mike Sillinger Hip IR D Chris Campoli Shoulder Out D Andy Sutton Hamstring Out C Frans Nielsen Shoulder Out Bruno Gervais Thigh/Concussion Questionable PLAYER NOTES: --G Wade Dubielewicz started for the first time since Jan. 31 because starting goalie Rick DiPietro took a leave to attend his grandmother's funeral. He stopped 29 of 30 shots in the 1-0 loss to Florida. --D Bruno Gervais, who missed six games in February with a strained oblique muscle, suffered a concussion and a thigh contusion on a crushing first-period check by Panthers defenseman and former Isles prospect Branislav Mezei. NOTES & QUOTES: --Hall of Fame G Billy Smith and C Wayne Merrick were the only two of 16 former members of all four Islanders championship teams (1980-83) who didn't attend the 25th anniversary celebration Sunday, dubbed "The Core of the Four." The current Islanders came out for pre-game warmups in throwback uniforms containing the names and numbers of members of the '80s dynasty. For instance, Isles captain Bill Guerin wore former captain Denis Potvin's No.5 jersey. QUOTE TO NOTE "It seems like we've seen a similar story the last month or so, where we get a lot of shots, but make goalies look better than they are." -- Center Mike Comrie, after Florida backup Craig Anderson stopped all 53 Islanders' shots. INSIDE SHOTS: Billy Smith was a no-show at the Islanders' latest celebration of their 1980s Stanley Cup dynasty Sunday at Nassau Coliseum. But Florida backup Craig Anderson played the Hall of Fame goalie. The Isles continued to make superstars of opposing understudies, firing a season-high 53 shots without scoring a goal in a 1-0 loss Sunday against Florida. The Isles, who also lost to Ty Conklin despite a 52-shot barrage last Tuesday, scored once on 87 shots in two losses this weekend. The Isles, the second-lowest scoring team in the NHL with 164 goals, have slipped five points behind the Flyers for the eighth playoff position in the Eastern Conference entering a home-and-home series with the Rangers. It starts Tuesday at Madison Square Garden. "Do we have a pure goal scorer? Probably not, but we have to keep battling and they gave everything they had," Ted Nolan said. "We threw everything at them... but just have to give a little bit more." Right wing Bill Guerin and center Mike Comrie are tied for the team lead with 20 goals apiece, matching San Jose for the lowest total by a team leader. "We're not in a position to lose many more games," Guerin said. "There's got to be desperation, but not panic." PANTHERS 1, ISLANDERS 0: History was made Sunday at Nassau Coliseum, and it had nothing to do with the annual trotting out of members of the Islanders' Stanley Cup dynasty from the early 1980s. The Islanders couldn't score against Florida backup goalie Craig Anderson despite a season-high 53 shots on goal. That was 11 more than the previous high in team history, a 42-shot blanking against Montreal in 2002. "Any time you face 50, you've had a good night if you didn't let a goal in," Isles goalie Wade Dubielewicz said about Anderson's performance. "I'm sure a 50-save shutout comes with a little luck, too, but he played a heck of a game." First-liners Mike Comrie and Bill Guerin said the Isles, who totaled a team record 29 shots in the second period, lacked urgency in fighting for rebounds that could have produced goals. ~NEW YORK RANGERS~[/font] .........................LW......................... .........................C......................... .........................RW......................... 16 - Sean Avery 17 - Brandon Dubinsky 68 - Jaromir Jagr (C) 10 - Nigel Dawes 19 - Scott Gomez 14 - Brendan Shanahan (A) 82 - Martin Straka (A) 23 - Chris Drury 24 - Ryan Callahan 20 - Fredrik Sjostrom 15 - Blair Betts 28 - Colton Orr .........................D......................... .........................D......................... 3 - Michal Rozsival 8 - Marek Malik 51 - Fedor Tyutin 5 - Dan Girardi 18 - Marc Staal 55 - Christian Backman ..............................G.............................. 30 - Henrik Lundqvist 40 - Steve Valiquette .........................Player......................... .........................Injury......................... .........................Status......................... D Paul Mara Facial IR LW Petr Prucha Shoulder Questionable PLAYER NOTES: --D Christian Backman and LW Fredrik Sjostrom each scored in their Garden debuts as Rangers Sunday. Both were acquired in separate deals just before the Feb. 26 trade deadline. --D Marek Malik recorded two assists and played a career-high 25:07. --Though cleared to play upon recovering from a dislocated right shoulder, RW Petr Prucha was a healthy scratch and sat out his seventh straight game. Ryan Hollweg also was scratched. NOTES & QUOTES: --The Rangers have earned at least a point in nine straight games (7-0-2), a season high. --The Rangers have scored four goals or more in five straight and six of their last seven. Early in the season they went 14 straight games without exceeding three goals. --G Henrik Lundqvist failed to make it into the second period of a game he started for the first time since Dec. 3, 2006 against the Islanders. --When Jeff Carter scored with 8:11 left in regulation to tie the game 4-4, it snapped goalie Steve Valiquette's shutout streak against Philadelphia at 157:45. --"That was '80s hockey," LW Fredrik Sjostrom said of a wild first period that ended 3-3. QUOTE TO NOTE "I just felt like I was the starting goalie going into a game that was beginning in the second period. That was my mentality." -- Goalie Steve Valiquette. INSIDE SHOTS: Having opened up a seven-point lead on their longtime rivals, the Rangers can virtually eliminate the Islanders as a threat to their playoff status when the teams play a home-and-home this week. It begins Tuesday night in the Garden and concludes Thursday night at Nassau Coliseum. Of course, the Islanders have been a thorn in the Rangers' side all season. With goalie Rick DiPietro sparkling, the Isles won three one-goal games in the series before the Rangers finally beat them, 4-2, on Nov. 29. Those three losses to the Isles came during the opening stretch when the Rangers couldn't score against anybody. They managed more than three goals just four times in their first 24 games. In six of their last seven games, the Rangers have scored four or more goals. The Isles, in contrast, have stopped scoring. Shut out by Florida at home Sunday afternoon, the Islanders have scored two goals or less in six of their last seven games. The Rangers have just started a stretch in which they'll play 13 of their final 17 games within the Atlantic Division. RANGERS 5, FLYERS 4 (SO): Steve Valiquette restored order upon replacing starter Henrik Lundqvist to start the second period, then stopped both shootout tries he faced Sunday afternoon in the Garden. Entering a 3-3 game, Valiquette stopped 17 of 18 shots. Then he stoned Kimmo Timonen and Jeff Carter in the shootout. Brendan Shanahan and Nigel Dawes scored in the shootout for the Rangers, who are 12-3-2 in their last 17 games.

~BATTLE OF NEW YORK V~





~TRUST YODA WE DO~

[rko920]

lets go islesss WE NEED POINTS!

[Brunomics]

Law I just want to tell you that you do a tremendous job with these GDT's. Very well done!

By the way Dubie shuts out the Ranger's 1-0. Since the Isles can't score it'll be a shootout goal by Mike Comrie

[Volek25]

Law, great song choice, it makes all the pictures and importance of the game really come alive and sound intense.

TIME TO PLAY YOUR HEARTS OUT BOYS....LET'S GO ISLANDERS!!!!

[CaptDenisPotvin]

Let's take these ******** down a peg or two. I hate everything that represents the Rag$....


EDIT: Do NOT wish injuries on other players on the Islanders board.
-Killer

[IslesUK]

Great GDT! Lets go Islanders!

I hate to say this but i think we will get lit up tonight (just being honest!)

[devilsfan30]

i'd be pulling for you guys, though it'll be tough

who will be the player(s) to drop the gloves tonight vs orr

[Killer Carlson]

**************************************************

We play the Rangers tonight and no crap is going to be tolerated. None. Not by Rangers fans, not by Islanders fans, not by anyone.

If a Rangers fan trolls or flames or is offensive, let me or nyisles know or submit a report to the board. Do NOT handle it yourself or you will suffer the same consequences as the person you are attacking.

**************************************************

[BJo]

I'm going to the bar to eat some wings and drink some beer during this game. So either way its a win for me.

[SAL8116]

Law you do some kick a** work on these GDT. I am hoping for 6 points in our next 3 games. Let's send these Raggies back to Manhattan with there heads down. I am looking for a HARD HITTING, AGGRESSIVE game. DO NOT come out flat boys LET'S DO THIS! ! ! !

[Killer Carlson]

Originally Posted by SPARADISO8116

Law you do some kick a** work on these GDT. I am hoping for 6 points in our next 3 games. Let's send these Raggies back to Manhattan with there heads down. I am looking for a HARD HITTING, AGGRESSIVE game. DO NOT come out flat boys LET'S DO THIS! ! ! !

Well, the game is at MSG but yeah to all of that anyway!!!

[Blueshirt13]

Originally Posted by SPARADISO8116

Law you do some kick a** work on these GDT. I am hoping for 6 points in our next 3 games. Let's send these Raggies back to Manhattan with there heads down. I am looking for a HARD HITTING, AGGRESSIVE game. DO NOT come out flat boys LET'S DO THIS! ! ! !

Yes, I am invading your forums. No, I am infact here in peace.

Just wanted to say awesome GDT Law.

[BJo]

Originally Posted by Blueshirt13

Yes, I am invading your forums. No, I am infact here in peace.

Just wanted to say awesome GDT Law.

The trolling has started already

You are right. Law does an awesome job. Good job once again Law

[SUNRISE27EMTK]

great GDT Law....


Killer we need the ROFL chopper to come out....it was good luck that time


Anyone going tonight? I ll be in section 115

[Volek25]

Originally Posted by NAUTIKA16

great GDT Law....


Killer we need the ROFL chopper to come out....it was good luck that time


Anyone going tonight? I ll be in section 115

Section 313 rocking the D.Potvin jersey!!!

[Islanders1932]

I actually think we are gonna win this game, but not only win, we are gonna score a lot, because last game reminded me of the Pitt game where we owned, but lost (the game right after the Wild game). Cause after that game we came out and we won, and I see that happening tonight, they will be going all out tonight, I just hope they are not all tired from sunday.

[IslesFanatic]

I hate to say this, but this will be a VEERRRRRRRRRRRRY LOOOOOOOOOOOONG back to back. I already gave my tix for Thursday's game to my cousin because I cannot stand the fact that we are going to be emabrrassed these next two games. if we can't beat the Panthers, we ain't being the Rag$. Sorry guys and gals. As much as I hate to say that, it is just reality. It is best for all involved, that I stay home on Thursday.

4-0 Rag$ tonight
3-0 Rag$ Thursday

[Islanders1932]

I think this should be Ted Nolan's warm up speech...

[Islanders1932]

Originally Posted by IslesFanatic

I hate to say this, but this will be a VEERRRRRRRRRRRRY LOOOOOOOOOOOONG back to back. I already gave my tix for Thursday's game to my cousin because I cannot stand the fact that we are going to be emabrrassed these next two games. if we can't beat the Panthers, we ain't being the Rag$. Sorry guys and gals. As much as I hate to say that, it is just reality. It is best for all involved, that I stay home on Thursday.

4-0 Rag$ tonight
3-0 Rag$ Thursday

I just want to let you know that any given team can beat any other given team on any night so you are going to give up hope because we lost to the Panthers? I think I recall beating the Senators twice this year and believe we are 3-1 against the Rangers and have owned them for as long as I can remember. I mean everyone is entitled to do what they please, but I for sure am not giving up because we lost a game to the Panthers, and I believe that we can win all three of our next games, have hope, believe, I know I always will....LETS GO ISLANDERS!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Isles4ever11]

Originally Posted by IslesFanatic

I hate to say this, but this will be a VEERRRRRRRRRRRRY LOOOOOOOOOOOONG back to back. I already gave my tix for Thursday's game to my cousin because I cannot stand the fact that we are going to be emabrrassed these next two games. if we can't beat the Panthers, we ain't being the Rag$. Sorry guys and gals. As much as I hate to say that, it is just reality. It is best for all involved, that I stay home on Thursday.

4-0 Rag$ tonight
3-0 Rag$ Thursday

Maybe not your dog.

[TheHotRock]

good luck to you boys tonight...but we must break you

not gonna be easy, you guys always come out hard against us.

[Andrea5174]

Tonight at 6:45 I have to take my son to CCD and then I am going to the gym for the hour while he is there. I hope by the time I get home they are still in the game at least.

[Blueshirt13]

Originally Posted by NAUTIKA16

Anyone going tonight? I ll be in section 115

My seats are in 115.

Just to warn you in advance, a number of the players' wives, girlfriends and family sit in the section. Most of the seats here are given away by MSG to both visiting and Ranger players. So, if you see some hot piece of... some beautiful female sitting by you, along with her beautiful friend, more than likely she is seeing one of the players.

[Chariot]

What an AWESOME GDT!


Big game tonight. Big test for the Rangers. Bigger still for the Islanders.

I guess you'll be pleased that Hollywood has lost his spot to Sjo. I'd say the bulk of the Ranger fans are pleased too. Not that we dont like Hollywood, but Sjo is a nice upgrade for the 4th line. They actually have a bit of scoring presence now.

[SUNRISE27EMTK]

Originally Posted by Blueshirt13

My seats are in 115.

Just to warn you in advance, a number of the players' wives, girlfriends and family sit in the section. Most of the seats here are given away by MSG to both visiting and Ranger players. So, if you see some hot piece of... some beautiful female sitting by you, along with her beautiful friend, more than likely she is seeing one of the players.

So your saying be sure to ask them for their number

I am sitting in row E...I ll have Sim jersey on..