Orange and Blue All Over

Today was the Islanders Blue vs. Orange Scrimmage, 2012 Prospects Game at the Iceworks practice facility.  250 fans and standing room only media got to witness the event along with thousands of fans on Islanders TV streamed live from the teams website.  Last years contest was a back and forth scoring exhibition.  What would this years game be like?

The squads looked like this:

Eric Cairns coaching the Blue Team.

Isles Blue Forwards for Scrimmage: Kabanov-Strome-Riley Tiefenworth-Nelson-Clark Goldenkov-Sundstrom-Giftopoulos McGuire-Lardner.

Isles Blue D-Pairs for Scrimmage: Pokka-Kichton Bischoff-Graham Leduc-Cantin Yevenko Goalies: Vazzano, Gillam.

Trent Klatt coaching the Orange Team.

Isles Orange Forwards for Scrimmage: Mackay-Cizikas-Niederreiter Halmo-Terao-Persson Theoret-Calof-Holmstrom Berkle-Periera.

Isles Orange D-Pairs for Scrimmage: Reinhart-Mayfield Pedan-Somerby Escobedo-Schneider MacGregor Goalies: Reiter, Boyle.

Periera scores. Orange 1 Blue 0.

Mayfield takes the1st penalty and Strome misses on the penalty shot.

Orange takes 2-0 lead on Calof goal at 7:37 of second.

Per Dee Karl, Note: “6'7" Oleg Yevenko can fly and he has a shot that scared 1/2 the arena.”

Halmo scores for Orange giving them a 3-0 lead with the empty net.

Final: Orange 3 Blue 0. Shootout is next for ‪Isles prospects.

Final after Shootout: Orange 6 Blue 0. Persson, Halmo and Reinhart score in so for ‪Isles.

Nino’s take on the game, "It's always difficult to play summer hockey, but at the end of the day we won 6-0 & it was a fun game."

This years scrimmage was a defensive shut down where 6 of the 7, 2012 draft picks participated with defensemen chosen over the last few years.  With some gifted goal scorers in the Isles system, the newly revamped and galvanized Defensive group really played well.

Alex Vazzano looked good in net for Orange vs. some very good Blue shooters.  The defensive prospects looked comfortable and played well in the game, especially for team Orange.  I heard Halmo's name a lot as well.

Kirill Kabanov had some good chances for Team Blue and looked much improved from last season.

Each Scrimmage I watch gives me more and more respect for Garth Snow and his team.  They have really done well with their top picks, mid picks and "gambles" over the last few seasons.  Lets just hope for a little luck this Sunday (July 1st Free Agency Starts) and into the summer camp with free agents or trade acquisitions to help the team take the final step into a winning culture.

Isles Notes:

Per Arthur Staple, “Isles will begin interviews for BPT coaching job tomorrow. Talking to former Peoria coach Jared Bednar; like B. Thompson, won ECHL.”

“Isles are out of the Justin Schultz sweepstakes. Also zero truth to rumors of Mark Streit going to EDM in a trade.”

TSN reported Schultz’s list includes the Edmonton Oilers, Vancouver Canucks, Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers, and Ottawa Senators.  Bob McKenzie thinks you can add the Minnesota Wild to the list of possible suitors.

NHL Notes:

Per Chris Johnston, “NHL officially announces summer cap of $70.2 million with a $54.2 million floor. In effect until new CBA is signed.”

AHL Notes:

Per Chris Arnold, “The AHL Board of Governors has approved the usage of video review for next season. I didn't realize they didn't already use it.”