Sunday, September 21, 2014

2014 Isles Training Camp: Split Squads vs. Senators


Your New York Islanders have 3 pre-season games coming up this week.  On Monday, they have two split squad games against the Ottawa Senators, on Wednesday they face the Carolina Hurricanes and Friday is the Barclays Center rematch against the New Jersey Devils.
 
Arthur Staple let us know the lines for tomorrow's games.  We all know that these are just early trials to see what chemistry guys might have and how different players react to their roles.  Don't grab the pitch forks and torches just yet if you don't approve.
 
 
The lineups for split-squad games vs. Sens in St. John's, Nfld., to follow. Games at 1:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. eastern time.
 
 
G1 Isles lines: Dal Colle-Strome-Ho-Sang, Lee-Nelson-Collberg, Zolnierczyk-Cizikas-Skille, Boulton-Mouillerat-McDonald.
 
G1 Isles D/G: Reinhart-Pulock, Czuczman-Mayfield, de Haan-Hamonic. Johnson and Leggio in goal.
 
G2 Isles lines: Bailey-Tavares-Okposo, Kulemin-Grabovski-Conacher, Grabner-Nielsen-Clutterbuck, Persson-Sundstrom-Gallant. 
 
G2 Isles D/G: Strait-Brennan, Hickey-Visnovsky, Donovan-Carkner. Halak and Poulin in goal.
 
 

 
I've highlighted the lines, pairings and net minders I am most interested in for each game.  The Dal Colle, Strome & Ho-Sang line just sounds like it will be fun to watch (or hear about.)  Lee, Nelson and Collberg is another interesting experiment as well.  It will be interesting to see what these guys can do together, but more interesting to see them in NHL action for the first time or after a promising finish to last season.  Bailey with Tavares & Okposo will give Bailey another chance to show what he can do. I know its getting old, but maybe he can have a year like Okposo did last season.
 
 
Reinhart & Pulock may be the future of the Islanders blue line.  I am really interested to see how ready these guys might be.  Czuczman & Mayfield is interesting as well.  Czuczman was awesome at the end of last season and I have watched Mayfield in Bridgeport and really like his game. Hickey & Visnovsky will give us an insight as to how well Viz has recovered and will give us another look at Hickey and his development.  Hopefully, Donovan will show something as well.
 

We all cant wait to see Halak & Johnson to see what we can expect this season.  We also realize that its only the first game of preseason and the team hasn't really gelled yet, but its still exciting to think about.  Quietly, seeing where Poulin's and especially Leggio's game will be is interesting as well.
 
 
Player Quotes:
 
 
Per Michael Willhoft, John Tavares: "I wanted to keep working on my shooting. Goal scoring is something I can be more consistent at."
 
 
Per Dan Savarino, “We’re not going to be the best team in the league the 1st day of the season, but we’re going to work hard .. our potential is pretty high."

 
Per Mark Weiner, D-man TJ Brennan: "I'm a very competitive person. I think the most important thing is to have healthy competition."
 
 
Per Dan Savarino, Brennan on coming to LI: "I’m here to try and win and help out as much as I can and it seems Isles felt the same way."

 
 
 
Isles Notes:
 
 
Per Arhtur Staple, "Discussed team defense with John Tavares today. He used the phrase "battle level." Try not to panic."
 
Per Newsday, "Plans for Nassau Coliseum redevelopment in works.


Jaro Halak's new Masks:








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