Matt Donovan, Nino Niederreiter Named Starters For All-Star Lineup

Matt Donovan, & Nino Niederreiter were named to the starting lineup by the fans for the 2013 AHL All-Star Game in Providence on 1/27-1/28.

Both players thanked the fans on their twitter feeds Saturday.

Bridgeport off losing a third period 1-0 lead on Friday, has another game in Norfolk on Saturday before the break. 

1/22: Niederreiter Speaks On Wanting To Be First Team All-Star

That’s Nino Niederreiter speaking likely on 1/22/13.

The Sound Tigers website released this update on 1/22/13.

Note-The team video was released between 10am-11am on the teams twitter feed or before any other updates on Tuesday.

 TheSoundTigers VOTE FOR NINO: @thelnino25 is an AHL All Star but needs your help to make the starting lineup! Voting opens @ 12 today!

1/22/13: Niederreiter’s personal twitter feed also RT this update around 10am here.

Niederreiter later added this to his Facebook page on 1/22/13
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Kirill Kabanov is getting very close to returning, it’s possible he goes to Norfolk next weekend.

Player Garth Snow’s Comments On Lockout Sept 2004

In Sept 2004: Locked Out NHL player Garth Snow gave the Toronto Star an interview on playing in Russia.  

USA Today’s Kevin Allen on 9/27/04 had a more positive article.

Tsn.ca reported Snow left St Petersberg on 12/21/2004 in an era before there was a KHL.

On 7/29/2005 Snow was resigned by the Isles to a three year extension as an UFA.
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NYIFC Comments:  
This entry has nothing to do with the previous post about the general manager.

I felt it would be interesting to take a quick look back at how NHL locked out player, Garth Snow, saw the 2004-05 lockout.

I always remembered this interview because of his honest, candid comments at the time.

Snow before 2010 was the only former player who had become a general manager since the 04-05 lockout beyond brief co-gm Brett Hull with Dallas who retired in October 2005.

It has nothing to do with players immediately named gm.

Bob Clarke was hired as gm by Ed Snider of the Flyers upon his retirement after 83-84, who was fired by Jay Snider before becoming gm in Minnesota, Florida before returning as senior vp, then gm, which he held until 2006 when after being fired he again was named senior vp in Dec 2006. 

Ray Shero was a long-time assistant in Ottawa/Nashville before behind hired by Pittsburgh in 2006.
Dave Nonis was gm in Vanvouver from 2004-2008. 

Among the current general managers:
Steve Yzerman was named Tampa’s gm in 2010, his final NHL season was 2005-06.
Former Islander/new Montreal gm, Marc Bergervin’s final NHL season was 2003-04.
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Fun Story Of The Day: 
So in September 2001 Vancouver gm Brian Burke wanted to claim Garth Snow off waivers? 

Funny on 1/6/2001 the all-knowing Vancouver media has Burke’s comments on Garth Snow’s goaltending vs Felix Potvin after Snow left. 

Sorry gang, Snow’s 2000-01 stats in Pittsburgh did not scream he had improved. Chris Osgood was also claimed off waivers with DiPietro being left in Bridgeport. 
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Bridgeport Win/Loss:
Nino Niederreiter scored two goals in first period, took a stick in the face, returned but only took one brief pp shift in second period on Wednesday in Sound Tigers 5-2 win. David Ullstrom has three assist, one ENG. 

Nothing on Travis Hamonic or Brock Nelson close to returning.

A Few Words From Garth Snow

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NY Post: General manager, Garth Snow, had a few comments regarding his team within the last day, where he spoke on a variety of subjects.



On adding another forward:

“Right now, I don’t have any plans to add another forward to our group, As much as we’d like to add quality veterans, we’re not going to box out our young guys.”

On veterans skating on Iceworks:

“We always have given access to our facilities, not only to our current players but to our alumni.”

On Nino Niederreiter:

“We want to give a guy like Nino a chance to make our team.”

Looking ahead:

“A lot of things can happen, an injury to a player, “We’re not ruling out anything.”

NYIFC Comments:

Not much to add, the general manager will make the moves the best improve his team, nothing was provided on Josh Bailey, which needed to be asked.

Interesting the doormat NY Post, actually spoke to the general manager while Newsday was silent.

Misc:

Image of the Islanders installing a team store at the Coliseum, could reflect more of Charles Wang’s personal spending to upgrade a facility he does not own.

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New York Notables/Prospect Camp/NIFA Meeting Updated 7/14

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Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio is reporting UFA Jeremy Colliton will return on a two-way contract. Confirmed by Sound Tigers website.

Updated 1pm:
Writing the NIFA meeting will be live here Thursday at 4pm may not be correct.

NIFA meetings are archived for viewing. It may have been a bit presumptuous on NYIFC part, that automatically (like Nassau) the NIFA meeting would also been shown live at 4pm via live web cast.

We apologize in advance if the meeting is not live-streamed at 4pm.

NIFA will be Meeting 7/14/2011 at 4pm from Charles Wang’s Marriott Hotel, where they are expected to comment on the Coliseum referendum in their agenda.

Like Nassau County all NIFA meetings can be seen with no media spin. NIFA had it’s Jan-April meeting (likely others) at the Marriott, so there is nothing to be read into that.

Many past NIFA meetings are available for viewing, most are only a few minutes with none of the debate/lobbying you see in County meeting process.

NYIFC 8.1.11 section (right sidebar bottom of page) has all available information, including all Stadium/Arena referendum outcomes since 1990.
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New York Islander Fan Central twitter on side-bars & special section set up for rookie camp, has had plenty of coverage.

7/13: ITV had video interviews with Ryan Strome, Calvin deHaan, Anders Nilsson, among others.

7/16 ITV: will show Blue vs White Live Saturday at 7pm.

NYIFC Comments:
Only expectation I have from prospect camp is no players are injured. The Devils, Adam Larsson, and several prospects have sustained injuries in their camp this week here.

Eric Boguniecki : signed by Bridgeport as as assistant to new Head Coach, Brent Thompson.

NYIFC Comments:
This is somewhat of a surprise given the club has a lot of folks, who have had brief appearances on the Sound Tigers bench, Matt Bertani was retained as an assistant.

Seems management felt a need to add a second assistant or Thompson was permitted his own hire?
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New York Notables:
1. Funny how Charles Wang is spending the same forty million he was before there was a cap floor or ceiling, and not one person writes about it? Roloson/Wisniewski were traded with no replacements and the New York Islanders did not go below the floor, which means they were at least four million above it.

But why go there?

2. It’s already 7/13, how dare the Islanders not sign Bryan McCabe for three million, Alexei Kovalev/Zherdev for another two million and subject us to actually seeing if Calvin deHaan, Nino Niederreiter can make the club out of camp?

At least replace Godard and Mike Rupp? We have no one to stand up for John Tavares. (wrong Atlantic team and era)

2A. It’s not 1998-2008 for Bryan McCabe or Kovalev anymore. The right wings in the system may be a lot better than Zherdev now. Kyle Okposo will likely be back with Tavares and Moulson on the first line, with Parenteau going down a line or two.

3. How are the Islanders going to compete with a defense that has Eric Brewer, MA Bergeron, Bruno Gervais and Matt Gilroy?

3A. Victor Hedman is a very good player, spare me about the rest being better than the Islanders or most other teams at this time.

4. Make an offer sheet (insert star player name) what are they waiting for?

4A. Matched.
End of story.
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How Low Can You Go Department:
1. I watched the Nassau County meeting Monday which included spending four million dollars in repairs to the Nassau Coliseum, it quickly and quietly passed, but those needing to create a story out of nothing (beyond selling themselves) did what they do best for their own selfish purposes.

1A. Not like the Nassau Coliseum had to cancel an Islanders home game because of asbestos issues, but those same folks would not dare write one word on that and retain a credential.

1B. Instead let’s interview some former players to whole-heartedly, without question and from a completely honest place support the Islanders staying, while in the background, it’s kept as negative as possible in the owners paper, which contributed greatly to the teams attendance/coverage issues since they started pulling games off television in 1998.

1C. What’s next the Islanders refused their Metro Ice Challenge Winnings, or a pregame a few years ago because their TV partner is so wonderful? That the Islanders do not even want preseason games televised/or preseason specials? That the team does not even want our great partners to be burdened with live web-casted preseason games to help interest? Just place all the games on an insulting channel named for Madison Square Garden and hold the HD/ratings, while spamming Msg teams across every telecast.

1D. Anyone have a bridge to nowhere to sell cheap beyond the one going up at a renovated Msg? This end game is all about October 2015, quietly riding in as the good guy while saving hundreds of millions.

Since 1998, the history reflects the truth.

2. PHWA President, Kevin Allen, has no answers on what to do with blogger vs writer credentials issue here beyond letting the teams decide or who vouches for individuals in markets where there is less coverage?

I personally like Kevin Allen’s work, but his answer seems to be pass the buck or stay above it as association president. Perhaps he’s too smart to take a stand?

3. Beyond comical the same article reports the NY Times, does not allow it’s hockey writers to vote for NHL awards? You may recall this was the same publication demanding transparency last November on Islanders media policies? NYIFC called out this hypocrisy once again on April 5th.

4. Yes folks, it’s 2011. Hockey information has regressed so much we have comedy sideshows playing insiders on teams finances, with select professional media outlets so cheap and lazy they use them as actual resources.

Then those same publications, call out the teams for not spending enough?

4A. Where’s X-Ice when you need them with long memories of Islanders earliest website versions.

5. Maybe we can get some of these comedy sideshow kiddies to publish the salaries of all the professional North American hockey writers? Then we can see which editors, publishers, and owners are the real hockey coverage problem?

5A. Will be fun to see the NY Post calling out Rupert Murdoch (NEVER), which needs to save a little money these days, firing Larry Brooks/Mark Everson and replacing them with AP coverage which would be a dramatic improvement for New York hockey credibility at the Post.

6. Let’s end on a good note-Type the words Fort Neverlose into Google maps.
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Niederreiter/Cizikas Updates Available in Sidebars

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Feeds for St Michaels Majors with Casey Cizikas & Portland WinterHawks with Nino Niederreiter have been added to sidebars and crawl to follow both prospects in the OHL/WHL Championships.

Mississauga St. Michaels Majors lost game two in overtime Friday, Cizikas had an assist. Niederreiter had a first period goal for Portland in WHL final.

No twitter, OHL draft going on so too many updates.

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When Perception Ruins Reality: Wang’s Payroll/Spending

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Yes, I know some of you could care less or it’s not your problem, however some of our fans desperately need a reality check on your perception of this owner and the New York Islanders as a franchise.

No, not from the Canadian/Dolan/Rupert Murdoch/media influencing many of you.

No, not even from this blog, but simply from the facts.

Far too many base it upon a steady diet of overtly negative coverage that is not fair or reality based. Our team is covered by a Fox News/Msnbc-like media with the New York Islanders always being the other party.

I also absolutely understand our teams fans use the Yankee/Met/New Jersey Football/Cablevision/Prudential Center Devils, template for our local teams spending on payroll and that many will gauge team perception on payroll vs low ticket prices.

The Mets can spend 140m on payroll and for some that is not considered trying.

You expect the same from this owner or your perception (usually enhanced by outside media fueling you) is that this ownership does not care or is not trying.

Non-sense.

Reality is those franchises received taxpayer exepmtions or parts of their new facilities were paid for by the public with bonds or infrastructure/internal things like low-cost electricity.

I have posted enough links to those articles here.

Charles Wang has received none of those things. Wang and/or Rechler spent seventeen million dollars so Smg would give them Islanders full ticket revenue/concessions/parking along with other event revenue. Some actually believe that was some free gift Tom Suozzi gave them as departing county executive?

The seventeen million was Smg’s gift in case the facility was closed during the summer and a renovation actually happened because that was revenue Smg would have lost. Wang-Rechler for their trouble lost close to another 20m putting together the LH project between studies/presentations.

As for Charles Wang’s Islander payrolls you can dispute over the years how he spent his money on the wrong long-term contracts, but he did spend and proved he’s not Howard Milstein, or John Pickett post 1990 so get over it until he tells Garth Snow to sell off John Tavares to cut payroll.

Wang’s Perception:
A lot of what I read is frankly disgraceful. Anyone who tells you they know what Charles Wang does internally regarding his day to day role as owner of this franchise is lying to you.

Find me one former player in the last ten years who has played here, left this franchise and knocked this ownership in one newspaper?

Wang cannot sign star free agents? Neither can twenty plus other non-corporate franchises without a front-loaded contract regardless of what the building looks like. The Montreal Canadians are the most popular team in the NHL, what star players have signed to play there or have they offered a front-loaded contract to?

The next star free agent who signs anywhere without a front-loaded deal will be the first. Paul Martin is not a star free agent.

As for Charles Wang we’ll see what he does when it’s time to pay Tavares, Okposo, Bailey and the key players out of Garth Snow’s top prospects. Many were brought to the NHL early which will cost the owner more money because they will reach UFA earlier.

Over the years what top prospects have not been signed because of salary?

Bottom line you create your own perception.

Hopefully you are guided by facts, not media with an agenda or folks who don’t follow the team but check in to play expert for a day. Most are largely more interested in writing anything to get you to notice their articles to build page-views or their profile.

Yes, I understand some of you could care less how much money a millionaire can lose or it’s not your problem, just lose more money, give me 1981 ticket prices, or don’t waste my time.

For those who feel that way you can stop reading now.
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Old News:
The viewpoint of NYIFC should not influence you.

Having written that how many links to articles from credible media (not sideshows or guesswork like Michael Ozanian/Forbes or shock jocks in Toronto) have been posted here directly with quotes from team owners/management in modern buildings who claim they are losing money?

That should influence you.

This blog has produced links (see archives) from Chicago ownership on losing money after winning the cup last season, on the Caps receiving revenue sharing and losing money and the Devils losses in an arena Newark largely paid for.

The Cablevision Ranger losses have been well-documented in our archives also with a large majority of the franchises.

The Minnesota Wild are even losing money now here according to their ownership.

Glendale paid it’s twenty five million to the league, the NHL (not Forbes/Ozanian) claim the franchise lost close to thirty six million at that modern facility or what the BlackHawks were losing.

So how can the most ardent Wang critic begin to make any credible case his team is self-sustaining in it’s current situation?

Fair Criticism Of Wang:
Sure there are fair and reasonable things to be critical of regarding Wang’s ownership. I can make a longer list (and will here) but always get stuck on this issue.

The Long Island label spammed into practically every release for a New York franchise has been Wang or his supports managers biggest mistake. Perhaps it was the Lighthouse or Arena issue to rally local support but it’s a mistake that has limited perception and coverage of a franchise as much New York/New York City as the Yankees.

It’s given media an excuse to save budget money and cut coverage.

It’s like the Giants and Jets demanding to be called East Rutherford and putting it in every team release.

Spare me on who Wang decides calls his teams games, that’s all Dolan/Cablevision/Msg/Newsday. You really want Wang or Michael Picker to fight that one?

That will result in Wang’s Islanders hidden on Msg+2 for 82 games or some out allows Dolan to take team off television again entirely. Good luck buying ad space in Dolan’s paper to advertise games also after you do that.
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Notables:
Likely Montoya (nope) vs Tavares at WC Friday. Nabokov left last game with an injury for Russia. Anders Nilsson is Sweden’s third goaltender for those curious and Jesse Joensuu to date has not played in one game.

Casey Cizikas is in the running for the OHL Most Outstanding Player Award here as Majors lead their finals series.

Cizikas has to be signed by 6/1 or he can re-enter draft.

Nino Niederreiter has been dominating as Portland opens Western Hockey League championship series tonight.

Quotables:

“It must be remembered that the Islanders had a terrible sequence of defeats at some point (14 games without a win), However, the team was never decommissioned, she was often lost by the margin of a goal.

“I often found myself on the ice in the final minute of play with the Islanders, and I was on the ice for not less than 13 goals the opponent scored into an empty net! The differential may be misleading in several respects.”

James Wisniewski-Montreal cyberpresse.ca 5/6/2011 on his plus minus in 2010/11.

Misc:
Thrilled for Bergenehim, Roloson, Bergeron, Brewer and especially Wayne Flemming or any other former Islanders I missed. Would love to see Tambellini get a chance in Vancouver.

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Real Development vs Surviving A Season

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I keep getting the same comments, the New York Islanders have been rebuilding/developing for years, then comes the no playoff wins since 93 mantra.

This is simply not true.

My response to this always is when they were making four playoffs in six years, that was not developing. They did have some prospects who could contribute at this level, however most did not make it.

The verdict is in on the drafts from 2002-2005, outside of Blake Comeau, Frans Nielsen or Bruno Gervais, it’s not looking very good in terms of impact players in New York or around the NHL.

In Ted Nolan’s final year when they lost a league leading 402 man games to injury or a league leading 582 in 08-09 that was not developing.

Those seasons (especially 08-09) were about finding enough healthy bodies to fill out a lineup with Tim Jackman playing five games in five days for the Islanders and Sound Tigers. In 07-08, the injuries hit hardest the final month so they stayed in contention to a degree.

Last year with only 250 man games lost to injury, that was more about development, the proof was in the improvement in the standings, and the wins against all of the top teams.

This year ended before it got a chance to start in many ways, it’s very much like 08-09 now even with the scoring problems surfacing early, and the reality check that many of the past picks/some via trade (Nielsen, Comeau, Hunter, Tambellini) did not step up and produce at a time they had to for this to have a chance.

I don’t see 2010-11 as developing, as much as I see it as again surviving a season.

That may happen along the way but Travis Hamonic is here because practically every single defender has been out or injured/suspended or playing hurt.

The hard, bitter truth is Florida never got there with development, and a decade later are still working through it. Phoenix, Los Angeles, Chicago took close to a decade, and a lot of steps backwards along the way. St Louis, Columbus, Nashville and many other franchises could still go either way.

One year, one eighteen point improvement, sandwiched between three years decimated with injury is not real development or giving a plan a chance. It’s not even the start of real development/improvement until these players not only produce at this level, but learn to win, and have a healthy supporting cast to help them.

Right now this is only surviving a season, and seeing what some of these kids can do.
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Glendale stepped up and invested in saving the Coyotes franchise, for better or worse their new owner (when approved) will be willing to bleed millions for likely a decade plus.

Nassau/TOH are not giving Charles Wang (or Scott Rechler) the time of day for free, Wang and/or Rechler are paying Smg 17m for what some claim are a gift.

The clock is ticking.
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To the best of my knowledge, it’s Calvin deHaan, Casey Cizikas, Brock Nelson, Nino Niederreiter representing New York at the WJC starting Dec 26th.

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Depth Gone, Even Strengh Scoring Not Happening, Slumps Expected

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Of course, they could have bounced a few past Alex Auld Friday.

Matt Moulson could have scored on his breakaway, Tavares was robbed, Weight took the puck at the net like he was ten years younger than his birth certificate, however that’s not the point, it’s about building something for the long-term here.

Enough opposing coaches/players credited the Islanders hard work last year or being a tough team to play.

When you think of how this club was on special teams a year ago, the pp has been a fantastic trend so far.

The starts to games, the even strength scoring are all alarmingly poor trends for more than a few weeks now.

Rick DiPietro starts Saturday.

Scott Gordon was surprisingly upbeat in his post-game press conference after a third straight loss Friday here which Cablevision promised to show but eventually decided not to wait for and after a while cut the telecast off so Msg+2 could show it’s test pattern.

New York again did not start a game well at all, not only on the scoreboard, but in terms of creating chances, it’s a trend that has lasted quite a while and very noticeable.

It’s been a different than a year ago (not counting injuries) however the trends/NHL averages/player careers suggest the pp was not going to carry them for eighty two games. Tavares is not going to be a goal a game player, Doug Weight, James Wisniewski are not going to make a run at a hundred points.

This means others have to step up, and fast. Travis Moen looked like a superstar driving the net for two huge goals in back to back games.

Paging Jon Sim/Trent Hunter/Zeon Konopka.

I maintain Blake Comeau has not been the same player since he was banged up repeatedly in games, or does not have the extra step. Josh Bailey has looked pedestrian (granted only two games) where before he looked like a first line center in how he was playing in all three zones.

With Bridgeport getting a rare weekend off, Rob Schremp either waits in Ct for Wednesday or returns to New York. If Gordon maintains his stance from a year ago that Schremp must play center, Bailey is moving back to wing.

What if Bailey needs to play center to be as dominating as he was?

So much for depth.
Milan Jurcina was injured Friday against Montreal and is out for Saturday. This means Bruno Gervais has his full time spot back on defense, Trevor Gillies likely goes back into the lineup vs Philadelphia.

Time to start reversing the trends, the 6-1 losses/poor games all teams have over eighty two contests are also one of the trends due to happen soon.

The even strength scoring is overdue, so is a sixty minute effort.

Things have to start balancing out, regulation losing streaks cannot happen in this league if you expect to be a playoff team.

Bottom line in an eighty two game season there are x nights you are going to be the better team and win or play just well enough to steal points, or the team is going to have a clunker and lose big.

It’s what teams do in those other games up for grabs that separate the contenders and pretenders.

Six points/three games were just lost that were clearly on the table for this team to win, they got none of them.

Successful teams find a way to win those points, this team must do the same thing.

Don’t count on another year of three clubs under ninety points making the playoffs from this conference, last year was the exception, not the rule.

There are trends to be broken all over Philadelphia on Saturday for Scott Gordon’s players.

-NY Times: Dave Caldwell was allowed to do a feature on Zeon Konopka, but not cover the game.

The Times did not cover the game at Cablevision Garden vs Carolina Friday.

-Oregon Live: Nino Niederreiter had an assist in Portland’s 4-2 win over Kelowna Friday.

NYIFC Comments:
The local paper that covers the Winterhawks is on NYIFC prospect blog for those who would like to follow Nino Niederreiter’s game by game progress.

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Niederreiter Returned to WHL

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Islanders website: Report Nino Niederreiter was returned to the Portland WinterHawks by the club today, the teams website had an update with his comments here.

NYIFC Comments:
At such a young age or almost a year younger than Tavares/Bailey when they were rookies it’s easy to see why this is the right move for Niederreiter, but he obviously made it tough on management with his seasoned play. Matt Martin was expected to be here going into camp, plus they have Joensuu/several wingers in Bridgeport with more seasoning who need an opportunity, plus at some point Kyle Okposo will return along with Rob Schremp moving another center to wing.

You can only play three right wingers on top three lines.
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Tsn.ca: Report Alex Auld will make his debut for Montreal Friday in New York.

NYIFC Comments:
Given the road trip coming up along with the Islanders constant struggles in Philadelphia, this club needs a win Friday regardless who Scott Gordon puts in goal. Four games now in a row they have outplayed for long stretches of games.

Scott Gordon before the game in Montreal had this quote, and I could not write it any better to sum up what I have been seeing, granted Comeau and some players have obviously not been same or playing hurt or getting banged up in games:

“Usually when a team struggles, they were struggling before they started to struggle, It might not have showed up in the win-loss column, but to me (our play) started to deteriorate after the Washington game. We didn’t come close to playing the last four games with the same kind of oomph that we had in the first three.”

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