Monday, March 31, 2008

Sunday March 30

It seems as if everyday is a busy one as the NHL is trying to wrap up the regular season. There were another 8 games on Sunday as 16 teams battled for points. Some are trying to stave of eventual elimination while others battle for the right to play in the postseason. Former Islanders are trying to help their teams where they can. Let us look at the FI workload:

* Michael Peca scored Columbus' 2nd goal, a powerplay tally, as the Blue Jackets fell to host Chicago Blackhawks 5-4 in SO. Peca now has 32 points (7 goals, 25 assists) on 62 games. He has 13 points (2 goals, 11 assists) this season on the man advantage.

* Ducks' defenseman Mathieu Schneider scored both regulation goals as the Anaheim Ducks beat the visiting Dallas Stars 3-2 in SO. Awarded first star of the game, Schneider has 12 goals and 27 assists for 39 points on 63 games. Over the last 2 games Schneids has 3 points on 2 goals and 1 assist.

* A trio of FIs got involved in the scoring as the Vancouver Canucks ran circles around the visiting Calgary Flames for a 6-2 win. Trevor Linden scored 2 goals, including the game winner, to lead the charge. For his effort he received the first star of the game honor. Linden has 7 goals and 4 assists for 11 points on 56 games. The game winner was his first of the season. The 2 goal effort was his first since February 25, 2003, a span of 352 games (including 33 playoff contests)! Taylor Pyatt had an assist on the Canucks' 5th goal. Pyatt has 16 goals and 21 assists for 37 points on 78 games. He has equalled his offensive output for last season tying his single season career high in points. Brad Isbister capped the scoring only 52 seconds in to the 3rd period. Isbister has 11 points (6 goals, 5 assists) on 52 games. With the netter he snapped a 5 game goal-less and point-less drought. Goalie Roberto Luongo won for the first time in 5 starts. He stopped 27 of 29 shots to improve to 35-26-9 on the season with a .920 save percentage, a 2.33 goals against average and 6 shutouts.

Check here with FIW soon as we rapidly approach the playoffs, FI-style.

Saturday March 29

Sixteen teams battled it out in 8 games around the league on Saturday. Former Islanders are determined to push many of their teams into the playoff bunch. Let us look at the FI accomplishments:

* Viktor Kozlov had the game winner and 2 assists as the resurgent Washington Capitals blanked the host Florida Panthers 3-0. Kozlov received 2nd star of the game honor and now has 16 goals and 35 assists for 51 points on 78 games equalling his points total from last season. It was the 3rd 3 point game of the season for Kozzer. Kozlov has reached the 50+ point plateau for the 2nd straight season and the 5th time on his career. It is the first time he has notched 35+ assists since the 1999-2000 season and only the 3rd time he has reached that mark. Additionally, it was the 2nd game winner of the year for Kozlov and his first since January 24. Defenseman Tom Poti had 2 assists on the game and now has 1 goal and 27 assists for 28 points on 68 games. He has 3 assists in the last 2 contests.

* Chicago d-man Brent Sopel had an assist on the game winning shorthanded goal as the Blackhawks slipped by the host St. Louis Blues for a 4-3 win. Sopel has 20 points (1 goal, 19 assists) on 56 games. Sopel has reached the 20+ point mark for the 6th consecutive season. The shorthanded helper was his 4th of the season, currently good enough for 4th best in the league.

* Denis Grebeshkov scored the shortlived tying goal as the Edmonton Oilers edged the host Calgary Flames for a 2-1 win. The defenseman now has 3 goals and 15 assists for 18 points on 69 games.

Check back with FIW soon for more updates.

Friday March 28

It was another busy night as the regular season winds down. The playoff chase, though, is still very much a reality. Former Islanders are trying to push their teams in playoff positioning with some fireball squads (Capitals, Oilers) making the longshot attempt for a top 8 spot. Let us take a look at the FI work from Friday night:

* Jim Dowd scored Philadelphia's 2nd goal as the Flyers fell to the host New Jersey Devils 5-4 in SO. Dowd snapped a 12 game goal-less and point-less streak and now has 10 points (5 goals, 5 assists) on 69 games. For the first time since the 2005-06 season and the 10th time on his career Dowd has reached double digit points.

* Jeff Hamilton had a powerplay goals, including the game winner, as the Carolina Hurricanes thumped the visiting Atlanta Thrashers 7-1. Hamilton has 9 goals and 15 assists for 24 points on 56 games. He has 3 goals over the last 2 contests. Hammy has notched 16 points (7 goals, 9 assists) this season on the man advantage. It was, however, Hamilton's first game winner of the year and the 5th of his career.

* Chris Osgood stopped on 17 of 21 shots as the Detroit Red Wings fell in OT to the visiting St. Louis Blues 4-3 as the teams split the home-and-home series. Ozzie is now 27-9-4 on the season with a .915 save percentage, a 2.06 goals against average and 4 shutouts.

* Sean Hill assisted on the first insurance goal and received 3rd star of the game honor as the Minnesota Wild blanked the visiting Vancouver Canucks 4-0. Hill now has 2 goals and 6 assists for 8 points on 32 games. He is currently riding a 3 game point streak in which he has netted 2 goals and added 2 assists for 4 points. Canucks' goaltender was burned for the 2nd straight start stopping only 17 of 21 shots. He might be distracted with the impending birth of his child but Luongo was pulled for the 2nd straight game, this time after only 33 minutes. Luongo fell to 34-26-9 on the season with his 4th consecutive loss, his worst streak since March 19-25, 2004 while still with the Florida Panthers.

* Roberto Nilsson had 2 assists (1 powerplay) and a goal in the 1st round of the SO as the Edmonton Oilers were edged by the host Colorado Avalanche 5-4. Nilsson now has 10 goals and 31 assists for 41 points on 68 games. Nilsson, in the midst of a career year, has reached the 40+ point plateau for the first time on a season. He has 8 points (3 goals, 5 assists) on the man advantage. Teammate d-man Denis Grebeshkov assisted on Edmonton's 3rd goal. Grebeshkov has 2 goals and 15 assists for 17 points on 68 games. He has 15+ assists on a season for the first time on his career. Avs' winger Ryan Smyth assisted on the opening goal of the game. Smyth has 37 points (14 goals, 23 assists) on 52 games. The assist was the 601st point of Smyth's career since he reached the 600 point mark on March 24.

* Mathieu Schneider had a powerplay helper on the lone Anaheim goal as the Ducks fell to the visiting San Jose Sharks 3-1. Schneids snapped a 4 game drought and now has 10 goals and 27 assists for 37 points on 62 games. He has 16 points (4 goals, 12 assists) this season with the extra man.

Check with FIW soon for more recaps and highlights.

Thursday March 27

The NHL was abuzz on Thursday as 16 teams battled in 8 tilts around the league. Former Islanders are trying to stave off early tee times and help push their respective teams into the playoff fold. Let us take a peek at the FI happenings:

* Jason Blake had a powerplay assist in the second game as the Toronto Maple Leafs were swept by the Bruins in a home-and-home series with a 4-2 loss in Boston. Blake has 50 points (15 goals, 35 assists) on 78 games. He now has a 4 game point streak in which he has 2 goals and 3 assists for 5 points. For the 3rd consecutive season and 4th time on his career Blake has reached the 50+ point plateau. He continues to add to his single season best in assists with 35 so far this season.

* Washington defenseman Tom Poti assisted on his team's 2nd goal as the Capitals beat the host Tampa Bay Lightning 4-3 in OT. Poti has 26 points (1 goal, 25 assists) on 67 games. for the 2nd straight season and 4th time on his career Poti has reached 25+ assists.

Check in soon for more updates at FIW.

Wednesday March 26

There were 4 games up for grabs on Wednesday as the battle for the final playoff spots intensifies. Many will make a push for the postseason but when the dust settles quite a few will be left on the outside looking in. Former Islanders want to help their teams make it (if they still can). Let us look at the FI contributions:

* Michael Peca capped the scoring as the Columbus Blue Jackets blanked the visiting Chicago Blackhawks 4-0. Peca has 31 points (6 goals, 25 assists) on 60 games. With the goal he snapped a 6 game drought.

* Sean Hill scored the game winning powerplay goal 7:19 into the 1st period as the Minnesota Wild beat the visiting Edmonton Oilers 3-1. Hill has 7 points (2 goals, 5 assists) on 31 games. Hill has 4 points (2 goals, 2 assists) over the last 4 games and his 2nd goal in as many. It was Hill's 4th powerplay point (1 goal, 3 assist) of the season and his first game winning goal. Hill had not had a game winner since December 27, 2003 while with the Carolina Hurricanes, a span of 236 regular season games!

* Vancouver goaltender Roberto Luongo got knocked around for 5 goals in 33 minutes stopping only 18 of 23 shots faced as the Colorad Avalanche thrashed the visiting Canucks 6-3. Luongo fell to 34-25-9 on the season as he dropped his 3rd straight start. Luongo is currently mired in his worst losing stretch of the year. Taylor Pyatt scored the 2nd Canucks' goal. Pyatt has 16 goals and 20 assists for 36 points on 76 games.

* Ducks' d-man Mathieu Schneider netted the game winning goal in the 6th round of the SO as Anaheim edged the visiting Los Angeles Kings 2-1. Teammate Todd Bertuzzi missed on his attempt in the 1st round. Kings' center Derek Armstrong assisted on the opening goal, a powerplay 9:29 into the 1st period. Armstrong has 33 points (8 goals, 25 assists) on 72 games. For the 3rd consecutive season, and 4th time on his career, Armstrong has recorded 25+ assists.

Check with FIW soon for more updates, news and highlights.

Friday, March 28, 2008

Tuesday March 25

With the season winding down it seems that what were typically slow nights around the NHL are now packed with hockey action. Case in point: Tuesday was rich with hockey as 20 teams were in competition in 10 high stakes games around the league. Former Islanders are trying to help keep their team's competitive as some bubble teams make the push for a playoff spot. Let us look at the FI workload:

* Viktor Kozlov assisted on Washington's 2nd goal, then scored the clincher in the 3rd round of the SO, as the Capitals beat the host Carolina Hurricanes 3-2. Kozzer has 15 goals and 33 assists for 48 points on 76 games. Recently returned winger Jeff Hamilton scored the opening goal, a powerplay tally with 14 seconds remaining in the opening period, to give the 'Canes an early lead. He was, however, stopped on his attempt in the 1st round of the SO. Hamilton has 7 goals and 15 assists for 22 points on 55 games. Since returning March 19 he has 3 points (1 goal, 2 assists) on 3 games.

* Martin Straka assisted on the lone New York Rangers' goal 1:41 into play as the host Blueshirts fell to the Philadelphia Flyers 2-1 in OT. Straka has 37 points (13 goals, 24 assists) on 59 games. He is in the midst of a 4 game point streak in which he has notched 1 goal and 4 assists for 5 points.

* Jason Blake notched a goal in the Toronto Maple Leaf's 6-2 thumping at the hands of the visiting Boston Bruins. Blake now has 15 goals and 34 assists for 49 points on 77 games. It is the 5th consecutive season that Blake has netted 15+ goals. He is currently in a 3 game streak in which he has recorded 2 goals and 2 assists for 4 points. Defenseman Bryan McCabe assisted on Toronto's 2nd goal, a powerplay tally. With the assist he snapped a 4 game point-less streak and now has 23 points (5 goals, 18 assists) on 49 games. McCabe has been especially productive on the man advantage having scored 16 points (4 goals, 12 assists). Bruins' forward Petteri Nokelainen had an assist on the empty net goal with 17 seconds remaining in play. Nokelainen has 7 goals and 3 assists for his first 10 point season on 51 games. He is enjoying a career best 3 game point streak in which he has 1 goal and 2 assists.

* Chris Osgood stopped 17 of 18 shots as the Detroit Red Wings edged the host St. Louis Blues 2-1. Ozzie is 27-9-3 on the season and has won his last 2 starts giving up only 2 goals on 41 shots faced.

* D-man Adrian Aucoin assisted on the game winning, powerplay goal midway through the 3rd period as the host Calgary Flames slipped by the Vancouver Canucks 3-2. With the helper Aucoin snapped a 5 game funk and now has 33 points (9 goals, 24 assists) on 72 games. He has recorded 18 points (4 goals, 14 assists) with the extra man. Taking the loss was Canucks' goalie Roberto Luongo who stopped 37 of 40 shots. Luongo received 2nd star of the game honor for his effort. He is now 34-25-9 on the season having dropped his last 2 starts.

Check in soon for more updates and highlights.

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Monday March 24

There were 4 games on tap on Monday around the NHL. Former Islanders are helping their teams as the playoff hunt winds down. There was some FI action including a momentous night for one player. Let us take a quick peek:

* A couple of Habs got involved in the score-a-thon action as the Montreal Canadiens beat the visiting Ottawa Senators 7-5. Roman Hamrlik assisted on the opening goal of the game 1:40 in to play. Hamrlik now has 25 points (5 goals, 20 assists) on 72 games. For the 12th consecutive season Hamrlik has reached the 25+ point mark and for the 11th time in those last 12 he has recorded 20+ assists. Bryan Smolinski assisted on Montreal's 4th goal. Smoke has 22 points (6 goals, 16 assists) on 59 games. With the helper he snapped a 5 game point-less run. Sens' center Randy Robitaille had 2 even strength assists. Robby has 29 points (10 goals, 19 assists) on 64 games. He has recorded 3 assists over the last 2 contests.

* Edmonton continued to keep their playoff hopes alive on Monday night. The Oilers beat the visiting Minnesota Wild 5-3 to remain 3 points out of the 8th spot in the Western Conference following Colorado's win later that evening. Winger Robert Nilsson had 2 assists for the Oil snapping a mini 2 game drought. Nilsson has 10 goals and 29 assists for 39 points on 66 games. His 29 helpers are currently tied for 3rd best on Edmonton. Sean Hill had a goal and an assist for the Wild. Hill notched his 1st goal of the season and along with 5 assists has 6 points on 30 games. Over the last 3 games he has 3 points on 1 goal and 2 assists. The netter snapped a 93 game goal-less streak (including 4 playoff games) dating back to November 24, 2006. Winger Mark Parrish assisted on Minnesota's first goal. Parrish snapped an 8 game point-less skid and now has 29 points (15 goals, 14 assists) on 63 games. Parrish has come under attack recently by Minnesota coach Jacques Lemaire who has questioned his conditioning and enery level.

* Ryan Smyth's assist on the insurance in the Colorado Avalanche's 2-0 win over the visiting Calgary Flames was the 600th point of his career. Smyth has 14 goals and 22 assists for 36 points on 50 games. It was that 22nd assist that helped Smyth join the 600 point club. Smyth has 284 goals and 316 assists on 838 career games in a long haul stay with Edmonton, a pitstop with the Isles and a new lease, yet oft-injured, stay with the Avs. Congratulations Mr. Smyth.

Check here soon as we keep spinning out the recaps and updates at FIW.

Sunday March 23

It was a slow Easter around the league as only 2 games were on the schedule. Sadly, there were no major Former Islander accomplishments on Sunday. Check back soon for more news, updates and recaps here at FIW.

Saturday March 22

Two-thirds of the league was in motion on Saturday as 20 teams took to the ice in 10 high energy competitions. Spots are still available for the playoffs. Former Islanders are trying to get their teams to the postseason. Let us look at the FI accomplishments:

* Ryan Smyth assisted on Colorado's 4th goal as the Avalanche were outdueled by the host Edmonton Oilers 7-5. Smyth has 14 goals and 21 assists for 35 points on 49 games. For the 8th consecutive season, and 9th time on his career, he has reached the 35+ point plateau. Edmonton defenseman Denis Grebeshkov had an assist on the Oilers' 2nd goal. Grebeshkov has had 2 assists in as many games and now has 2 goals and 14 assists for 16 points on 65 games.

* Derek Armstrong assisted on the game winner as the last place Los Angeles Kings stunned the host Dallas Stars for a 4-2 win. Armstrong has 8 goals and 24 assists for 32 points on 71 games. He has notched 3 assists over the last 5 competitions.

* Olli Jokinen scored the powerplay game winner midway through the 3rd period as the Florida Panthers beat the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning 4-2. O-Jok has 70 points (33 goals, 37 assists) on 76 games. The goal was his 17th on the man advantage this season. For the 3rd consecutive season Jokinen has notched 70+ points.

* Petteri Nokelainen scored the game tying goal midway through the 2nd period as the Boston Bruins fell to the Montreal Canadiens 3-2 in SO. Nokelainen has 9 points (7 goals, 2 assists) on 50 games. He has 2 points (1 goal, 1 assist) over his last 2 games, the first points in back-to-back games in his young career. Zdeno Chara assisted on Boston's first goal but was stopped on his attempt in the 1st round of the SO. Chara has 16 goals and 33 assists for 49 points on 70 games and is on the verge of his first 50 point season.

* Jason Blake had an assist on the game winner only 2:14 into the 3rd period as the Toronto Maple Leafs edged the host Ottawa Senators 5-4. Blakey has 14 goals and 34 assists for 48 points on 76 games. He has 3 points (1 goal, 2 assists) over the last 2 games.

* Kevin Weekes made his second backup appearance in as many games but this time Martin Brodeur was getting rest, not his blades sharpened, as the Pittsburgh Penguins thumped the visiting New Jersey Devils 7-1. A rusty Weekes played 14 minutes stopped on 6 of 9 shots in the no decision. He remained 2-2-1 on the season with an .893 save percentage and a 3.04 goals against average.

* Todd Bertuzzi on both, including a powerplay winner, as the Anaheim Ducks edged the host Phoenix Coyotes 2-1. Bert has 38 points (14 goals, 24 assists) on 63 games. He has notched 9 points (4 goals, 5 assists) on the man advantage.

Check in soon for more game recaps and FI happenings.

Friday March 21

A dozen teams battled for points in 6 games around the NHL on Good Friday. Former Islanders are helping their teams secure playoff positioning. Let us take a quick look at the FI workload:

* Martin Straka assisted on the tying goal with 1:51 remaining in regulation as the New York Rangers eventually fell to the host Philadelphia Flyers 4-3 in SO. Straka has 13 goals and 23 assists for 36 points on 58 games. He is currently riding a 3 game point streak in which he has notched 4 points on 1 goal and 3 assists.

* Kevin Weekes made a rare, albeit brief, appearance for the Devils subbing for Martin Brodeur for 2 minutes in the 2nd period a 3-1 New Jersey loss to the visiting Islanders. Brodeur went to have his blades re-sharpened getting Weekes in goal for the first time since January 5! Weekes made 1 save. It was only the 2nd subbing appearance for Weekes all season. His record remained stable at 2-2-1 coming from the 5 starts he has made this season.

* Jason Blake opened the scoring, then assisted on the capper, as the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the host Buffalo Sabres 4-1. Blake has 47 points (14 goals, 33 assists) on 75 games. It was the 12th multi-point game of the season for Blake.

* Viktor Kozlov assisted on the opening goal of the game as the Washington Capitals turned a 3-1 deficit into a 5-3 road win over the Atlanta Thrashers. Kozlov snapped a 3 game point-less streak and now has 15 goals and 32 assists for 47 points on 75 games. Defenseman Tom Poti assisted on the Caps' 2nd goal, the historic 60th of the season for Alexander Ovechkin, the first player to reach that plateau in 12 years. Poti snapped a 6 game point-less drought and now has 25 points (1 goal, 24 assists) on 65 games. It is the 2nd straight season, and 6th time on his career, that he has reached 25+ points.

* Sean Hill had a powerplay assist on Minnesota's first goal as the Wild edged the host Vancouver Canucks 2-1. Hill, playing in a limited capacity, has 4 assists on 28 games this season. He has notched 3 of those 4 helpers on the man advantage. Roberto Luongo stopped 19 of 21 shots but the enigmatic Vancouver offense was absent again in sending him to the loss. Luongo is 34-23-9 on the season with a 2.22 goals against average and .922 save percentage. The loss snapped a 3 game winning streak.

Check in soon with FIW for more recaps and updates.

Thursday March 20

It was a busy night around the NHL as 16 teams were in action in 8 high energy tilts. The playoffs are still a possibility for so many teams around the league. Former Islanders on those clubs are trying to lend a hand in making that next phase a reality. Let us look at the FI contributions for Thursday:

* Petteri Nokelainen assisted on the final goal of the game as the Boston Bruins fell to the visiting Montreal Canadiens 4-2. Nokelainen has 8 points (6 goals, 2 assists) on 49 games. With the helper he snapped a 5 game point-less streak and a 28 game assist-less streak.

* Recently returned Jeff Hamilton was stuffed on his attempt in the 1st round of the SO as the Carolina Hurricanes beat the host Florida Panthers 2-1.

* Randy Robitaille assisted on the game winner as the Ottawa Senators edged the visiting St. Louis Blues 3-2. Robby has 10 goals and 17 assists for 27 points on 63 games.

* Only 3 games returned from yet another injury, Ryan Smyth got back on the boxscore in the Colorado Avalanche's 2-1 loss to the host Calgary Flames. Smyth assisted on the lone Avs' goal 5:52 into the 3rd period. He now 14 goals and 20 assists for 34 points on 48 games. For the 8th consecutive season, and 9th time on his career, Smyth has notched 20+ assists.

* Roberto Luongo stopped 33 of 34 shots to insure the win as the Vancouver Canucks beat the host Edmonton Oilers 4-1. Luongo is now 34-22-9 securing his 6th win streak of 3+ games this season. FI teammates Taylor Pyatt and Trevor Linden added insurance goals in the 3rd period. T-Py has 35 points (15 goals, 20 assists) on 73 games. For only the 2nd season Pyatt has notched 35+ points. Linden's goal, a shorthanded tally with 6:40 remaining, was his 5th netter of the season. He also has 4 assists for 9 points on 51 games. Linden snapped a 14 game goal-less drought with the shorthander, the 18th penalty kill goal of his career and his first since November 20, 2005 a span of 191 regular season games. Edmonton defenseman Denis Grebeshkov assisted on the lone Oilers' goal that snapped Luongo's shutout chance 10:09 into the 3rd. Grebeshkov has 2 goals and 13 assists for 15 points on 64 games. He snapped a 5 game point-less streak with the helper and now has the first 15+ point season of his career.

Check back soon for more highlights and updates at FIW.

Monday, March 24, 2008

Wednesday March 19

There were 7 games up for grabs on Wednesday as we are officially in wind down mode to the 2007-08 season. With only a couple of weeks left to play, there are still many teams sniffing out a playoff spot. The battles are intense in both the Eastern and Western Conferences as the battles for 7th and 8th spot are still very much a reality. Former Islanders are trying to get their teams to the playoff promised land. Let us take a peak at the FI efforts:

* Jeff Hamilton, back for the first time in over a month after being demoted to the AHL, had 2 assists including 1 on the game winner as the Carolina Hurricanes beat the host Atlanta Thrashers 5-3. Hamilton has 6 goals and 15 assists for 21 points on 53 games.

* Martin Straka had an assist on the tying goal with less than 5 minutes remaining in regulation as the visiting New York Rangers edged the New Jersey Devils 2-1 in SO. Straka has 35 points (13 goals, 22 assists) on 57 games. It is the 10th time on Straka's career, and 3rd consecutive time, that Straka has notched 35+ points on a season.

* Chris Osgood stopped 22 of 23 shots as the Detroit Red Wings beat the visiting Columbus Blue Jackets 3-1. Ozzie improved to 26-9-3 on the season with the win and now has a .917 save percentage and a paltry 2.04 goals against average with 4 shutouts. It was the first win for Osgood in his last 3 appearances.

* Todd Bertuzzi scored the game winner with 28 seconds left in regulation as the Anaheim Ducks edged the host Dallas Stars 2-1. Bertuzzi has 14 goals and 22 assists for 36 points on 61 games. The game winner was the 30th of Bertuzzi's career and his 2nd this season.

* Brent Sopel assisted on Chicago's 3rd goal as the Blackhawks blanked the visiting Washington Capitals 5-0. Back for only his 2nd game since suffering an injury in mid-February, has 1 goal and 18 assists for 19 points on 52 games. With the helper he snapped a 4 game point-less streak.

Check back here soon for more recaps and updates at FIW.

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Tuesday March 18

There were 8 games on the schedule on Tuesday night as teams battling for positioning and a handful of teams fight to stay in playoff contention. Former Islanders made an offensive impact in 4 of those contests. Let us take a peek at the FI effort:

* Martin Straka assisted on the New York Rangers' 2nd goal and then capped the scoring as the host Blueshirts beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-2. Straka received 2nd star of the game honor and now has 34 points (13 goals, 21 assists) on 56 games. With the netter and helper he snapped a 5 game point-less streak and a 6 game goal-less run.

* Defenseman Eric Brewer assisted on St. Louis' 3rd goal as the Blues beat the host Montreal Canadiens 4-3 in SO. Brewer received 3rd star of the game honor for his overall effort. He now has 1 goal and 20 assists for 21 points on 68 games. He snapped a 9 game point drought with the helper. For the 2nd straight season, and only the 3rd time on his career, Brewer has notched 20+ assists.

* Winger Robert Nilsson had 2 points in the first period of the Edmonton Oilers' 8-4 thumping of the visiting Phoenix Coyotes. Nilsson assisted on Edmonton's 1st goal and then added a powerplay tally of his own with only 38 seconds in the 1st period to cap a multi-point effort. Nilsson has 37 points (10 goals, 27 assists) on 63 games. He has recorded 7 points this season (3 goals, 4 assists) on the man advantage. The tally officially made it the first 10+ goal season of Nilsson's young career. Nilsson in on a roll with 4 points (1 goal, 3 assists) over his last 3 games and 12 points (3 goals, 9 assists) over his last 12 games overall. Phoenix winger Mike York assisted on the first goal of the game at the 4:13 mark of the 1st, a lead that was evaporated only 12 seconds laters. York now has 6 goals and 8 assists for 14 points on 63 games. With the helper York snapped a 12 game point-less streak. Sadly, York is having the single worst offensive season of career surpassing his 21 point effort last season in 66 games between the Isles and Flyers.

* Derek Armstrong assisted on the lone Los Angeles' goal with less than 5 minutes remaining in regulation as the San Jose Sharks edged the host Kings 2-1. Armstrong has 8 goals and 23 assists for 31 points on 69 games.

Check back soon for more updates and news at FIW.

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Monday March 17

Happy St. Patrick's Day from FIW! There were only 2 games on the schedule on a booze-fueled day of debuachery and hedonism Irish-style meaning more players were free to get raging drunk than normal. Kidding! Kidding! There were only 2 notable Former Islander contributions from Monday night so let us take a look:

* Roberto Luongo stopped 25 of 26 shots to secure the win as the Vancouver Canucks beat the visiting Phoenix Coyotes 3-1. Luongo has won his last 2 starts to improve to 33-22-9 on the season. His 2.25 goals against average is currently 7th in the league while his .922 save percentage is tied for 2nd. Luongo has also notched 6 shutouts this season, good enough for a 3rd place tie among NHL leaders. Winger Taylor Pyatt scored the powerplay game winner for the Canucks at the 12:28 mark of the 1st period. With the tally he snapped a painfully long 19 game goal-less drought and a 4 game point-less run. T-Py now has 14 goals and 20 assists for 34 points on 72 games this season. The game winner was Pyatt's 2nd of the season, his first since October 26, and the 13th of his career. Pyatt has notched 9 points (7 goals, 2 assists) with the man advantage this year.

Check back soon for more updates and recaps as the Stanley Cup playoffs loom in the near future.

Monday, March 17, 2008

Sunday March 16

There were 7 games up for grabs on Sunday as 14 teams battled for important points in the standings. Former Islanders can still help many teams as they make the push for the Stanley Cup playoffs. Here is a quick recap of the FI workload:

* Chris Osgood came in to back up Dominik Hasek for the last 27 minutes of ice time as the Detroit Red Wings were edged by the host Columbus Blue Jackets 4-3. Osgood stopped all 7 shots he faced but received no decision remaining 25-9-3 on the season. His save percentage improved to .916 thanks to the 7 saves. It was only the 2nd time this season that Ozzie made a replacement appearance, his first since November 13.

* Viktor Kozlov sealed up the win with his goal in the 3rd round of the SO as the Washington Capitals beat the visiting Boston Bruins 2-1. Kozlov and Co. are making a run at the playoffs with 5 wins in their last 7 games.

* Adrian Aucoin opened the scoring with a powerplay goal only 1:51 in to regulation as the Calgary Flames beat the host Chicago Blackhawks 4-2. Aucoin has 32 points (9 goals, 23 assists) on 67 games. He has notched 17 points (4 goals, 13 assists) on the man advantage.

* Olli Jokinen, the first star of the game, continued to flex some offensive muscle scoring the powerplay game winner and adding a powerplay assist as the Florida Panthers beat the visiting Atlanta Trashers 3-1. O-Jok has 69 points (32 goals, 37 assists) on 74 games. Over the last 5 games Jokinen has 7 points on 2 goals and 5 assists. The game winner was only the 4th of the season for Jokinen who now has 39 on his career.

* Robert Nilsson had an assist on the game tying powerplay goal then scored in the first round of the SO as the Edmonton Oilers, the NHL's SO experts, beat the host San Jose Sharks 2-1. Nilsson has 9 goals and 26 points for his first 35 point season. He has 2 assists in as many games and has recorded 6 points this season (2 goals, 4 assists) on the man advantage.

Stay in touch with FIW for more updates and recaps as we race towards the postseason.

Saturday March 15

Two-thirds of NHL teams were in play on Saturday in 10 hotly contested competitions. Former Islanders are helping to make the playoff dream a reality for many of the teams around the league. Let us look at the FI happenings from a busy weekend day:

* Chris Osgood stopped 24 of 26 shots but Detroit's offense was surprisingly absent as the Red Wings lost to the visiting Nashville Predators 3-1. Ozzie is now 25-9-3 on the season having dropped the first decision in his last 3 starts.

* Jason Blake had an assist on Toronto's 1st goal as the host Maple Leafs were tripled up by the Buffalo Sabres for a 6-2 loss. Blake, adding to his new single season high in assists, has 13 goals and 32 assists for 45 points on 73 games. It is the 5th straight season that Blake has recorded 45+ points.

* Luongo stopped 35 of 38 shots as the Vancouver Canucks edged the host Dallas Stars 4-3. Luongo won for the first time in his last 3 starts and is now 32-22-9 on the season with a .921 save percentage and a 2.27 goals against average.

* FI defenseman Roman Hamrlik scored the powerplay game winner as the visiting Islanders were blanked by the Montreal Canadiens 3-0. Hamrlik snapped a 3 game point drought and a 10 game goal-less run to improve to 24 points (5 goals, 19 assists) on 68 games. Despite having scored only 5 goals this season Hamrlik has put in 3 game winners, the most he has had since he recorded 4 with the Isles in the 2000-01 season.

* D-man Mathieu Schneider scored the opening goal of the game then added 2 assists, including 1 on the powerplay, as the Anaheim Ducks thumped the visiting St. Louis Blues for a 5-2 win. Schneids has 10 goals and 26 assists for 36 points on 57 games. With the effort he snapped a 5 game point-less streak and a 6 game goal-less stretch. Schneider has 15 points (4 goals, 11 assists) on the man advantage. With the 3 point contribution Schneider received 3rd star of the game honor.

* Robert Nilsson assisted on Edmonton's 2nd goal as the Oilers beat the host Phoenix Coyotes 5-2. Nilsson now has 9 goals and 25 assists for 34 points on 61 games.

Check with FIW soon for more updates and highlights.

Friday March 14

There were only 5 games on tap on Friday night. The fight for the playoffs is intensifying as the days pass quickly. Former Islanders are lending their help to their respective teams. Here is a quick recap of the FI events:

* Viktor Kozlov assisted on Washington's 1st goal as the resurgent Capitals beat the visiting Atlanta Thrashers 4-1. Kozlov has 15 goals and 31 assists for 46 points on 71 games. He has 2 points over the last 2 games on a goal and an assist.

* Dick Tarnstrom had a powerplay assist on Columbus' first goal as the Blue Jackets were beat by the visiting Chicago Blackhawks 6-3. With his 2nd powerplay helper in as many games, Tarnstrom has 3 goals and 11 assists for 14 points on 43 games this season. He has notched 7 of those points (1 goal, 6 assists) with the man advantage. Since joining Columbus Tarnstrom has had an impressive 9 points (2 goals, 7 assists) on only 14 games.

* Olli Jokinen had a powerplay goal 7:12 into the 3rd period as the Florida Panthers edged the visiting New York Rangers 3-2. O-Jok snapped a painfully long 8 game goal-less streak with the tally and now has 31 goals and 36 assists for 67 points on 73 games. Jokinen has recorded 29 points (15 goals, 14 assists) with the extra man.

Check in soon for more FI highlights.

Thursday March 13

Sixteen teams were in motion in 8 high octane games around the NHL. Battling for important standings positioning teams are looking to make that final push into the playoffs. Former Islanders are helping their respective teams out where they can. Let us look at the FI happenings from a busy Thursday night:

* Adrian Aucoin assisted on Calgary's 2nd goal as the Flames fell to the host Atlanta Thrashers 6-4. Aucoin snapped a 9 game point-less streak and now has 8 goals and 23 assists for 31 points on 66 games.

* Chris Osgood stopped only 16 of 19 shots but it stood up as the Detroit Red Wings stormed back from a 3-1 deficit to beat the visiting Dallas Stars 5-3. Ozzie is now 25-8-3 on the season.

* Center Derek Armstrong assisted on Los Angeles' first goal as the Kings routed the host Nashville Predators 4-1. Armstrong now has 30 points (8 goals, 22 assists) on 67 snapping a 6 game point drought with the helper. For the 5th straight season Armstrong has recorded 30+ points, all of them since joining the Kings during the 2002-03 season.

* Roberto Luongo stopped a barrage of shots (43 of 45) but the complete lack of Vancouver offense led his Canucks to a 2-0 blanking at the hands of the host Phoenix Coyotes. Luongo received 3rd star of the game honor but 31-22-9 on the season. The loss was his 2nd in as many nights.

Check here soon for more updates and recaps.

Wednesday March 12

There were 6 games up for grabs on Wednesday as 12 teams battled for points in the standings. As the fog begins to lift it is becoming more apparent who the real playoff contenders are as we near the end of the season. Former Islanders are still trying to push their teams over the Stanley Cup contention threshold. Let us look at the FI work effort:

* Viktor Kozlov had the opening goal of the game as the suddenly potent Washington Capitals edged the visiting Calgary 3-2. Kozlov has 15 goals and 30 assists for 45 points on 70 games. Kozzer now has 15+ goals on a season for the 7th time in his career.

* Winger Jason Blake assisted on Toronto's 1st goal as the Maple Leafs sneaked by the host Philadelphia Flyers for a 3-2 win. Blake has 13 goals and 31 assists for 44 points on 72 games. He now has a new single season high in assists surpassing his 30 with the Isles during the 2002-03 season. Defenseman Bryan McCabe had a helper on Toronto's 2nd goal. McCabe now has 22 points (5 goals, 17 assists) on 44 games.

* Roberto Luongo was pounded for 4 goals in the first 24 minutes stopping only 15 of 19 shots as the Anaheim Ducks beat the visiting Vancouver Canucks 4-1. It was one of the worst showings of the season for Luongo who had won his prior 3 starts. With the loss he fell to 31-21-9 on the season.

Check here soon for more recaps at FIW.

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Tuesday March 11

It was a busy night around the league as 18 teams were in action in 9 important tilts. Former Islanders are trying to help solidify playoff spots for the contenders while the FIs on noncontenders are just counting the days until vacation officially starts. Let us look at the FI contributions from Tuesday night:

* Randy Robitaille assisted on the first of 3 Dany Heatley goals as the Ottawa Senators downed the visiting Boston Bruins 4-1. Robitaille has 10 goals and 16 assists for 26 points on 60 games. Robby has 2 assists over the last 2 games after being mired in a 7 game point-less drought.

* Bryan Smolinski scored the opening goal of the game, the eventual game winner, as the Montreal Canadiens blanked the visiting New Jersey Devils 4-0. Smoke has 6 goals and 15 assists for 21 points on 54 games this season. With the netter he snapped an 18 game goal-less streak. The game winner was his first of the season and first since December 16, 2006 while still with the Chicago Blackhawks, a span of 114 games including 12 from last season's playoffs. Defenseman Roman Hamrlik received the 3rd star of the game honor despite not making a dent on the scoreboard.

* Chris Osgood stopped 19 of 20 shots to steer the Detroit Red Wings to a 3-1 win over the visiting Chicago Blackhawks. Osgood, playing for the first time since February 26, improved to 24-8-3 with the win. He is also sporting a .917 save percentage and a league low 2.07 goals against average.

* Todd Bertuzzi assisted on the opening goal of the game but was stuffed on his attempt in the first round of the SO as the Anaheim Ducks fell to the host Phoenix Coyotes 3-2. Bertuzzi has 13 goals and 22 assists for 35 points on 58 games. For the 7th time on his career Bertuzzi has reached the 35+ point plateau on a season. Over the last 7 games Bertuzzi has 5 points (1 goal, 4 assists).

Check in soon for more updates and recaps at FIW.

Monday March 10

There were a meager 3 games on the schedule on Monday night in the NHL. Former Islanders made a couple of contributions as teams try to lock up playoff spots as we rapidly reach the end of the season. Let us take a peek at the FI accomplishments:

* Tough winger Eric Godard assisted on Calgary's 5th goal as the Flames thumped the visiting St. Louis Blues 7-3. Not an offensive force, it was the first assist of the season for Godard who now has 2 points thanks to a lone goal this season. He has played in 61 games. With the helper Godard snapped a 57 game point-less streak. Godard had gone 64 games without an assist dating back to March 3, 2007.

* Roberto Luongo won again stopping 17 of 18 shots as the Vancouver Canucks edged the host Los Angeles Kings 2-1 in OT. Luongo has won his last 3 starts and improved to 31-20-9 on the season with a healthy .922 save percentage and a slim 2.21 goals against average. For the 5th time this season Luongo has a winning streak of 3 or more games. Luongo has a 10-9 record this season in OT and SO games.

Check back here for more updates soon at FIW.

Monday, March 10, 2008

Sunday March 9

There were another 8 games up for grabs on Sunday. Former Islanders are trying to aid their teams as the league makes the push towards the playoffs. Here is a quick recap of the FI efforts:

* Michael Peca had Columbus' 3rd goal as the Blue Jackets beat the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning 5-3. Peca snapped a 26 game goal-less streak with his netter. He now has 5 goals and 25 assists for 30 points on 53 games. It is the first time since before the lockout (2003-04) and the 9th time on his career that has reached the 30+ point plateau. Defenseman Dick Tarnstrom continued his excellent play since being acquired by the Jackets assisting on the game winner. Tarnstrom has 8 points (2 goals, 6 assists) on 13 games with Columbus, a considerable improvement over the 5 (1 goal, 4 assists) he had on 29 games with Edmonton earlier in the season.

* Robert Nilsson came up big again assisting on the second OT game winner in as many games while adding a goal earlier in the competition as the Edmonton Oilers edged the host Chicago Blackhawks 6-5. Nilsson continues his breakout season and now has 33 points (9 goals, 24 assists) on 58 games. He has a 7 game points streak (2nd only to his 8 game streak earlier this season) in which he has 8 points on 2 goals and 6 assists.

* Todd Bertuzzi assisted on the opening goal only 21 seconds into regulation as the Anaheim Ducks beat the visiting Montreal Canadiens 3-1. Bert has 13 goals and 21 assists for 34 points on 57 games.

FIW has all the most relevant and interesting Former Islander updates as we speed toward the postseason. Thank you for checking in with us.

Saturday March 8

It was a relatively busy day around the NHL on Saturday as 18 teams were in motion in 9 high energy competitions. It is now or never for many teams around the league as they either climb or fall in the push for the playoffs. Former Islanders are trying to help steer their teams in the right direction. Let us look at the FI work effort:

* Zdeno Chara scored a powerplay goal but left the game late with an undisclosed injury as the Boston Bruins edged the visiting Washington Capitals 2-1. Chara, having a career year offensively, has 16 goals and 32 assists for 48 points on 68 games. The 16 goals this season equals his previous best effort from the 2003-04 and 2005-06 seasons. Chara has recorded 24 of his points (9 goals, 15 assists) on the powerplay. Washington defenseman Tom Poti had a powerplay assist on the lone Caps' goal. Poti has 1 goal and 23 assists (24 points) on 58 games. Over the last 6 games he has notched 7 assists.

* Roman Hamrlik had assists on the 2 insurance goals and the Montreal Canadiens beat the host Los Angeles Kings 5-2. Hamrlik has 4 goals and 19 assists for 23 points on 64 games. With the helpers he snapped a 3 game point-less streak.

* Randy Robitaille snapped a 7 game point-less streak with a powerplay assist on Ottawa's 2nd goal as the Senators beat the host Phoenix Coyotes 4-2. Robby has 10 goals and 15 assists for 25 points on 59 games. For the 7th time on his 11 year career he has reached the 25+ point plateau on a season.

* Olli Jokinen had 2 assists, including 1 on the man advantage, as the Florida Panthers eked by the visiting Atlanta Thrashers 3-2 in OT. O-Jok has 30 goals and 36 assists for 66 points on 71 games. Over the last 2 games he has 4 assists.
For the 4th time on his career Jokinen has 65+ on a season.

* Roberto Luongo stopped 23 of 25 shots for his 2nd win in as many starts. Luongo improved to 30-20-9 on the season with a .921 save percentage, a 2.23 goals against average and 6 shutouts. Brad Isbister scored the game winner with 4:12 remaining in the 3rd period. Isbister has 5 goals and 5 assists for 10 points on 46 games. With the goal Izzie snapped an 8 game goal-less and point-less streak. It was the first game winner of the season for Isbister and his first since December 27, 2003 while still with the Edmonton Oilers, a span of 148 games. Taylor Pyatt had 2 assists, including 1 with the extra man. Pyatt has 33 points (13 goals, 20 assists) on 67 games.

Keep checking in with FIW for more updates.

Friday March 7

There were only 5 games on tap on Friday night. Teams are fighting for important points in the standings. Former Islanders are there trying to push their teams over the finish line as the season's end looms in the near future. Let us look peek at the lone FI accomplishment:

* Robert Nilsson assisted on the OT game winner as the Edmonton Oilers edged the host Columbus Blue Jackets 2-1. Nilsson has 31 points (8 goals, 23 assists) on 57 games. He is coasting along with a 6 game point streak in which he has accounted for 1 goal and 5 assists.

Keep checking in for more news and updates.

Thursday March 6

There were many, many points up for grabs on Thursday as 18 teams faced off in 9 high energy tilts around the NHL. Former Islanders are trying to help their respective teams make that final push into the Stanley Cup playoffs. Let us take a look at the FI happenings:

* Bryan McCabe had the powerplay game winner and added 3 assists (2 powerplay) to walk away the top star as the Toronto Maple Leafs thumped the host Boston Bruins 8-2. McCabe now has 5 goals and 16 assists for 21 points on 41 games. He has notched 15 of those points (4 goals, 11 assists) on the man advantage. The 4 point outburst was his most productive night since October 14, 2005 when he had 4 assists in a 9-1 Toronto win over the host Atlanta Thrashers. Also getting involved was winger Jason Blake who had a powerplay goal and 2 assists (1 powerplay). Blake has 13 goals and 30 assists for 43 points on 70 games. He now has 10 points (2 goals, 8 assists) with the extra man. For only the 2nd time on his career, and the first since the 2002-03 season, Blake has 30 points on a season. Defenseman Zdeno Chara had an even strength assist on Boston's 2nd goal. Chara has 15 goals and 32 assists for 47 points on 67 games.

* Olli Jokinen had 2 assists as the Florida Panthers tossed the visiting Pittsburgh Penguins a 5-2 loss. Jokinen has 30 goals and 34 assists for 64 points on 70 games.

* Bryan Smolinski had an assist on the powerplay game winner as the Montreal Canadiens doubled up the host Phoenix Coyotes for a 4-2 win. Smoke has 5 goals and 15 assists for 20 points on 51 games. For the 14th consecutive season Smolinski has 20+ points. He has recorded 6 points this year (1 goal, 5 assists) on the man advantage.

* Roberto Luongo won for the first time in 5 starts stopping 21 of 23 shots as the Vancouver Canucks feasted on the visiting Nashville Predators 6-2. Luongo snapped a recent 0-2-2 stretch and now has a 29-20-9 record on the season.

Check back soon for more updates at FIW.

Thursday, March 6, 2008

Wednesday March 5

A dozen teams battled in 6 games around the NHL on Wednesday night. Former Islanders are trying to help keep their teams above water as the playoff picture becomes a little less murky. Let us look at the FI work effort:

* Defenseman Alexei Zhitnik assisted on Atlanta's final goal as the Thrashers fell to the visiting Carolina Hurricanes 6-3. Zhitnik is mired in the worst offensive season of his career with only 3 goals and 5 assists for 8 points on 65 games. During the 1999-2000 season with Buffalo Zhitnik managed 13 points (2 goals, 11 assists) on 74 games but this season, his first full one with Atlanta, Zhit is struggling to get his name on the boxscore. It is especially surprising considering he had such a strong showing last season (79 games, 7 goals, 31 assists, 38 points) in stints with the Isles, Flyers and Thrashers.

* As the Washington Capitals strengthen their case for a playoff spot Viktor Kozlov is also proving that he can be a solid set up man. Kozlov had 2 assists including 1 on the game winner as the Caps beat the host Buffalo Sabres 3-1. Kozzer has 14 goals and 30 assists for 44 points on 67 games. He current has a 4 game point streak in which he has notched 2 goals and 3 assists for 5 points. For only the 4th time on his career Kozlov has 30+ helpers on a season, his first since 2002-03 when he had 34 with the Panthers.

Look here soon for more FI news and updates.

Tuesday March 4

It was a busy Tuesday around the NHL as 20 teams faced off in 10 high stakes tilts. We are quickly approaching the postseason and teams are scrambling for points in the standings. Former Islanders are trying to help push their respective teams into the fold. Let us take a look at the FI happenings:

* Martin Straka assisted on the 2nd New York Rangers' goal but missed on his crucial attempt in the 6th round of the SO as the Islanders beat the host Blueshirts 4-3. Straka has 12 goals and 20 assists for 32 points on 50 games. He has 3 points (1 goal, 2 assists) over the last 2 games he has played. For the 11th time on his career he has notched 20+ assists on a season.

* Robert Nilsson had an assist on the lone Edmonton goal as the Oilers fell to the visiting Nashville Predators 5-1. Nilsson received 3rd star of the game honor and now has 8 goals and 22 assists for 30 points on 56 games. He is on a 5 game point streak in which he has recorded 1 goal and 4 assists.

* Roberto Luongo took the loss as the Vancouver Canucks were edged by the host Colorado Avalanche 2-1. Luongo stopped 29 of 31 shots but the beast that is the Canucks' offensive woes came out again failing to pick up their backstopping teammate. Luongo is 28-20-9 on the season with a .921 save percentage and a low 2.23 goals against average. Over his last 4 starts he is 0-2-2 having surrendered 11 goals over 245 minutes of ice time.

Check back here for more updates soon.

Monday, March 3, 2008

Monday March 3

Just because there were only 3 games on Monday does not mean there was not a ton of Former Islander activity. FIs were very involved as teams push toward the playoffs. Let us take a look at their contributions:

* Four separate FIs recorded points on one game as the Washington Capitals crushed the visiting Boston Bruins 10-2. Defenseman Tom Poti had 2 assists, including 1 on the game winner. Poti has 1 goal and 22 assists for 23 points on 56 games. He is riding a 4 game point scoring streak in which he has notched 6 assists. Fellow d-man John Erskine was credited with an assist on the 8th Caps' goal. Erskine has 2 goals and 7 assists for 9 points on 42 games. With the helper he snapped a 15 game point-less streak. Viktor Kozlov assisted on Washington's 6th goal, a powerplay goal. Kozzer has 14 goals and 28 assists for 42 points on 66 games. He has recorded 10 points (2 goals, 8 assists) on the man advantage. Kozlov has 3 points (2 goals, 1 assist) over the last 3 games. Zdeno Chara had a powerplay assist on Boston's 1st goal. Chara has 46 points (15 goals, 31 assists) on 65 games.

* Todd Bertuzzi scored the opening goal of the game as the Anaheim Ducks downed the visiting Ottawa Senators 3-1. Bert has 13 goals and 20 assists for 33 points on 54 games. He has points in 3 consecutive games on 1 goal and 2 assists. Mathieu Schneider assisted on the powerplay insurance goal midway through the final period. Scheids had 9 goals and 24 assists for 33 points on 51 games. He has 3 points (1 goal, 2 assists) over the last 2 games.

* Bryan Smolinski assisted on Montreal's 4th goal as the Canadiens fell to the host San Jose Sharks 6-4. Smoke has 5 goals and 14 assists for 19 points on 50 games. With the helper he snapped a 5 game point-less streak.

Check back here soon for more updates as the regular season winds down.

Sunday March 2

There were 7 games up for grabs on a busy Sunday around the NHL. Let us take a look at the Former Islander efforts from the 2nd day of March:

* Martin Straka scored a powerplay goal and added an assist as the New York Rangers edged the visiting Philadelphia Flyers 5-4 in the SO. Straka has 12 goals and 19 assists for 31 points on 49 games. Straka has notched 30+ points on a season for the 10th time on his career. Over the last 8 games Straka has recorded 9 points on 2 goals and 7 assists. Rangers' backup goaltender Stephen Valiquette received the win after taking over for a shaky Henrik Lundqvist. Valiquette stopped 17 of 18 shots in 45 minutes of play and stopped both attempts in the SO to secure the win. He also received 2nd star of the game honor and improved to 5-3-2 on the season with a .917 save percentage, a 2.13 goals against average and 2 shutouts.

* Roberto Luongo took the loss stopping 22 of 26 shots as the Vancouver Canucks fell to the host Chicago Blackhawks 4-1. Luongo was pulled midway through the 3rd period after starting his 14th straight game. Luongo fell to 28-19-9 on the season with a .921 save percentage, a 2.24 goals against average and 6 shutouts. Luongo is 0-1-2 over his last 3 starts.

* Olli Jokinen assisted on the lone goal as the Florida Panthers blanked the host Islanders 1-0. O-Jok has 62 points (30 goals, 32 assists) on 68 games.

* Robert Nilsso assisted on Edmonton's 3rd goal but missed on his attempt in the 1st round of the SO as the Oilers eked by the visiting Columbus Blue Jackets 4-3. Nilsson has 8 goals and 21 assists for 29 points on 55 games. He is currently riding a 4 game point streak in which he has recorded a goal and 3 assists for 4 points. Defenseman Denis Grebeshkov assisted on Edmonton's 1st goal. Grebeshkov has 2 goals and 11 assists for 13 points on 55 games. Columbus d-man Dick Tarnstrom tied the game up with only 2:39 remaining in regulation. Tarnstrom has 3 goals and 9 assists for 12 points on 39 games this season. Tarnstrom has 2 goals and 5 assists for 7 points on 10 games since joining Columbus. Over the last 2 games he has 3 points on 1 goal and 2 assists.

Check back soon for more updates.

Saturday March 1

There were 20 teams in motion in 10 hotly contested tilts around the NHL on Saturday. Former Islanders are eager to get their teams into postseason contention. Let us look at the FI efforts:

* Bryan McCabe had 2 assists, including a powerplay helper, as the Toronto Maple Leafs edged the host Washington Capitals for a 3-2 win. McCabe has 4 goals and 13 assists for 17 points on 39 games. He has recorded 12 of thos points (3 goals, 9 assists) with the man advantage. It was the first multi-point night for McCabe since November 17, 2007, a span of 23 games without such an effort. Tom Poti assisted on the opening goal of the game. Poti has 1 goal and 20 assists for 21 points on 55 games. He currently holds a 3 game point streak in which he has recorded 4 assists. Viktor Kozlov scored the final goal of the game. Kozzer has 14 goals and 27 assists for 41 points on 65 games.

* Ryan Smyth scored 2 goals but was taken off on a stretcher following a hard hit by Los Angeles' defenseman Jack Johnson (not the singer!) as the Colorado Avalanche beat the Kings 5-2. Smyth, who received 1st star of the game honor, is currently listed as day-to-day with an undisclosed upper body injury. Smyth now has 14 goals and 19 assists for 33 points on 45 games. Over the last 3 games he had 3 goals and 2 assists for 5 points.

Check back here for more highlights at FIW.

Friday February 29

With an extra day this year the NHL celebrated Leap Day with 7 games. As teams fight for important points in the standings, Former Islanders are lending their help. Let us take a peek at the FI efforts from a rare February 29:

* Tom Poti had 2 assists, including 1 powerplay, as the Washington Capitals and new goalie Cristobal Huet blanked the host New Jersey Devils 4-0. Poti has 1 goal and 19 assists for 20 points on 54 games. He has recorded 7 of those assists on the man advantage. For the 9th straight season Poti has notched 20+ points. Viktor Kozlov notched the 1st of 3 Washington insurance goals. Kozzer has 40 points (13 goals, 27 assists) on 64 games. It is the 6th time on his career that he has notched 40+ points.

* Tim Connolly scored Buffalo's 2nd goal, a powerplay tally, as the Sabres were outplayed by the visiting Montreal Canadiens 6-2. Connolly has 7 goals and 33 assists for 40 points on 44 games. He has 9 points (2 goals, 7 assists) during his current 5 game scoring streak. It is the 4th time on Connolly's career that he has notched 40+ points on a season. Montreal defenseman Roman Hamrlik had a powerplay assist on the opening goal of the game. Hamrlik has 4 goals and 17 assists for 21 points on 60 games. He has recorded 9 points (2 goals, 7 assists) on the man advantage.

* Jason Blake scored the game tying goal but the Toronto Maple Leafs' still fell in OT to the host Tampa Bay Lightning 3-2. Blake received 3rd star of the game honor and now has 12 goals and 28 assists for 40 points on 66 games. During his current 3 game streak he has 1 goal and 3 assists for 4 points. For the 5th straight season Blake has notched 40+ points.

* Dick Tarnstrom had 2 assists including 1 on the OT winner as the Columbus Blue Jackets stunned the host Vancouver Canucks for a 3-2 win. Tarnstrom has 6 points (1 goal, 5 assists) on 9 games since joining the Jackets. With the helpers he snapped a 5 game point-less streak. On the season, Tarnstrom has 11 points (2 goals, 9 assists) on 39 games between Edmonton and Columbus. Taylor Pyatt assisted on the opening goal of the game and received first star honor. T-Py has 31 points (13 goals, 18 assists) on 63 games. Trevor Linden received the primary assist on the opening goal as well. Linden has 4 goals and 4 assists for 8 points on 47 games. with the helper Linden snapped a 10 game point-less streak. Roberto Luongo took the OT loss stopping 30 of 33 shots faced. Luongo is now 28-18-9 on the season and has 2 OT losses in as many games.

* Mathieu Schneider scored the opening goal then added a powerplay assist on the game winner as the Anaheim Ducks beat the visiting Calgary Flames 3-1. Schneider has 9 goals and 23 assists for 32 points on 50 games. He has recorded 13 points (4 goals, 9 assists) with the extra man. Todd Bertuzzi assisted on Schneider' goal. Bertuzzi was ejected with a game misconduct only moments later for wearing his uniform improperly. Bertuzzi has 12 goals and 20 assists for 32 points on 53 games.

Check back here for more FI highlights soon.

Thursday February 28

Welcome to the not so last day of February. There were 7 games on tap on a unusually busy Thursday night. Former Islanders are trying to help push their respective teams into the playoffs. Let us take a look at the FI work:

* Jim Dowd scored Philadelphia's first goal as the Flyers downed the visiting Ottawa Senators 3-1. Dowd has 4 goals and 5 assists for 9 points on 56 games.

* Zdeno Chara scored an insurance goal as the host Boston Bruins thumped the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-1. Chara has 15 goals and 30 assists for 45 points on 63 games. He is on fire as of late with 8 points (6 goals, 2 assists) in his 6 consecutive games. Building on his high in single season points, Chara is currently only 1 goal behind his single season high of 16.

* Alexei Zhitnik scored Atlanta's 3rd goal as the Thrashers fell to the visiting Islanders 5-4 in OT. Zhitnik has 3 goals and 4 assists for 7 points on 62 games.

* Robert Nilsson had a goal as the Edmonton Oilers beat the lowly, visiting Los Angeles Kings 5-4. Nilsson has 8 goals and 20 assists for 28 points on 54 games.

Check back here for more updates soon at FIW.

Wednesday February 27

There were 6 games up for grabs on Wednesday. As we speed toward the playoffs Former Islanders are lending their help. Let us take a quick glance at the FI efforts:

* Tim Connolly notched Buffalo's 7th goal and added an assist on the 8th as the Sabres thumped the visiting Nashville Predators 8-4. Connolly has 6 goals and 33 assists for 39 points on 43 games. He is riding a 4 game point streak in which he has 8 points on 1 goal and 7 assists.

* Olli Jokinen assisted on Florida's 2nd goal but missed on his attempt in the 3rd round of the SO as the Panthers fell to the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs 4-3. O-Jok has 61 points (30 goals, 31 assists) on 66 games. Jason Blake had a powerplay assist on Toronto's 2nd goal. Blakey has 11 goals and 28 assists for 39 points on 65 games. He has 3 assists over the last 2 games.

* Roberto Luongo took the OT loss as the host Vancouver Canucks fell 3-2 to the Colorado Avalanche. Luongo stopped 24 of 26 shots but only 1 of 3 in the SO to fall to 28-18-8 on the season. He received 2nd star of the game honor for his effort. Taylor Pyatt assisted on the Canucks' 2nd goal. T-Py has 13 goals and 17 assists for 30 points on 62 games. For the 2nd straight season Pyatt has topped the 30+ point mark.

Check back soon for more updates.