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Date Posted: 05:02:43 01/19/03 Sun
Author: Lisa
Author Host/IP: ool-18b81836.dyn.optonline.net / 24.184.24.54
Subject: Articles

http://www.newsday.com/sports/hockey/islanders/ny-isles193095541jan19,0,2376616.story

Thrashers: Not a Pushover
Alan Hahn

January 19, 2003

Atlanta - When the Islanders face the Thrashers for the third time this season today, behind the Atlanta bench will be a third different coach.

The Islanders beat former coach Curt Fraser, 5-4, here on Oct. 19 and took a 7-3 victory over interim coach/ general manager Don Waddell on Jan. 11 at Nassau Coliseum.

In both wins, the Islanders generated a lot of offense and dominated in the offensive zone, but coach Peter Laviolette expects a different game from the Thrashers, who are 2-0 under new head coach Bob Hartley.

"They looked different to me," said Laviolette, who watched Atlanta's 3-1 win over Boston here Friday night. "A lot more cautious through the neutral zone. More patient, I guess. And it didn't seem like Boston generated very much off cycles and off the rush."

The Thrashers (14-25-2-4) are in the NHL basement, and with the Rangers playing the Islanders on Tuesday at the Coliseum, there might be an inclination to overlook today's opponent. A win, however, would give the Islanders five out of a possible eight points to finish out a four-game road stretch.

Atlanta, meanwhile, is looking to extend its winning streak to a franchise- record four straight.

Mad Mike.com

Islanders GM Mike Milbury sounded off on the Islanders' team Web site Friday regarding the recent "ludicrous" rumors involving his team. As usual, Milbury's quips were priceless. He ripped "unprofessional reporters" for wild speculation on what he deemed "trade tumors." He further explained: "No, that is not a typographical error. That is what trade rumors are: cancerous lesions that can kill a team spirit if a coach and manager are not careful."

He went on to deny a report out of Boston that said Brad Isbister already had been told he was traded to the Bruins for Kyle McLaren.

Milbury also gave an interesting explanation of the detailed procedures that take place before a trade is approved and players are notified. He then insisted again that he is not close to completing a trade "on a major scale . . . So if any players are out there reading this, take a breath. And what's the sense of stressing anyway. The only thing a player can control is his performance."

Isles Files

Islanders rookie forward Mattias Weinhandl was invited to play in the NHL's Young Stars game Feb. 1 during All-Star Weekend in Fort Lauderdale . . . Peter Laviolette denied yesterday's report that the team asked the coaching staff after Wednesday's 5-0 loss to the Devils to return to a defensive system, which resulted in a 3-2 overtime win in St. Louis the following night. "That was misinformation," he said. "We had meetings, but the coaching staff changed the system." Laviolette also planned to talk with Michael Peca regarding his statements that the team needs to stick to just one system and that the players prefer the defensive style.

Today

Islanders at Atlanta

3 p.m.

TV: FSNY

Radio: ESPN (1050)
Copyright � 2003, Newsday, Inc.

Sherry Ross -
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/hockey/story/52607p-49297c.html

Yashin delivering
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/hockey/story/52699p-49375c.html

Yashin delivering

After compiling 26 points in 20 games, the Islanders are ready to make a break from the middle of the Eastern Conference.
Imagine what those numbers would look like if they had received any offensive contributions from star center Alexei Yashin.
But Yashin played perhaps his best all-around game in weeks while burying just his third goal in those 20 games during Thursday's 3-2 overtime victory in St. Louis. And his recent play has the Isles (20-18-5-2) envisioning bigger things, starting with today's road-trip finale in Atlanta.
"I thought he was strong throughout. I really like Alexei's game right now," coach Peter Laviolette said. "It was nice to see him get a goal. I'm happy with his work ethic He's been a horse out there."
Yashin deflects questions about his production but his teammates understand his importance.
"We rally behind him, but even more so than him scoring goals, is that he's been competing very well the last little bit," captain Michael Peca said. "That's the key.
Yashin (11-26-37) has been aligned recently with on-again winger Oleg Kvasha, whose fourth goal in six games lifted the Isles (11-5-2-2 in their last 20 games) to Thursday's OT victory.
"Right now points are so valuable for us and it sets up for a pretty road trip," Laviolette said. "The key game that makes or breaks the trip is Atlanta."

Star is born: Winger Mattias Weinhandl will play for the Eastern Conference team in the NHL Young Stars game Feb. 1.

Larry Brooks - http://www.nypost.com/sports/53372.htm
Peter Laviolette might be insulted by Pat Burns' previous declaration that the Devils are held to the highest standard of the three New York-area clubs, but that doesn't alter the accuracy of the observation. If not, why was Laviolette celebrated last year for the very same accomplishment that got Kevin Constantine fired: a first-round loss? The Devils have established a benchmark of excellence over the last 10 seasons unmatched in the East, matched in the West only by Colorado and exceeded only by Detroit. That's not opinion. That's fact.
We're told that Sather tried hard to acquire Dunham from the Devils prior to the 1998 expansion draft, but that Lou Lamoriello demanded Georges Laraque and a second-rounder in return. Dunham, of course, went to the Predators, with the Oilers subsequently dealing Mats Lindgren to the Islanders for Salo.

http://www.nypost.com/sports/islanders/53368.htm

YASHIN'S PLAY IS 'D'-VELOPING

By EVAN GROSSMAN

January 19, 2003 -- ATLANTA - Alexei Yashin will never be in the running for the Selke Award as the league's best defensive forward, but in the last week, his play has been noticeably more furious in the defensive zone. He's been hustling back into his own end and the gifted center has been using his stick more to hold up opponents rather than just as an offensive weapon.
As a matter of fact, that stick produced his only goal in the last seven games against St. Louis Thursday and according to the reigning Selke winner, Michael Peca, that kind of two-way play from No. 79 is crucial to the Islanders' success.
"We rally behind him," Peca said. "But even more so than him scoring a goal, he's competing."
You could say that Yashin's middle name should be "Minus." He's worst on the Islanders with a minus-19 rating this season, but against the Blues he was plus-2 - the first time since Dec. 17 that he was on the ice for more Islander goals than those potted by their opponents.
He was never labeled a defensive dynamo, burdened with a minus-81 rating for his professional career. His rookie season with Ottawa, Yashin was a minus-49 and it was apparent the last two years with the Isles that he would blow all his gas in the offensive zone, which hampered his effectiveness getting back into his own end.
"I think that he's trying to round his game a little bit," Peca said, predicting that once Yashin finds a balance between offense and defense, he'll be back scoring a point a night.
Peter Laviolette has said all along that when it comes to Yashin, there are peaks and valleys.
"I think Alexei is working hard in all three zones," Laviolette said. "The points, he's getting opportunities. They're just not dropping for him."
Today against the Thrashers, Yashin will have a suddenly tight defensive team to skate through. Since hiring Bob Hartley this week, Atlanta has become a more passive, trapping team that will be looking for their franchise-best fourth straight win.
Laviolette and his assistants attended Friday's game here between the Bruins and Thrashers.
"They looked different to me," Laviolette said. "A lot more cautious through the neutral zone. More patient, I guess. And it didn't seem like Boston generated very much off the cycles or off the rush."
*
Brad Isbister skated with the team yesterday but left the ice early with his balky ankle. His name has been mentioned prominently in recent trade rumors but Laviolette vehemently said that his not playing is because he's hurt.
"Strictly," Laviolette said. "One-hundred percent . . . he's injured."
Rookie Mattias Weinhandl was selected to play in the Young Stars game before the NHL All-Star Game in Florida.
GAME DAY
WHEN Today, 4:05 p.m. WHERE Centrum, Worcester, Mass. ON THE AIR WAVZ-AM 1300, WNLK-AM 1350, WSTC-AM 1400 RECORDS THROUGH FRIDAY Bridgeport 19-15-8-1; Worcester 19-16-7-2 SEASON SERIES First meeting of two. LAST MEETING Bridgeport won 2-1 at Worcester on March 15, 2002.

http://www.connpost.com/Stories/0,1413,96%257E3761%257E1121743,00.html

Nasreddine on schedule to rejoin Sound Tigers
MANCHESTER, N.H. Despite the occasional twinge in his right knee, Alain Nasreddine was happy with his game until the Christmas break. The Bridgeport Sound Tigers veteran defenseman had played solidly in his own zone, chipping in four assists and one game-winning goal in a game against St. John's. h
http://www.connpost.com/Stories/0,1413,96%257E3761%257E1121747,00.html

Thrashers keep pressure on puck
Homestand concludes against three top-flight offensive teams.
http://www.accessatlanta.com/ajc/sports/thrashers/0103/19thrash.html

SCOUTING REPORT: NEW YORK ISLANDERS AT THRASHERS
http://www.accessatlanta.com/ajc/sports/thrashers/0103/19scout.html
Thrashers on a three-game mini-streak
http://www.accessatlanta.com/ajc/sports/thrashers/0103/18thrash.html
http://www.thejournalnews.com/newsroom/011903/c03a19nhlnotes.html
It wasn't enough that the people who run the "entertainment'' in NHL arenas have killed our senses with noise the last decade. Now we have ThunderStix, too. ...
TV turnoff sent things sliding down the tubes
http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/019/sports/TV_turnoff_sent_things_sliding_down_the_tubes+.shtml

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