Isles seeing stars

*With their latest loss in Boston, the Isles (24-20-6) have now lost eight of their past 12 games.

*The team might have hit its lowest point of the season in that loss to Boston. Granted, the score wasn’t all that bad (4-1), but the effort was virtually nonexistent. Even worse, Ted Nolan could be seen having a grand time behind the bench. The game was a series of missed assignments (and open nets), blind passes, half-assed skating, and weak checks. It was clear that the Isles had already started their break.

*The powerplay has dropped to 24th in the league with a 16.2% conversion rate, a far cry from the 27% they had early in the season.

Hot

Mike Sillinger (13-12=25,-9) has three goals in his last two games and six in his last eight.

Miroslav Satan (11-16=27,-1)… "Hot" might be a stretch when you consider the two open nets he missed in Boston Thursday night. Regardless, Satan had points in four straight contests (1-3=4,+3) before his latest lackadaisical effort.

Richard Park (9-12=21,+2) has been good for a goal every other game over his last six. He is one Islander who gives a respectable effort every game.


Cold

Rick DiPietro (19-16,2 SO,2.54 GAA,.913 S%) can’t be blamed for the Isles’ latest slump, but he has allowed twelve goals on the last 87 shots he has faced (.862 S%) over the last three games. DP could use the ego-boost that his first All Star Game will undoubtedly provide him.

Mike Comrie (14-22=36,-12) has just one assist in his last six games and has scored points in just two of his last eleven. Comrie seems to have lost interest. Proof? His decision Thursday not to beat out an icing call, which was easily avoidable.

Bill Guerin (18-10=28,-6) is pointless in three after a four-game points scoring streak (3-2=5,+1).

Josef Vasicek (11-8=19,+1) has just three points and a -4 rating over his last 16 games. And to think, Vasicek led the Isles in goals earlier this season.

Ruslan Fedotenko (8-14=22,-7) has one assist and a –2 rating in his last six games. Fedotenko just doesn’t have the jump he had early in the season. He could be fighting an injury.

M.A. Bergeron (8-9=17,-7) is pointless with a –3 rating over his last six games. Which begs the question, why isn’t Bryan Berard playing?

Projected lines:

Park-Comrie-Guerin
Bergenheim-Vasicek-Satan
Fedotenko-Sillinger-Hunter
Jackman-Hilbert-Comeau

Witt-Martinek
Sutton-Meyer
Gervais-Bergeron

Scratches: Berard, Johnson

PP1: Gervais-Bergeron-Satan-Comrie-Guerin
PP2: Sutton-Meyer-Fedotenko-Sillinger-Hunter

On the mend:
*D Chris Campoli (shoulder surgery) is out for the season.
*F Chris Simon was suspended an NHL-record 30 games for his latest despicable act, a stomping of Pittsburgh’s Jarkko Ruutu. Simon is eligible to return February 21 against Tampa Bay.
*F Shawn Bates (hip) played just two games before succumbing to another injury. There’s no timetable for his return.
*F Jon Sim (knee) is out for the season.

Upcoming schedule:
Tue. 1/29 vs. Ottawa
Thu. 1/31 vs. Los Angeles
Sat. 2/2 @ Montreal
Tue. 2/5 vs. Anaheim
Thu. 2/7 @ Pittsburgh

Direct questions and comments to FantasyNYI@hotmail.com.