Playoffs out, Okposo in

The Isles have dropped five straight and nine of their last eleven, all but ending any hope of a playoff berth.

Kyle Okposo, the Isles’ top ranked prospect, will make his NHL debut against Toronto Tuesday night. As the kids have been the only source of entertainment these last few weeks, it should be fun watching Okposo play with former Bridgeport teammate, Blake Comeau, and workhorse veteran Richard Park. Let’s hope he gets a shot on the powerplay. What do they have to lose? Okposo could be a dark horse waiver pickup in your fantasy league. If he’s getting powerplay time, he’s worth a shot.

Now that the Isles are reeling and winding down a fruitless season, Rick DiPietro’s true colors are showing once again. DP was clearly unhappy with Ted Nolan’s decision to start backup Wade Dubielewicz in the tail end of the home-and-home series with the Rangers…as if the number one job was up for grabs. Not long after, DiPietro gives up eight goals to basement-dwelling Tampa and is called out by Nolan for overplaying the puck. DiPietro’s response? "Whatever." Spoken like a true leader.

In the latest display of team unity, Bruno Gervais was elbowed square in the head by Florida’s Branislav Mezei. Gervais suffered a concussion on the play. And what did his teammates do? What else? Absolutely nothing. So much for heart, grit, and character.


Hot

Blake Comeau (6-6=12,+/-E) has two goals and two assists in his last five, and stands to benefit from playing on a line with Okposo.


Cold

Rick DiPietro (26-28-7,3 SO,2.82 GAA,.902 S%) has lost seven of his last eight starts, and while the team can certainly be blamed, so can DiPietro. His stats of late have hardly been spectacular—he has posted a 4.14 GAA and an .866 S% in that recent eight-game span.

Mike Comrie (21-28=49,-20) has just two points (1-1=2) in his last eight games. He was also recently stripped of his ‘A’.

Bill Guerin (22-18=40,-17) has two goals, an assist, and a –4 rating over his last seven games. The good news is his reign as Isles captain is about halfway over.

Miroslav Satan (14-23=37,-8) hasn’t scored a goal in nearly a month, a span of 11 games during which he has accumulated just two assists and a –7 rating. Satan’s been streaky throughout his career, and is bound to break out of his most recent funk before season’s end.

Trent Hunter (10-28=38,-15) has one assist and a –5 rating over his last five games. His shooting percentage stands at a wretched 4.9%.

Josef Vasicek (14-18=32,-2) has one assist and a –6 rating over his last seven games.


Projected lines

Tambellini-Vasicek-Guerin
Bergenheim-Comrie-Hunter
Comeau-Park-Okposo
Regier-Colliton-Satan

Spiller-Martinek
Meyer-Davison
Berard-Johnson

PP1: Martinek-Berard-Okposo?-Comrie-Guerin


On the mend

*G Rick DiPietro (hip) is scheduled to undergo an MRI Tuesday. He is out indefinitely.
*F Andy Hilbert (unspecified) is day-to-day.
*F Frans Nielsen (shoulder) is out indefinitely.
*F Ruslan Fedotenko (leg) is day-to-day.
*D Bruno Gervais (concussion) is day-to-day.
*D Andy Sutton (torn hamstring) is out until at least late March.
*D Brendan Witt (sprained knee) is likely out for the season.
*F Mike Sillinger (hip) opted for surgery and will miss the remainder of the season.
*D Chris Campoli (shoulder) is out for the season.
*F Shawn Bates (hip) is out indefinitely.
*F Jon Sim (knee) is out for the season.


Upcoming schedule

Tue. 3/18 vs. Toronto
Fri. 3/21 @ New Jersey
Sun. 3/23 @ Philly
Mon. 3/24 vs. Pittsburgh
Thu. 3/27 @ Pittsburgh


Direct questions and comments to FantasyNYI@hotmail.com.