ISLANDERS ILLUSTRATED NEWSLETTER

ISLANDERS ILLUSTRATED NEWSLETTER October 16

By Jason Lockhart & Jonathan Morvay

RELENTLESS Head Coach Scott Gordon implements an attacking, in-your-face
style to the Islanders' youth movement

When Islanders GM Garth Snow selected Scott Gordon as the franchise's 14th
head coach, many people around the hockey world were surprised. But if you
go back to the beginning of Gordon's playing career, no one would have been
as surprised with the hire as Gordon himself-as from the start, coaching
was never in his plans...

It wasn't until two seasons ago that Gordon developed his new system that he
describes as "relentless." But if it was not for some miscommunication
between his team and the AHL office, he might have never come up with the
idea.

During the 2006-07 season, Gordon thought he had been suspended for one game
by the league. In reality, it was one of his players who was supposed to
have sat out. But by the time it was all straightened out, Gordon had
gotten a day off from coaching, got the chance to watch his club play from
the press box, and discovered a new philosophy of coaching.

"It was a new perspective watching the team from above," said Gordon. "It
was the third game in three nights on a Sunday afternoon, when the play is
usually lousy. But I couldn't get over how much we didn't skate. I was
upset seeing from above how poor we looked."

Later that week, Gordon traveled to Boston to watch a Bruins game against
the Carolina Hurricanes and generated a similar observation about Boston.

"Carolina scored three goals where there were all out sprints down the ice,"
said Gordon. "The combination of watching our team play and how Carolina
played against Boston, I decided from then on that Carolina's aggressive
skating style was how we were going to play. This was a better way to do
things. Position-wise everything was the same, but from then on, we did it
aggressively. We didn't watch the play come to us, we went to them."

Gordon explained that his system does not require that individuals on the
team possess speed, but that the players on the ice work as a five-man unit
to pressure the puck.

"I look at our team and try to get the players to focus on the urgency of
getting to the puck," said Gordon. "Our goal is to limit the opportunity
for the other team to handle the puck. If everyone is buying into the
system, it's hard for the opponent to play against us. While it may seem
like speed is a factor in this system, it doesn't matter if you're a great
skater or not. Nothing stops you from skating at your optimal speed and
controlling your stopping and starting. You just have to choose to do
it..."

To read the entire story about Scott Gordon, purchase the Islanders
Illustrated Magazine at the Nassau Coliseum, the Islanders Team Store at
the Broadway Mall or order a subscription online by going to

http://lists.neulion.com/users/link.php?UserID=141031&Newsletter=612&L...=4&Link

WHAT'S NEW ON ISLANDERSTV

The first episode of the NYI Show
Skates and Smarts with Brendan Witt--Bodychecking


IN THE COMMUNITY

Gordon visits the Booster Club

On October 8th, Scott Gordon visited with members of the Booster Club for
their first official meeting of the year. Scott received a warm welcome
from more than 50 members of the club.

"It is always nice when you can meet with some of the biggest fans of your
team," said Gordon. "The members of this club show up to our games every
night and I enjoyed coming down to speak with them. I look forward to
seeing them all at the Coliseum."

Hockey Fights Cancer Month/Pink Stick Auction

On October 23rd, when the Islanders host the Dallas Stars, Islanders players
will wrap their sticks with pink tape for Hockey Fights Cancer Month.
During the game, fans can visit the Nassau Coliseum concourse to bid on the
game-used sticks. The winners will receive the sticks immediately following
the game. All proceeds will go towards the Hockey Fights Cancer campaign.

Halloween Mask Raffle

Halloween is fast approaching and that can only mean one thing--the annual
Halloween Mask Raffle will be here before you know it. Come to the
Islanders game on October 27th, when they meet the New York Rangers. Bid on
the masks that will be located on the Nassau Coliseum concourse. The
winners will go home with their masks that night.

For the complete upcoming schedule of Islanders community events

http://lists.neulion.com/users/link.php?UserID=141031&Newsletter=612&L...=4&Link


CHIPOTLE'S LOUDVILLE IS OPEN!

$10 seats for students all season long

The Islanders are once again reaching out to every student on Long Island by
bringing back Loudville--sponsored by Chipotle--the best deal and loudest
section in professional sports. For just $10, any student with a valid
student ID can attend Islanders games and sit in section 330 for an
experience unlike any other. Students also will receive a coupon for one
free burrito at Chipotle.

Loudville tickets go on sale at the Nassau Coliseum box office an hour
before each game starts. Students must bring a valid student ID and are
encouraged to line up early because Loudville is limited to only one
section of the Coliseum. Each student may purchase only one ticket per
game. And please note, Loudville will not be open for the three New York
Rangers games played at the Coliseum.

Be prepared for an exciting season of Islanders hockey, and an even better
experience when sitting in Loudville. Experience Loudville on Thursday,
October 23rd, when the Islanders host the Dallas Stars at 7 pm. Bring your
Islanders apparel and don't forget to be LOUD.

To visit Chipotle's official website. You can find Chipotle directly across
from the Nassau Coliseum on the opposite side of Hempstead Turnpike

href=http://lists.neulion.com/users/link.php?UserID=141031&Newsletter=612&List=4&LinkType=Send&LinkID=1058

WEEKLY RECAP / THE WEEK AHEAD

The Isles opened the 2008-2009 season against division rival New Jersey on
Friday night (10/10). After splitting two preseason games with the Devils,
the two teams played a hard fought game at the Prudential Center, but the
Isles fell short, losing 2-1. Doug Weight netted his first goal as an
Islander, scoring on the power play early in the first period. Joey
MacDonald played well between the pipes, as he filled in for Rick DiPietro.
MacDonald stopped 27 of 29 shots, while opposing goalie, and future
Hall-of-Famer, Martin Brodeur made 25 saves, including a penalty shot by
Kyle Okposo.

With no time to dwell on the loss, the Islanders bounced back nicely against
the St Louis Blues in the home opener on Saturday (10/11).


Taking to the Coliseum ice for the first time this season, the Isles didn't
disappoint the hometown crowd. The team came out firing on all cylinders,
tallying four first period goals, and five altogether in a 5-2 win over the
Blues.

Mike Comrie got things started just 2:18 into game, scoring his first goal
of the season. Trent Hunter, Sean Bergenheim, and Andy Hilbert all joined
in on the fun, each scoring a goal in the opening frame. Billy Guerin added
an empty net goal in the third. Joey MacDonald was superb in goal for the
Isles, starting his second straight game in place of Rick DiPietro.
MacDonald made 24 saves in the Isles first win of the season.

Returning to the Coliseum for an early afternoon start on Columbus Day
(10/13), the Isles took on the Buffalo Sabres. Things didn't exactly go the
Isles way on "Kids Day," as the Sabres won in commanding fashion, 7-1.

The Isles allowed four second period goals, including a short-handed goal by
Thomas Vanek, who had two goals in the game. Trent Hunter scored the lone
Islanders goal in the third period (his second of the season), going top
shelf on Sabres goalie Patrick Lalime. Isles goalie Joey MacDonald was in
net for all seven Buffalo goals. The loss dropped the Isles to 1-2-0 on the
young season.

The Islanders return to action on Thursday (10/16) to take on the Tamp Bay
Lightning at 7:30 PM. The Isles remain in Florida to take on the Panthers
on Saturday night, with the puck scheduled to drop at 7:00 PM.

FACTS AND FIGURES
Mark Streit and Doug Weight both scored their first points with the
Islanders in the first game of the season.
The Islanders scored five goals in a Home Opener for the first time since
the 1996-97 season.
The Isles didn't score four goals in a period at home once last season, yet
they did so on Saturday against the Blues.
Saturday was the only meeting between the Islanders and Blues this season.
The Islanders scored only 44 goals in the first period last season, and
already have five in three games.
Trent Hunter leads the team with two goals, while Doug Weight leads the team
with three points.
On Monday, the Islanders and Sabres combined for 150 penalty minutes.
Andy Hilbert, who took 20 games to record a point last season, already has
two on the year, including a shorthanded goal.

MILESTONES RECENTLY ACHIEVED...
Goaltender Joey MacDonald recorded his first win as an Islander, 10/11 vs.
STL
Goaltender Joey MacDonald played his 1,000th NHL minute, 10/10 at NJD

MILESTONES WITHIN REACH...
Right wing Trent Hunter is seven assists shy of 100 NHL/Islanders assists
Right wing Richard Park is six assists shy of 100 NHL assists
Left wing Jon Sim is two points shy of 100 NHL points


BRIDGEPORT REPORT


After going 1-3-0-0 in their exhibition games, the Sound Tigers were ready
to get started in some regular season action. The team opened the season
with three games in three days, all of which were on the road, starting
this past Friday in Philadelphia.

Mike Iggulden scored the lone goal for the Sound Tigers--the first
Bridgeport goal of the season--in a 2-1 loss to the Phantoms (10/10).

The Sound Tigers bounced back nicely on Saturday night (10/11), as they
defeated the Albany River Rats in an exciting 4-2 game. Trevor Smith
knocked in his first two goals of this season, while Kurtis McLean added a
goal and an assist. Iggulden contributed two assists. The team finished the
game 2-for-8 on the power-play, and 7-for-8 on the penalty-kill.

Playing their third road game in three nights, the Sound Tigers suffered a
tough loss to the Hartford Wolf Pack, falling 2-1 in a shootout (10/12).
Andrew MacDonald notched the team's only goal, his first of the season.
Iggulden assisted on the goal, giving him a point in each of the first
three games this season. Peter Mannino played very well between the pipes
in his first professional start, allowing just one goal on 35 shots.

After a week of practice, the Sound Tigers will get back on the road Friday
(10/17) for a matchup against last season's Eastern Conference
Champions--the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins--at 7 p.m. On Saturday
(10/18), the Sound Tigers will open up at home against the Albany River
Rats. Game-time is scheduled for 7 p.m.

THIS WEEK IN ISLANDERS HISTORY
Oct. 7, 1972 - Islanders lose their home opener and first game in franchise
history, 3-2, to the Atlanta Flames. Ed Westfall scores the Islanders'
first goal at 17:29 of the second period.
Oct. 11, 1975 - The Islanders win their home opener 7-0 vs. Los Angeles as
rookie Bryan Trottier tallies three goals and two assists, matching the
club record at the time.
Oct. 12, 1972 - Islanders beat the Los Angeles Kings 3-2 at home for the
franchise's first win. Billy Harris takes the first penalty shot in
Islanders history and is unsuccessful.
Oct. 14, 1982 - The Islanders pile up a team-record 108 penalty minutes
while the Pittsburgh Penguins amass 125 for another team-record 233 by both
clubs in a record-tying 9-0 Islander victory


PROSPECT WATCH: Strong Starts

Name: Justin DiBenedettoPosition: Left WingTeam: Sarnia (3-6-0-1)^League:
OHLAcquired: Islanders 2008 sixth-round draft pick (175th overall)Stats to
date: Games Played (5), Goals (6), Assists (6), Points (12), PIM (4)Update:
DiBenedetto is off to a blazing start, leading Sarnia in goals, assists,
points and power play goals. He is tied for fifth in the league in goals.
On Sunday, DiBenedetto had the game of his life, tallying five goals, while
adding two assists in a 7-2 victory over Sault Ste. Marie.

What the scouts are saying: "Although DiBenedetto's had a point in most of
his games, it was good to see him break out the way he did. It shows how
dominant offensively he can be in his league." - Ryan Jankowski Assistant
GM/Director of Amateur Scouting

Name: Stefan RidderwallPosition: GoaltenderTeam: Djurgardens (4-4-3) League:
Swedish Elite LeagueAcquired: Islanders 2006 sixth round draft pick (173rd
overall)Stats to date: GAA (2.63), SV% (.900)Update: Ridderwall has taken
over the starting netminding duties for Djurgardens in the Swedish Elite
League. He earned a 4-2 win over Sodertalje on Monday, making 25 saves.

What the scouts are saying: "Ridderwall has been solid in goal to start the
season. It is very possible even at his age (20) to become a number one
netminder in the Elite League." -Anders Kallur Pro Scout

Name: David UllstromPosition: Center/Left WingTeam: Boras (1-8-0)League:
Allsvenskan (SWE) Acquired: Islanders 2008 fourth-round draft pick (102nd
overall)Stats to date: Games Played (9), Goals (7), Assists (2), Points
(9), PIM (18)Update: Ullstrom is playing his first full year of pro hockey
in Sweden's second tier league. He leads Boras in goals and points.
Ullstrom scored a power play in Boras' 4-1 loss to Sundsvall on Sunday.

What the scouts are saying: "Ullstrom has had some sensational games for
Boras. He is their most talented player, but as a team they are not doing
well. He has had a good start to the season, and has also played one game
in the Elite League. He needs to learn how to perform at the top level
every game, because he is a little up and down." - Anders Kallur Pro Scout

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