Thursday, November 20, 2008

Fritz, & Mannino Get The Calls

Mitch Fritz gets the call for the weekend while Kyle Okposo is out for the week. After reading a few stories it appears that a line with Jackman, Park, and Fritz will be created.





Peter Mannino will be given the duties of backup goaltender so that Yan Danis will get a few starts down in Bridgeport. Danis has not played sice November 1st, and Mannino has earned his way to the NHL by posting an AHL record of 6-1-2 with the Sound Tigers with a 2.46 goals-against average and a .912 save percentage.





So here's my take on Fritz being called up. I heard Iggulden was also a consideration but the Islanders elected to go with more toughness for the weekend. Fine. This is why I disagree. New Jersey doesn't really have a team that could physically compete with us at this time. Most of their heavyweights are injured. This will aslo be Jersey's second game in a row, and the Islanders system will be too much for them to handle.

Now Buffalo, whom we play on Saturady, too it to them 7-1 the last time. Now, Buffalo, losers of 4 out of their last 5 have been issued a warning by Ruff to either get their acts together or they'll be benched. The Islanders are currently on a 3 game winning streak and full of confidence. Buffalo is not going to just take it to us because they don't want to make any mistakes and act like they're walking on egg shells. The Islanders system, which has been greatly imrpoved by the players, will be able to keep Buffalo on their toes, and it won't turn into another beating by the Sabres.

Point: For this weekend, in my opinion, skill should not have been replaced by toughness. If this is just precaution, fair enough. Also it's not like Okposo is out for a month, just a week. But losing a skilled player like Okposo, should've been relaced by someone other that Fritz.

1 comment:

7th Woman said...

Netminder: I would have loved to go to NJ tomorrow, but that's not in the cards. But I will certainly be watching, and praying for TWO MORE POINTS!!!