2007–08 New York Islanders season

2007–08 New York Islanders
Division	5th Atlantic
Conference	13th Eastern
2007–08 record	35–38–9
Home record	18–18–5
Road record	17–20–4
Goals for	194
Goals against	243
Team information
General manager	Garth Snow
Coach	Ted Nolan Al Arbour (1 game)
Captain	Bill Guerin
Alternate captains	Mike Sillinger Brendan Witt
Arena	Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum
Average attendance	13,640 (84%)
Team leaders
Goals	Bill Guerin (23)
Assists	Trent Hunter (29)
Points	Mike Comrie (49)
Penalty minutes	Mike Comrie (87)
Plus/minus	Kyle Okposo (+3)
Wins	Rick DiPietro (26)
Goals against average	Wade Dubielewicz (2.70)

The 2007–08 New York Islanders season was the 36th season in the franchise's history.

Offseason

Key dates prior to the start of the season:

• The 2007 NHL Entry Draft took place in Columbus, Ohio on June 22–23
• The free agency period began on July 1.

Forward Bill Guerin is named team captain, replacing departed forward Alexei Yashin.

Regular season

Excluding five shootout-winning goals, the Islanders finished the regular season with 189 goals for, the fewest of all 30 teams in the NHL. They also allowed the most shorthanded goals in the NHL, with 15.

Significant events

An early season highlight occurred on November 3, 2007, when Al Arbour returned to coach his 1,500th game for the Islanders at the behest of Ted Nolan, who wanted Arbour's regular season games coached total to reach 1,500, a round number. The Islanders came from behind to defeat the Pittsburgh Penguins 3–2, which extended Arbour's NHL record for most games coached with one team and extended his NHL record 740 regular season wins with one team. Afterwards, in a post-game ceremony, the Islanders raised a new banner to honor Arbour's 1500th game coached for the Islanders.

On January 22, 2008, the Islanders scored three short-handed goals in a 6–3 win over the Carolina Hurricanes.

Standings

Atlantic Division

		GP	W	L	OTL	GF	GA	Pts
1	Pittsburgh Penguins	82	47	27	8	247	216	102
2	New Jersey Devils	82	46	29	7	206	197	99
3	New York Rangers	82	42	27	13	213	199	97
4	Philadelphia Flyers	82	42	29	11	248	233	95
5	New York Islanders	82	35	38	9	194	243	79

Conference standings

Eastern Conference

R		Div	GP	W	L	OTL	GF	GA	Pts
1	z – Montreal Canadiens	NE	82	47	25	10	262	222	104
2	y – Pittsburgh Penguins	AT	82	47	27	8	247	216	102
3	y – Washington Capitals	SE	82	43	31	8	242	231	94
4	New Jersey Devils	AT	82	46	29	7	206	197	99
5	New York Rangers	AT	82	42	27	13	213	199	97
6	Philadelphia Flyers	AT	82	42	29	11	248	233	95
7	Ottawa Senators	NE	82	43	31	8	261	247	94
8	Boston Bruins	NE	82	41	29	12	212	222	94
8.5
9	Carolina Hurricanes	SE	82	43	33	6	252	249	92
10	Buffalo Sabres	NE	82	39	31	12	255	242	90
11	Florida Panthers	SE	82	38	35	9	216	226	85
12	Toronto Maple Leafs	NE	82	36	35	11	231	260	83
13	New York Islanders	AT	82	35	38	9	194	243	79
14	Atlanta Thrashers	SE	82	34	40	8	216	272	76
15	Tampa Bay Lightning	SE	82	31	42	9	223	267	71

Divisions: AT – Atlantic, NE – Northeast, SE – Southeast

bold – qualified for playoffs, y – division winner, z – placed first in conference (and division)

Schedule and results

2007–08 regular season
October: 5–4–0 (home: 3–2–0; road: 2–2–0) Game Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Points Recap 1 October 5 NY Islanders 6 – 4 Buffalo DiPietro 18,690 1–0–0 2 Recap 2 October 6 Buffalo 2 – 3 NY Islanders DiPietro 16,234 2–0–0 4 Recap 3 October 8 Washington 2 – 1 NY Islanders DiPietro 16,234 2–1–0 4 Recap 4 October 10 NY Rangers 1 – 2 NY Islanders DiPietro 15,295 3–1–0 6 Recap 5 October 11 NY Islanders 1 – 8 Toronto Dubielewicz 19,319 3–2–0 6 Recap 6 October 13 NY Islanders 1 – 3 Philadelphia DiPietro 19,714 3–3–0 6 Recap 7 October 18 NY Islanders 5 – 2 Washington DiPietro 11,036 4–3–0 8 Recap 8 October 20 New Jersey 3 – 4 NY Islanders OT DiPietro 14,092 5–3–0 10 Recap 9 October 27 Carolina 8 – 3 NY Islanders DiPietro 13,136 5–4–0 10 Recap
November: 8–5–1 (home: 6–1–1; road: 2–4–0) Game Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Points Recap 10 November 1 Tampa Bay 0 – 4 NY Islanders DiPietro 11,008 6–4–0 12 Recap 11 November 3 Pittsburgh 2 – 3 NY Islanders Dubielewicz 16,234 7–4–0 14 Recap 12 November 6 NY Rangers 2 – 3 NY Islanders DiPietro 15,158 8–4–0 16 Recap 13 November 10 New Jersey 1 – 2 NY Islanders DiPietro 15,361 9–4–0 18 Recap 14 November 12 NY Islanders 2 – 3 Philadelphia DiPietro 19,312 9–5–0 18 Recap 15 November 15 NY Islanders 2 – 3 Pittsburgh DiPietro 16,972 9–6–0 18 Recap 16 November 16 NY Islanders 1 – 0 New Jersey DiPietro 15,076 10–6–0 20 Recap 17 November 19 NY Islanders 2 – 1 NY Rangers DiPietro 18,200 11–6–0 22 Recap 18 November 21 Montreal 4 – 1 NY Islanders DiPietro 13,153 11–7–0 22 Recap 19 November 23 NY Islanders 1 – 2 Boston DiPietro 17,565 11–8–0 22 Recap 20 November 24 Boston 1 – 2 NY Islanders DiPietro 16,234 12–8–0 24 Recap 21 November 26 Dallas 3 – 2 NY Islanders OT DiPietro 8,161 12–8–1 25 Recap 22 November 28 Ottawa 2 – 3 NY Islanders SO DiPietro 9,211 13–8–1 27 Recap 23 November 29 NY Islanders 2 – 4 NY Rangers DiPietro 18,200 13–9–1 27 Recap
December: 7–7–1 (home: 4–4–0; road: 3–3–1) Game Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Points Recap 24 December 1 Atlanta 4 – 0 NY Islanders Dubielewicz 15,355 13–10–1 27 Recap 25 December 3 Boston 3 – 1 NY Islanders DiPietro 11,040 13–11–1 27 Recap 26 December 5 NY Islanders 3 – 4 Atlanta SO DiPietro 14,018 13–11–2 28 Recap 27 December 7 NY Islanders 0 – 3 Florida DiPietro 14,502 13–12–2 28 Recap 28 December 8 NY Islanders 3 – 2 Tampa Bay OT DiPietro 18,319 14–12–2 30 Recap 29 December 12 NY Islanders 3 – 5 Buffalo DiPietro 18,690 14–13–2 30 Recap 30 December 13 Phoenix 2 – 3 NY Islanders DiPietro 9,581 15–13–2 32 Recap 31 December 15 Pittsburgh 3 – 2 NY Islanders DiPietro 15,269 15–14–2 32 Recap 32 December 19 Buffalo 2 – 1 NY Islanders DiPietro 10,806 15–15–2 32 Recap 33 December 21 NY Islanders 4 – 2 Pittsburgh DiPietro 17,008 16–15–2 34 Recap 34 December 22 Washington 2 – 3 NY Islanders OT DiPietro 14,305 17–15–2 36 Recap 35 December 26 Toronto 3 – 4 NY Islanders OT Dubielewicz 15,301 18–15–2 38 Recap 36 December 27 NY Islanders 2 – 5 Ottawa Dubielewicz 20,268 18–16–2 38 Recap 37 December 29 New Jersey 2 – 5 NY Islanders Dubielewicz 16,234 19–16–2 40 Recap 38 December 31 NY Islanders 4 – 1 Carolina Dubielewicz 17,091 20–16–2 42 Recap
January: 4–6–4 (home: 0–4–2; road: 4–2–2) Game Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Points Recap 39 January 3 Florida 4 – 3 NY Islanders OT DiPietro 11,428 20–16–3 43 Recap 40 January 5 NY Islanders 1 – 2 Colorado OT DiPietro 17,154 20–16–4 44 Recap 41 January 7 NY Islanders 0 – 4 Edmonton DiPietro 16,839 20–17–4 44 Recap 42 January 8 NY Islanders 2 – 3 Vancouver SO DiPietro 18,630 20–17–5 45 Recap 43 January 11 NY Islanders 5 – 4 Calgary SO DiPietro 19,289 21–17–5 47 Recap 44 January 13 NY Islanders 3 – 1 Ottawa DiPietro 19,804 22–17–5 49 Recap 45 January 15 Montreal 3 – 1 NY Islanders DiPietro 11,439 22–18–5 49 Recap 46 January 16 NY Islanders 3 – 1 New Jersey DiPietro 15,975 23–18–5 51 Recap 47 January 19 Philadelphia 5 – 3 NY Islanders DiPietro 16,234 23–19–5 51 Recap 48 January 21 Carolina 3 – 2 NY Islanders OT DiPietro 16,234 23–19–6 52 Recap 49 January 22 NY Islanders 6 – 3 Carolina Dubielewicz 15,675 24–19–6 54 Recap 50 January 24 NY Islanders 1 – 4 Boston DiPietro 13,461 24–20–6 54 Recap 51 January 29 Ottawa 5 – 2 NY Islanders DiPietro 9,546 24–21–6 54 Recap 52 January 31 Los Angeles 3 – 1 NY Islanders Dubielewicz 10,148 24–22–6 54 Recap
February: 7–5–1 (home: 4–2–0; road: 3–3–1) Game Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Points Recap 53 February 2 NY Islanders 1 – 4 Montreal DiPietro 21,273 24–23–6 54 Recap 54 February 5 Anaheim 3 – 0 NY Islanders DiPietro 9,649 24–24–6 54 Recap 55 February 7 NY Islanders 3 – 4 Pittsburgh DiPietro 17,075 24–25–6 54 Recap 56 February 9 NY Islanders 3 – 4 Minnesota OT DiPietro 18,568 24–25–7 55 Recap 57 February 12 Philadelphia 3 – 4 NY Islanders DiPietro 11,193 25–25–7 57 Recap 58 February 14 NY Islanders 5 – 4 Toronto DiPietro 19,227 26–25–7 59 Recap 59 February 16 Atlanta 1 – 4 NY Islanders DiPietro 16,234 27–25–7 61 Recap 60 February 18 San Jose 2 – 3 NY Islanders DiPietro 16,234 28–25–7 63 Recap 61 February 20 NY Islanders 3 – 2 Washington SO DiPietro 17,584 29–25–7 65 Recap 62 February 21 Tampa Bay 0 – 1 NY Islanders DiPietro 12,382 30–25–7 67 Recap 63 February 23 NY Islanders 2 – 4 New Jersey DiPietro 17,625 30–26–7 67 Recap 64 February 26 Pittsburgh 4 – 2 NY Islanders DiPietro 11,258 30–27–7 67 Recap 65 February 28 NY Islanders 5 – 4 Atlanta OT DiPietro 16,332 31–27–7 69 Recap
March: 3–10–1 (home: 1–4–1; road: 2–6–0) Game Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Points Recap 66 March 1 Philadelphia 4 – 1 NY Islanders DiPietro 15,136 31–28–7 69 Recap 67 March 2 Florida 1 – 0 NY Islanders Dubielewicz 15,314 31–29–7 69 Recap 68 March 4 NY Islanders 4 – 3 NY Rangers SO Dubielewicz 18,200 32–29–7 71 Recap 69 March 6 NY Rangers 4 – 1 NY Islanders Dubielewicz 16,234 32–30–7 71 Recap 70 March 8 NY Islanders 1 – 4 Philadelphia Dubielewicz 19,748 32–31–7 71 Recap 71 March 11 NY Islanders 4 – 8 Tampa Bay DiPietro 19,111 32–32–7 71 Recap 72 March 12 NY Islanders 2 – 4 Florida DiPietro 15,233 32–33–7 71 Recap 73 March 15 NY Islanders 0 – 3 Montreal DiPietro 21,273 32–34–7 71 Recap 74 March 18 Toronto 3 – 1 NY Islanders Dubielewicz 13,134 32–35–7 71 Recap 75 March 21 NY Islanders 3 – 1 New Jersey Dubielewicz 17,075 33–35–7 73 Recap 76 March 23 NY Islanders 1 – 4 Philadelphia MacDonald 19,136 33–36–7 73 Recap 77 March 24 Pittsburgh 1 – 4 NY Islanders Dubielewicz 16,234 34–36–7 75 Recap 78 March 27 NY Islanders 1 – 3 Pittsburgh Dubielewicz 17,025 34–37–7 75 Recap 79 March 29 Philadelphia 4 – 3 NY Islanders SO Dubielewicz 15,223 34–37–8 76 Recap
April: 1–1–1 (home: 0–1–1; road: 1–0–0) Game Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Points Recap 80 April 1 New Jersey 2 – 1 NY Islanders OT MacDonald 12,357 34–37–9 77 Recap 81 April 3 NY Rangers 3 – 0 NY Islanders Dubielewicz 16,234 34–38–9 77 Recap 82 April 4 NY Islanders 4 – 3 NY Rangers OT Dubielewicz 18,200 35–38–9 79 Recap
Legend:   Win (2 points)   Loss (0 points)   Overtime/shootout loss (1 point)

Playoffs

Fans and players had high hopes the 2007–08 season because the team made the playoffs the previous year and were hoping for a playoff clinch repeat. However, the season ended in disappointment as the Islanders missed the playoffs for the first time since the 2005–06 season.

Player statistics

Skaters

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes

		Regular season							Playoffs
Player		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	GP		G	A	Pts	PIM	+/-
Mike Comrie		76	21	28	49	87	-21
Bill Guerin		81	23	21	44	65	-15
Miroslav Satan		80	16	25	41	39	-11
Trent Hunter		82	12	29	41	43	-17
Josef Vasicek		81	16	19	35	53	+1
Ruslan Fedotenko		67	16	17	33	40	-9
Richard Park		82	12	20	32	20	-4
Mike Sillinger		52	14	12	26	28	-10
Bryan Berard		54	5	17	22	48	-17
Sean Bergenheim		78	10	12	22	62	-3
Chris Campoli		46	4	14	18	16	-1
Andy Hilbert		70	8	8	16	18	+2
Radek Martinek		69	0	15	15	40	-9
Blake Comeau		51	8	7	15	22	+1
Bruno Gervais		60	0	13	13	34	-5
Freddy Meyer		52	3	9	12	22	+6
Andy Sutton		58	1	7	8	86	-6
Brendan Witt		59	2	5	7	51	-8
Kyle Okposo		9	2	3	5	2	+3
Jeff Tambellini		31	1	3	4	8	-9
Tim Jackman		36	1	3	4	57	-3
Chris Simon		28	1	2	3	43	-2
Frans Nielsen		16	2	1	3	0	+1
Rob Davison		19	1	1	2	32	-3
Aaron Johnson		30	0	2	2	30	+2
Drew Fata		5	0	1	1	4	-1
Ben Walter		8	1	0	1	0	-1
Jon Sim		2	0	1	1	2	-1
Matthew Spiller		9	0	1	1	7	-2
Jack Hillen		2	0	1	1	4	+1

Goaltenders

Note: GP = Games played; TOI = Time on ice (minutes); W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime/shootout losses; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; Sv% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average

		Regular season										Playoffs
Player		GP	TOI	W	L	OT	GA	SO	Sv%	GAA		GP	TOI	W	L	GA	SO	Sv%	GAA
Rick DiPietro		63	3707	26	28	7	174	3	.902	2.82
Wade Dubielewicz		20	1132	9	9	1	51	0	.919	2.70
Joey MacDonald		2	120	0	1	1	6	0	.918	2.99
COMBINED			4959	35	38	9	231	3	.907	2.83

Awards and records

Milestones

Regular Season
Player	Milestone	Reached
Ruslan Fedotenko	100th NHL Assist	October 6, 2007
Brendan Witt	100th NHL Point	October 13, 2007
Andy Sutton	800th NHL PIM	October 20, 2007
Mike Sillinger	1000th NHL Game	November 1, 2007
Mike Sillinger	300th NHL Assist	November 3, 2007
Mike Comrie	400th NHL Game	November 12, 2007
Rick DiPietro	100th NHL Win	November 19, 2007
Ruslan Fedotenko	300th NHL PIM	November 19, 2007
Josef Vasicek	400th NHL Game	November 26, 2007
Bruno Gervais	100th NHL Game	November 28, 2007
Mike Comrie	300th NHL PIM	November 28, 2007
Andy Hilbert	100th NHL PIM	December 5, 2007
Coach	Milestone	Reached
Al Arbour	1500th NHL Game	November 3, 2007

Transactions

The Islanders were involved in the following transactions during the 2007–08 season.

Trades

July 5, 2007	To Edmonton Oilers Allan Rourke 3rd round pick in 2008	To New York Islanders 2nd round pick in 2008
September 11, 2007	To Boston Bruins Petteri Nokelainen	To New York Islanders Ben Walter conditional 2nd round pick in 2009
February 26, 2007	To San Jose Sharks 7th round pick in 2008	To New York Islanders Rob Davison

Free agents

Player Former team Contract Terms Jon Sim Atlanta Thrashers 3 years, $3 million Ruslan Fedotenko Tampa Bay Lightning 1 year, $2.9 million Bill Guerin San Jose Sharks 2 years, $9 million Mike Comrie Ottawa Senators 1 year, $3.375 million Tim Jackman Los Angeles Kings 1 year, $500,000 Matthew Spiller Phoenix Coyotes 1 year, $475,000 Joey MacDonald Boston Bruins 2 years, $975,000 Darryl Bootland Detroit Red Wings 1 year, $525,000 Aaron Johnson Columbus Blue Jackets 1 year, $475,000 Josef Vasicek Carolina Hurricanes

Player New team Tom Poti Washington Capitals Jason Blake Toronto Maple Leafs Richard Zedník Florida Panthers Viktor Kozlov Washington Capitals Ryan Smyth Colorado Avalanche Sean Hill Minnesota Wild Arron Asham New Jersey Devils

Draft picks

New York's picks at the 2007 NHL Entry Draft in Columbus, Ohio.

Round	#	Player	Position	Nationality	College/Junior/Club team (League)
3	62	Mark Katic	Defenceman	Canada	Sarnia Sting (OHL)
3	76	Jason Gregoire	Left Wing	Canada	Lincoln Stars (USHL)
4	106	Maxim Gratchev	Left Wing	Russia	Rimouski Océanic (QMJHL)
6	166	Blake Kessel	Defenceman	United States	Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL)
7	196	Simon Lacroix	Defenceman	Canada	Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL)

See also

• 2007–08 NHL season