2008–09 New York Islanders season

The 2008–09 New York Islanders season was the 37th season in franchise history. On April 14, 2009, the Islanders won the NHL draft lottery to receive the first overall draft pick in the 2009 NHL entry draft.

2008–09 New York Islanders
Division	5th Atlantic
Conference	15th Eastern
2008–09 record	26–47–9
Home record	17–18–6
Road record	9–29–3
Goals for	201
Goals against	279
Team information
General manager	Garth Snow
Coach	Scott Gordon
Captain	Bill Guerin (Oct.–Mar.) Vacant (Mar.–Apr.)
Alternate captains	Richard Park Mike Sillinger Doug Weight Brendan Witt
Arena	Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum
Average attendance	Average: 13,773 Capacity: 84.5% Total: 564,697 [1]
Team leaders
Goals	Kyle Okposo (18)
Assists	Mark Streit (40)
Points	Mark Streit (56)
Penalty minutes	Tim Jackman (155)
Plus/minus	Mark Streit Dean McAmmond Joe Callahan (+5)
Wins	Joey MacDonald (14)
Goals against average	Yann Danis (2.86)

Regular season

Captain Bill Guerin was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins in March. The captaincy was left vacant for the rest of the season.

Divisional standings

Atlantic Division

		GP	W	L	OTL	GF	GA	Pts
1	New Jersey Devils	82	51	27	4	244	209	106
2	Pittsburgh Penguins	82	45	28	9	264	239	99
3	Philadelphia Flyers	82	44	27	11	264	238	99
4	New York Rangers	82	43	30	9	210	218	95
5	New York Islanders	82	26	47	9	201	279	61

Conference standings

Eastern Conference

R		Div	GP	W	L	OTL	GF	GA	Pts
1	z – Boston Bruins	NE	82	53	19	10	274	196	116
2	y – Washington Capitals	SE	82	50	24	8	272	245	108
3	y – New Jersey Devils	AT	82	51	27	4	244	209	106
4	Pittsburgh Penguins	AT	82	45	28	9	264	239	99
5	Philadelphia Flyers	AT	82	44	27	11	264	238	99
6	Carolina Hurricanes	SE	82	45	30	7	239	226	97
7	New York Rangers	AT	82	43	30	9	210	218	95
8	Montreal Canadiens	NE	82	41	30	11	249	247	93
8.5
9	Florida Panthers	SE	82	41	30	11	234	231	93
10	Buffalo Sabres	NE	82	41	32	9	250	234	91
11	Ottawa Senators	NE	82	36	35	11	217	237	83
12	Toronto Maple Leafs	NE	82	34	35	13	250	293	81
13	Atlanta Thrashers	SE	82	35	41	6	257	280	76
14	Tampa Bay Lightning	SE	82	24	40	18	210	279	66
15	New York Islanders	AT	82	26	47	9	201	279	61

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

AT – Atlantic Division, NE – Northeast Division, SE – Southeast Division

Schedule and results

2008–09 game log
October: 2–6–1 (Home: 1–4–0; Road: 1–2–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts 1 October 10 New York Islanders 1 – 2 New Jersey Devils MacDonald 16,834 0–1–0 0 2 October 11 St. Louis Blues 2 – 5 New York Islanders MacDonald 16,234 1–1–0 2 3 October 13 Buffalo Sabres 7 – 1 New York Islanders MacDonald 13,523 1–2–0 2 4 October 16 New York Islanders 4 – 3 Tampa Bay Lightning OT MacDonald 14,420 2–2–0 4 5 October 18 New York Islanders 0 – 2 Florida Panthers DiPietro 16,087 2–3–0 4 6 October 23 Dallas Stars 5 – 3 New York Islanders DiPietro 10,183 2–4–0 4 7 October 25 Carolina Hurricanes 4 – 3 New York Islanders MacDonald 11,219 2–5–0 4 8 October 27 New York Rangers 4 – 2 New York Islanders MacDonald 15,581 2–6–0 4 9 October 30 New York Islanders 2 – 3 Philadelphia Flyers OT MacDonald 18,227 2–6–1 5
November: 8-6-1 (Home: 4–3–1; Road: 4-3–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts 10 November 1 Montreal Canadiens 5 – 4 New York Islanders Danis 14,429 2–7–1 5 11 November 3 Columbus Blue Jackets 3 – 4 New York Islanders OT MacDonald 10,184 3–7–1 7 12 November 4 New York Islanders 2 – 1 New York Rangers MacDonald 18,200 4–7–1 9 13 November 6 New York Islanders 3 – 4 Atlanta Thrashers MacDonald 14,122 4–8–1 9 14 November 8 Pittsburgh Penguins 4 – 3 New York Islanders SO MacDonald 14,303 4–8–2 10 15 November 11 Philadelphia Flyers 3 – 1 New York Islanders MacDonald 13,447 4–9–2 10 16 November 13 New York Islanders 3 – 1 Ottawa Senators MacDonald 19,061 5–9–2 12 17 November 15 Ottawa Senators 2 – 3 New York Islanders MacDonald 13,722 6–9–2 14 18 November 17 Vancouver Canucks 1 – 2 New York Islanders SO MacDonald 11,299 7–9–2 16 19 November 21 New York Islanders 2 – 5 New Jersey Devils MacDonald 17,138 7–10–2 16 20 November 22 New York Islanders 4 – 2 Buffalo Sabres MacDonald 18,529 8–10–2 18 21 November 24 New York Islanders 4 – 3 Montreal Canadiens SO MacDonald 21,273 9–10–2 20 22 November 26 Pittsburgh Penguins 5 – 3 New York Islanders MacDonald 14,871 9–11–2 20 23 November 28 New York Islanders 2 – 7 Boston Bruins MacDonald 17,565 9–12–2 20 24 November 29 Ottawa Senators 2 – 4 New York Islanders MacDonald 13,108 10–12–2 22
December: 2-10-2 (Home: 2–2–1; Road: 0–8–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts 25 December 4 New York Islanders 2 – 5 Washington Capitals MacDonald 18,130 10–13–2 22 26 December 6 Atlanta Thrashers 5 – 1 New York Islanders MacDonald 14,174 10–14–2 22 27 December 8 New York Islanders 2 – 4 Toronto Maple Leafs MacDonald 19,309 10–15–2 22 28 December 9 New York Islanders 3 – 4 Philadelphia Flyers Danis 19,037 10–16–2 22 29 December 11 New York Islanders 2 – 9 Pittsburgh Penguins MacDonald 16,972 10–17–2 22 30 December 13 New York Islanders 1 – 3 Columbus Blue Jackets MacDonald 15,443 10–18–2 22 31 December 16 Washington Capitals 5 – 4 New York Islanders OT MacDonald 11,655 10–18–3 23 32 December 19 New York Islanders 1 – 4 Minnesota Wild MacDonald 18,568 10–19–3 23 33 December 20 New York Islanders 0 – 1 Nashville Predators MacDonald 16,457 10–20–3 23 34 December 23 Atlanta Thrashers 4 – 2 New York Islanders MacDonald 14,227 10–21–3 23 35 December 26 Toronto Maple Leafs 1 – 4 New York Islanders DiPietro 15,173 11–21–3 25 36 December 27 New York Islanders 3 – 4 Buffalo Sabres SO MacDonald 18,690 11–21–4 26 37 December 29 New York Islanders 4 – 5 New York Rangers MacDonald 18,200 11–22–4 26 38 December 31 Florida Panthers 2 – 4 New York Islanders MacDonald 12,211 12–22–4 28
January: 3-7-1 (Home: 2–3–1; Road: 1–4–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts 39 January 2 New York Islanders 4 – 5 Phoenix Coyotes DiPietro 14,547 12–23–4 28 40 January 3 New York Islanders 3 – 5 San Jose Sharks MacDonald 17,496 12–24–4 28 41 January 5 New York Islanders 2 – 3 Edmonton Oilers MacDonald 16,839 12–25–4 28 42 January 8 New York Islanders 2 – 5 Calgary Flames MacDonald 19,289 12–26–4 28 43 January 13 New York Rangers 2 – 1 New York Islanders Danis 16,234 12–27–4 28 44 January 15 Boston Bruins 2 – 1 New York Islanders Danis 15,548 12–28–4 28 45 January 17 New Jersey Devils 3 – 1 New York Islanders Danis 16,234 12–29–4 28 46 January 19 Washington Capitals 2 – 1 New York Islanders OT Danis 15,221 12–29–5 29 47 January 21 Anaheim Ducks 1 – 2 New York Islanders Danis 11,853 13–29–5 31 48 January 29 New York Islanders 5 – 4 Atlanta Thrashers Danis 15,200 14–29–5 33 49 January 31 Florida Panthers 1 – 3 New York Islanders Danis 13,336 15–29–5 35
February: 4-7-2 (Home: 4–1–2; Road: 0–6–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts 50 February 3 Tampa Bay Lightning 1 – 3 New York Islanders Danis 9,808 16–29–5 37 51 February 5 New York Islanders 2 – 3 Florida Panthers MacDonald 14,206 16–30–5 37 52 February 7 New York Islanders 0 – 1 Tampa Bay Lightning Danis 14,810 16–31–5 37 53 February 10 Los Angeles Kings 4 – 3 New York Islanders SO Danis 12,330 16–31–6 38 54 February 11 New York Islanders 2 – 4 New Jersey Devils MacDonald 14,251 16–32–6 38 55 February 14 New York Islanders 1 – 5 Philadelphia Flyers Danis 19,789 16–33–6 38 56 February 16 Pittsburgh Penguins 2 – 3 New York Islanders SO MacDonald 16,234 17–33–6 40 57 February 18 New York Islanders 1 – 3 New York Rangers Danis 18,200 17–34–6 40 58 February 19 Carolina Hurricanes 6 – 2 New York Islanders MacDonald 11,802 17–35–6 40 59 February 21 New Jersey Devils 0 – 4 New York Islanders Danis 15,511 18–35–6 42 60 February 25 New York Islanders 0 – 1 Pittsburgh Penguins Danis 16,975 18–36–6 42 61 February 26 Toronto Maple Leafs 5 – 4 New York Islanders SO MacDonald 12,201 18–36–7 43 62 February 28 Buffalo Sabres 0 – 2 New York Islanders Danis 14,198 19–36–7 45
March: 6-5-2 (Home: 3–2–1; Road: 3–3–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts 63 March 2 Colorado Avalanche 2 – 4 New York Islanders Danis 11,298 20–36–7 47 64 March 5 New York Rangers 4 – 2 New York Islanders Danis 16,234 20–37–7 47 65 March 7 New Jersey Devils 3 – 7 New York Islanders MacDonald 15,524 21–37–7 49 66 March 8 Phoenix Coyotes 2 – 3 New York Islanders Danis 13,413 22–37–7 51 67 March 10 New York Islanders 2 – 3 Toronto Maple Leafs OT MacDonald 19,041 22–37–8 52 68 March 12 New York Islanders 3 – 2 Montreal Canadiens OT Danis 21,273 23–37–8 54 69 March 14 New York Islanders 1 – 2 Boston Bruins Danis 17,565 23–38–8 54 70 March 15 New York Islanders 4 – 2 Chicago Blackhawks Mannino 22,140 24–38–8 56 71 March 20 New York Islanders 4 – 5 Carolina Hurricanes Mannino 18,137 24–39–8 56 72 March 21 New York Islanders 2 – 5 Ottawa Senators Danis 19,751 24–40–8 56 73 March 25 Minnesota Wild 6 – 2 New York Islanders Danis 13,332 24–41–8 56 74 March 27 New York Islanders 2 – 0 Detroit Red Wings MacDonald 20,066 25–41–8 58 75 March 28 Philadelphia Flyers 4 – 3 New York Islanders SO Danis 16,234 25–41–9 59
April: 1-6-0 (Home: 1–3–0; Road: 0–3–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts 76 April 1 New York Islanders 3 – 5 Washington Capitals MacDonald 18,277 25–42–9 59 77 April 2 Montreal Canadiens 5 – 1 New York Islanders Danis 15,255 25–43–9 59 78 April 4 Tampa Bay Lightning 1 – 3 New York Islanders Danis 12,809 26–43–9 61 79 April 7 New York Islanders 0 – 9 Carolina Hurricanes Danis 18,680 26–44–9 61 80 April 9 New York Islanders 1 – 6 Pittsburgh Penguins Danis 17,132 26–45–9 61 81 April 11 Philadelphia Flyers 2 – 3 New York Islanders Danis 16,234 26–46–9 61 82 April 12 Boston Bruins 2 – 6 New York Islanders Danis 14,311 26–47–9 61
Legend:   Win (2 points)   Loss (0 points)   Overtime/shootout loss (1 point)

Playoffs

The New York Islanders did not qualify for the 2009 Stanley Cup playoffs.

Player statistics

Skaters

Regular season

Player GP G A Pts +/− PIM Mark Streit 74 16 40 56 +5 62 Kyle Okposo 65 18 21 39 -6 36 Doug Weight 53 10 28 38 -15 55 Bill Guerin‡ 61 16 20 36 -15 63 Frans Nielsen 59 9 24 33 -4 18 Richard Park 71 14 17 31 -13 34 Trent Hunter 55 14 17 31 -8 41 Andy Hilbert 67 11 16 27 -3 22 Blake Comeau 53 7 18 25 -17 32 Josh Bailey 68 7 18 25 -14 16 Sean Bergenheim 59 15 9 24 -2 64 Mike Comrie‡ 41 7 13 20 -8 26 Bruno Gervais 69 3 16 19 -15 33 Chris Campoli‡ 51 6 11 17 -20 43 Jon Sim 49 9 6 15 -12 42 Jeff Tambellini 65 7 8 15 -20 32 Tim Jackman 69 5 7 12 -17 155 Andy Sutton 23 2 8 10 +3 40 Radek Martinek 51 6 4 10 -16 28 Dean McAmmond† 18 2 7 9 +5 8 Brendan Witt 65 0 9 9 -34 94 Freddy Meyer 27 4 5 9 -19 14tw Jack Hillen 40 1 5 6 -9 16 Mike Iggulden 11 1 4 5 -3 4 Nate Thompson 43 2 2 4 -11 49 Thomas Pock 59 1 2 3 -17 35 Jesse Joensuu 7 1 2 3 -1 4 Mike Sillinger 7 2 0 2 -5 0 Joe Callahan 18 0 2 2 +5 4 Jeremy Colliton 6 0 1 1 -2 2 Kurtis McLean 4 1 0 1 +1 0 Trevor Smith 7 1 0 1 -3 0 Joel Rechlicz 17 0 1 1 -1 68 Mitch Fritz 20 0 0 0 -4 42 Ben Walter 4 0 0 0 -2 0 Brett Skinner 11 0 0 0 +2 4 Andrew MacDonald 3 0 0 0 +2 2 Jamie Fraser 1 0 0 0 0 0 Sean Bentivoglio 1 0 0 0 0 2

Goaltenders

Regular season
Player GP Min W L OT GA GAA SA SV Sv% SO Joey MacDonald 49 2792 14 26 6 157 3.37 1584 1427 .901 1 Yann Danis 31 1760 10 17 3 84 2.86 933 849 .910 2 Rick DiPietro 5 256 1 3 0 15 3.52 139 124 .892 0 Peter Mannino 3 133 1 1 0 10 4.51 87 77 .885 0

^†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Islanders. Stats reflect time with Islanders only.
^‡Traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with Islanders only.

Note:

Pos = Position; GPI = Games played in; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes; +/- = Plus/minus; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals

Min, TOI = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T,T/OT = Ties; OTL = Overtime losses; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts; SA = Shots against; SV = Shots saved; SV% = Save percentage;

Awards and records

Milestones

Regular Season
Player	Milestone	Reached
Sean Bergenheim	100th NHL PIM	October 13, 2008
Doug Weight	900th NHL PIM	October 23, 2008
Brett Skinner	1st NHL Game	October 27, 2008
Mitch Fritz	1st NHL Game	October 30, 2008
Jon Sim	100th NHL Point	November 1, 2008
Nate Thompson	1st NHL Goal 1st NHL Point	November 4, 2008
Richard Park	200th NHL PIM	November 6, 2008
Josh Bailey	1st NHL Game	November 11, 2008
Josh Bailey	1st NHL Assist 1st NHL Point	November 13, 2008
Andy Sutton	500th NHL Game	November 17, 2008

Transactions

Trades

June 20, 2008	To New York Islanders 1st-round pick (7th overall) in 2008 Two conditional picks	To Toronto Maple Leafs 1st-round pick (5th overall) in 2008
June 20, 2008	To New York Islanders 1st-round pick (9th overall) in 2008 2nd-round pick (40th overall) in 2008	To Nashville Predators 1st-round pick (7th overall) in 2008
January 13, 2009	To New York Islanders Junior Lessard	To Atlanta Thrashers Brett Skinner
February 22, 2009	To New York Islanders Dean McAmmond 1st-round pick in 2009	To Ottawa Senators Chris Campoli Mike Comrie
March 4, 2009	To New York Islanders Conditional 3rd-round pick in 2009	To Pittsburgh Penguins Bill Guerin

Free agents

Player Former team Contract Terms Doug Weight Anaheim Ducks 1 year, $1,750,000 Mark Streit Montreal Canadiens 5 years, $20,500,000

Player New team Ruslan Fedotenko Pittsburgh Penguins Miroslav Satan Pittsburgh Penguins Aaron Johnson Chicago Blackhawks

Claimed from waivers

Player Former team Date claimed off waivers Thomas Pock New York Rangers September 29, 2008

Draft picks

The Islanders picks at the 2008 NHL entry draft in Ottawa, Ontario.

Round	#	Player	Position	Nationality	College/junior/club team (league)
1	9	Josh Bailey	C	Canada	Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
2	36	Corey Trivino	C	Canada	Stouffville Spirit (OPJHL)
2	40	Aaron Ness	D	United States	Roseau High School (USHS-MN)
2	53	Travis Hamonic	D	Canada	Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)
3	66	David Toews	C	Canada	Shattuck-Saint Mary's (USHS-MN)
3	72	Jyri Niemi	D	Finland	Saskatoon Blades (WHL)
3	73	Kirill Petrov	RW	Russia	Ak Bars Kazan (Russia)
4	96	Matt Donovan	D	United States	Cedar Rapids (USHL)
4	102	David Ullstrom	W	Sweden	HV71 (Sweden)
5	126	Kevin Poulin	G	Canada	Victoriaville Tigres (QMJHL)
5	148	Matt Martin	LW	Canada	Sarnia Sting (OHL)
6	156	Jared Spurgeon	D	Canada	Spokane Chiefs (WHL)
6	175	Justin DiBenedetto	C	Canada	Sarnia Sting (OHL)

Farm teams

The Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the American Hockey League, the Utah Grizzlies of the ECHL, and the Odessa Jackalopes of the Central Hockey League are the Islanders' minor league affiliates for the 2008–09 season.

See also

• 2008–09 NHL season