Watching road games at home is always nice, when I am in my great room. I have a 48″ wide screen (my pride and joy), enabling me to enjoy my game anywhere in the room.
The unfortunate part is that when I get ‘comfortable’ I will immediately fall asleep. Working and commuting is about 13+ hours of my day. It just hits me like a ton of bricks, and unfortunately, I will lose my opportunity to take in the show I am watching.
That is what makes the first four games of the season tough for me.
The games start at 10:00 or 10:30 PM. It is the ONLY time this season, that the Isles will be playing out west. After these first four games, the lates time that a game starts will be at 8:30 PM (Nov 15 @ Dallas). The rest of the year, we will be on Eastern time.
The first four games will feature:
- Phoenix - The Isles open the season against Wayne Gretzky and the ‘Yotes. Phoenix is a greatly improved team with the acquisitions of Ed Jovanovski, Owen Nolan, and Georges Laraque to go with Cujo, Mike Comrie and others. Year 2 will be a test to see how Gretz’ team will shape up against the West.
- San Jose - Will Thornton and Cheechoo be able to rekindle the magic they had last season? Marc Bell will be a key acquisition on that top line. Mike Grier will bring some grit. Will the two goalie system work there? Our defense will have to step it up a bit.
- Los Angeles - this will be an interesting season for Mark Crawford. He has quite a young team, and I feel they are the weakest links of the West Division. Will Dan Cloutier steal some wins for them? I think their offense will be be extremely weak, and I hope that Ted exploits that.
- Anaheim - the cream of the West. Adding Playoff stud Chris Pronger to an already strong team will make them the team to beat. The last game of the trip will be the hardest of them all. If they can steal a point, it would be a great thing.
It will be hard, but I will try to stay awake for these games. This trip is real important for a few reasons:
- Bonding - always good for a team to get on the same page away from home, family and other noon hockey issues
- starting on the right foot. always important.
- shut up the doubting media by winning. Dont you want to just punch out these idiots that dont even give us a glimmer of hope.
I have ordered my Center Ice package. I am ready to watch hockey! THANK GOD!
BTW - NY Hockey Report show on the internet tonight at 8:05 Eastern. No Joe Mac (he can not handle me now!!!!!) So Derek and I will talk about the start of the season, and review the other two divisions in the West.
Well - as far as the LOVE TRAIN is concerned - thanks to my buddy Nick (alias WEBB20) on the NY Islanders Country Message Board, I had to put this picture on…
I am on board the Islanders LOVE TRAIN, are you? If you are an Isles fan - get on - cause believe me we will DO BETTER THAN THE MEDIA HACKS THINK WE WILL. AND WHEN WE DO - REMEMBER WHO PREDICTED US WHERE THEY DID, AND LET THEM KNOW!
I just wanted to list the lyrics from that great O’Jay’s song. C’mon Islander fans, please start singing…..
People all over the world (everybody)
Join hands (join)
Start a love train, love train
People all over the world (all the world, now)
Join hands (love ride)
Start a love train (love ride), love train
See ya!
Gary
Posted under Islanders 06-07
This post was written by Gary Harding on October 4, 2006
