The stage is set:

Glendale, Arizona. NYI @ PHO.  The opening night for our boys in blue, and the second opening night game as coach for one Wayne Gretzky.  What do we see happening….

Should be an even match.  The Yotes have a balanced team, with some strong men on D, protecting Cujo in net.  We know that this team will be disciplined as we would expect with the Great One at the helm.  The Isles, as the road team, are going to have to make a presence known, and let it be known early.  They have to bruise it up a little, to let them know that they will NOT be a pushover.

The top line of Yash/Sillinger/Kozlov need to make their presence known from the get go.  If they play like they played against the Rangers, then they should do fine.  Get all four lines going.

Campy out - Chirs Campoli the 2nd year defenseman is out 2-4 weeks with a shifty groin.  Bruno Gervais should take his spot in the lineup.  Campoli made a name for himself on this team with a great start, including a goal on his first shot in his first game in Buffalo last season.  Maybe Bruno can do the same.

Ricky - just play your game mate!  All will sort itself out in the end.

Teddy - psyche these boys up.  Make them plow through brick walls.  They will win for you!  Make the fans proud.  The rest of the league, the media, everyone else, basically, does not think we can stand up to the league and thus will falter at the bottom.  We know that your teams play hard and are there every night.  If we see that, we respect you even more.  It was so bad last season, that some members of my seating section thought that Chi Chi Sterling should be the coach!  (Right Keith?)

Take a nap Islander fans, we need to stay up late and watch this happening!

Let’s Go Islanders!

Posted under Introduction