Basically translated, it says that the Canadiens are visiting Long Island tonight.  The home team needs to step up.

The Habs, who lost a tough game to the Devils in the swamp, will look to exact revenge on the Isles.  The matchup has a similar feel to the Ottawa game on Tuesday in one major point; SPEED!

Montreal is a fast team, and possess a strong transition game.  They are without Long Island native Chris Higgins, who has been a great addition to their team.  Rookie coach Guy Carbonneau has done a nice job of molding this team to an exciting bunch.  Assisted by former Islander ’star’ Kirk Muller (cough, cough, he sucks, cough cough), Le Habitants are hovering between the 4 and 6 seeds in the East.

For the Isles, Ricky is expected to be back between the pipes for the team tonight.  There is talk that Jeff Tambellini may be back to see some NHL action tonight.  He has done quite well with the ‘port, and may be at the point where his play may be overdone with more time spent there.  He may need to be up here to stay.  Nilsson and Comeau have also done well there, but in order for them to get the call, their play would have to be extremely ‘over the top’.

Who needs to ’step up’ in a big way is Mike York.  For a $3 million dollar paycheck, his contributions are as lacking as a CEO dontating nothing to holiday charities.  He looks lost, his speed, once his key attribute, doesn’t seem to be prevalent anymore.  Is it just me, or does he look like a kid in mites shooting the puck?

Now I know I tend to be a glass 3-quarter full guy, but I am at the point with York, that something needs to be done.  And having the salary off the books would be good for the GM.

Well - talk to you after the game tonight.

My player to watch - Mike Sillinger - hoping for a strong game from our big vet…

Posted under Islanders 06-07

PRGS?

Post Ranger Game Syndrome (noun) - a illness that affects a group of athletes after a specific event or competition. Symptoms include lost play, ineffectiveness, lethargic play, which only lasts a short time.

It happened again!

The first period of last night’s hockey game featured a lackluster team, playing like they are in the midst of a seven game losing streak rather than being the top team in the Atlantic Division.  Dany Heatley was strong on his skates and showed why he is still a force in the league with his two goals (the first and the last) in the 4-2 victory over the Isles.

Andy Hilbert, who has been on a tear, finally got his first of the season.  He has six points in his last four games, after going 0 for 20something.  Jason Blake, who did not figure in any scoring against the Rangers, scored to give the Isles life in the 3rd.

It was difficult for the 8500 or so to see the team play like this.  Now that this game is over, hopefully, so are the PRGS symptoms.  We will see if Montreal will clear the team of the problem.

THREE STARS

1. Andy Hilbert - his roll continues, with his first goal of the year
2. Jason Blake - got his 15th, and was creating chances, even though he has been hogging the puck of late
3. Mike Sillinger - still wins key faceoffs

GOLD STAR AWARD

• Just don’t feel anything

TIN TWIT AWARD

• Idiotic fans, who were so happy with their players over the weekend, saying “(insert name here), you SUCK!”  Give me a freaking break here.  30% of passes do not reach their target, and when one doesn’t, they scream obscenities at the player.  TO these ding dong’s, you are only as good as 2 minutes ago.  My wife has a great sign that she brings out when these things happen, “If it was so EASY, why aren’t YOU out there?”  Well - you dumb ass, why aren’t you out there?

SIGHTING

• Andy Murray - former coach of the LA Kings, scouting for Montreal, was up in section 316.  Of course, some fans were extoling the virtues of guys that they would like to see traded (I think York came to mind rather easily for them)

Posted under Islanders 06-07

Well- the FIRST PLACE Islanders are taking on Ottawa tonight at the ol barn!  Should be fun tonight.  The Isles are playing a Senators team that is better of late.  It seems that they are getting their game back to snuff.  However, the loss of All Star D-man Wade Redden will be a tough one to swallow.

One thing that we DEFINITELY know - is that Ted Nolan will NOT allow these guys to rest on their laurels.  They will play with the same motivation and intensity that they displayed over the weekend.  What we need is the same ’step up’ play that has come out of Kozlov, to be shown by guys such as York, and Hunter.  Although I feel that there is nothing but effort from “T”, he needs to get on the sheet.  He is always hitting and playing passionate hockey, but passion doesn’t always leads to a “G” or an “A”.

York, to me, is a total BUST!  For the $$ he is making (about 3), there should be significantly more production coming from the former M-State Spartan.  Again, I am not questioning the effort, because just about all 20 are always putting out; it is the results and the impressions that are left upon the fan after a play or shift that leave the imagination to wander.

I heard that Alexei skated yesterday… Great sign.  I am sure that he is chomping at the bit to get back.  What will that do to the lines upon Alexei’s return?  Will York be ‘dumped’ to the 4th line?

I like the play of Hilbert of late.  5 points in  4 games (all assists).  He still needs to get that fluky goal to get him going.  However, I will take his effort all the time!

My four keys to the game:

1. Keep the Ottawa forwards to the outside.  Do not give them opportunities between the circles.  Especially when their power play is on the ice.  Ottawa can be quite lethal there.  Also - watch for pinching defensemen, especially Joe Corvo
2. Establish our game right away.  When we don’t get the quick start - we get behind the 8-ball and have to work twice as hard to get back in the game.  That is our achillies heal
3. Sharp in net.  Ottawa loves to shoot, and will challenge goaltenders night after night.  Ricky has to be up to the test, and make a couple of ‘bang up’ saves that stop momentum.
4. Get some added involvement from the D.  We would be a more lethal team, if we are getting better contributions from the backline.  Not that they aren’t doing a great job, THEY ARE… Just a few goals from the defense opens the game up a little.

My sleeper tonight — Shawn Bates (sorry Keith).  Just have a gut feeling he is overdue.  In our last few wins, guys have come out of the woodwork and made stands.  I think 17 will do it tonight (Make Eddie in 316 happy - and peeve Keith).  Well, it is just desserts for you KP that missed the last game.  You should know better to have a job that may miss games…. Bad boy!

NYHR tomorrow night - Joe should be back - want to see how he cries and moans THIS time!  Especially if we win again, and have a 3 point lead!!!! 

Can you feel the excitement!!!???  If you do not have a ticket, well, damnit, SHOW UP!  Give the boys a little yell, and let them know you are supporting them.  They deserve it.  Ted deserves it, Garth and Charles deserve it!

Go get those damn Sens!  It is time to start our own streak against these guys!  They have owned us LONG ENOUGH!

Talk about the game tomorrow.

Gary

Posted under Islanders 06-07

Saw this on the “Islander Country” message board.  “SteveDepot” makes these GREAT photoshops, and this one is among his best!

Well done, Steve, you outdid yourself once again!

Cheers,

Gary

Posted under Islanders 06-07

Wow - what a weekend.

It all started with a trip to the vet to get some cat food.  I have three older cats (10, 14 and 18 years old). We have to get special cat food for the guys because they have trouble with the urinary tracts.  When I got to the vet, I heard a yelp to my right. 

A yelp that I fell in love with almost immediately!

I made my wife come down the hill to the vet, and check the baby out… We fell in love immediately!

And “Sparky” is now a part of the family…  My other three cats do not like him now, but they will get used to him.

That was a good start to the weekend!

Then the game on Saturday night.  My wife and I, along with my friends Ron (the Trip Guy) and Ariana went to the Race Palace to see the game on the big screens.  If you ever get the opportunity, you should see this place.  Personally, I am not a horse race gambler, but it was really cool.  They have rows of seats where you can watch the races at your little cubicle seat, or see them on 10 foot screens, with six or seven race tracks available at one time.  Also - there is a large sports ticker with all the scores for your viewing pleasure.  (There is no sport betting in New York, but it makes the atmosphere a little Vegas-like).

Although they had a little problem (Direct TV did not put the game on until about 20 minutes in), it was a nice environment.  We had all of the top (third) floor of the place, and every time we scored, it was loud and raucous.  The game saw the Isles exact a revenge on the Tuesday night loss, with a 5-3 beating of the Pens.  The game was very chippy and nasty at times.  Miro Satan got his 300th NHL goal in the first period, putting the Isles out in front 1-0.  The game see-sawed back and forth with Erik Christensen and Colby Armstrong scored to put the Pens in front after the 1st.

Viktor Kozlov, taking Yashin’s place on the top line, scored off a rebound shot from Andy Hilbert to tie the game at two.  Mike Sillinger, on a 13 game drought, got a score on the power play to give the Isles the lead at 3-2.  Kozlov got his second of the game early in the third period to give the Isles a 2 goal cushion.  After Recchi brought the game back to a 1 goal deficit, Sillinger got his second to close the scoring.

The team responded well and the fans at the Race Palace were extremely pleased with the results.  The team flew home right away after the game, to get some rest, before the 5:00 PM tilt with the dredded Rangers.

____________________________________

Game 1 of the WAR!

We have seven more of these after this one concludes.

Thoughts before the start of the game:

1. Come out strong.
2. Keep Jagr/Shanahan off the sheet
3. Special teams

Well - number 1 DEFINITELY did happen.

4 goals on 8 shots (Satan, Simon, Kozlov, Asham) make Kin Henrik look like an old deflated court jester wannabe.  Had it not been for another save late in the game, then it would have been 5-0.

Islander fans that had tickets to the game (probably from Giants fans that were at the Meadowlands for that debacle), were lous and happy.  So many boos from the garden faithful was a joy for this fan to hear.  However, in the back of my mind, I had concerns.  In a call that I had to my brother in law in LA (A long time Ranger fan that grew up on Long Island), he said to me,

It’s only ONE PERIOD!

You know when you get those ‘jump the shark’ moments on TV, that something happens, and the series goes downhill….

Well, it almost happened.

Suddenly, it became the Brendan Shanahan show.  Two goals from him, and one from Jagr made the game 4-3 with three minutes in the second.  My fears were starting to surface.  I screamed at the TV, that we needed to end the period the right away.  I guess my secret ESP to Kozlov seemed to work.  He grunted a goal in front of Weekes to make the game back to a two goal lead.  For the past two games, Kozlov is playing like he IS a 6′5″ 225 pound player.  Maybe my gentle message from a previous entry seemed to play correctly!  Well, it was probably Ted’s doing and not mine, but I will take the credit for it.  Maybe I have a psychic 900 phone number commercial in my future… CALL ME NOW!

Well - after Brendan Shanahan got his hat trick to bring the Rangers back to a one goal deficit, the return of the nerves came back to Islander fans.  However, my powers (along with the help of Dionne), gave the Isles some added life, and Viktor responded with notching his hat trick, on a feed from new linemante Richard Park, who was inserted onto the line, after Chris Simon has high sticked in his brow.  Kozlov had the ‘patented twisted wrister’ as John Buccigross would say past the shoulder of Weeks, to get the Isles back to a two goal cushion, a few minutes later, Kozlov got another pass from Park, who snapped another shot past the left shoulder of Weekes to end the scoring at 7-4.  Then all the frustrated Ranger fans were heading for the exits, then the chants of FIRST PLACE ISLANDERS was heard throughout the Garden.

It was real nice to ’shut up’ these two teams on consecutive nights.  Again, the media will think this is an abberation, but in the minds of those who follow this team, it is most definitely NOT!  You can see how the guys on this team, support and want to do ANYTHING for their coach.  It is working beautifully!  And now add Viktor Kozlov to the guys that are subscribing to their coach’s motivation.

Now - the FIRST PLACE Islanders take on two Canadian teams this week at home.  Ottawa on Tuesday, Montreal on Thursday and Florida on Saturday.  This would be a good time for the fans to show their support of these guys, and get on board the Islander love train!  It is good when the team is winning, and it is great now to look at the standings sheet, and see our team on the top of the list.

Enjoy it!  We INTEND on staying there for as LONG as POSSIBLE.  The rest of the season would be nice!

Posted under Islanders 06-07

For the first 20 minutes of the game, the Isles were skating through the motions.  Horrbile puck possession, lcak of cohesion, little effective passing, constant dumping and missing assignments.

Were we talking about the 05-06 Isles, or this years team?

At least the tail end of the second and for the third, the Isles looked like the Ted Nolan team; they just did what was usual for last season… Dug a deeep hole, and just missed getting out of.

Once again, the special teams did damage to the team.  The Isles won 5 on 5 2-0 and lost special teams 3-0.  Gave up 2 goals on the PK, and a bad pass on the PP led to a Simon Gagne breakaway with 5 ticks on the clock in period 1.

Do we miss Alexei Yashin?

Duh!!!

Goals from Chris Simon and Richard Park were too little too late.  The Isles should have slammed this team and in the 3rd, they did just that.  Nittymaki was strong in the 3rd - stopping 14/15 and 39/41 for the game. 

Is it me, or is Mike York a complete waste?  Sorry Mike,  but for $3mil, you should be a lot more on your game.  Missing key face-offs, bad passing, stumbling skating.  Maybe we need DAD back!

Ted double shifted Miro Satan - and he played well.  But too many good efforts but no results are going to get bitter quickly.

This team needs to get more results from the D.  Collectively, they had a good month of November, with Hill and Zhitnik had +11’s before the game, but they need to help more offensively.

Lastly, Viktor Kozlov, you are 6′5 and 200 pounds, please PLAY like that.  You have great stickhandling ability, but if you are trying to play like your best friend Alexei, you have to play a complete game, and hit with some authority.  We need a complete game out of you!

Oh well - off to the Race Palace for the game tomorrow night.  If you can come, you should.  It looks like it will be a great game.  See you there.

THREE STARS

1. Richard Park - got goal number two, and never plays lackluster
2. Chris Simon - good effort on first goal
3. Mike Sillinger - key faceoff wins - always play a strong passionate game

GOLD STAR AWARD

• The 10,500 that were at the game.  We could be in St.Louis, where only 5,500 were at their game.  A few years ago, tickets for Blues games were IMPOSSIBLE to get.  Gee JD, aren’t you glad you are there???

TIN TWIT AWARD

• The IDIOTS in the 300 sections that were chanting “FLYERS SUCK” in the 3rd period for no reason.  Listen, dopeys, we are losing the game?  Why scream that chant, but root for your own team!!!  Here is a quarter, buy a freaking clue!!!

Posted under Islanders 06-07