It wasn’t pretty.  The worst team in the NHL, a team that has won 3, count ‘em, 3 games all season at home, and in the third period, we were tied 2-2.

It could have been worse, but the boys fought hard, and got the needed two points.

As my colleague, Patrick Hickey (thedriveforfive.com) put it, it was time for Campoli to start shining.  He did last night.  He played very well positionally and got a big assist.

It was also good to finally see Blakey get off the schneid.  He had been struggling and so far off his game of late.  Hopefully, that momentum will continue onto the All Star Game.  I believe that he will be a “BIG” factor in the fastest skater competition.

Is it just me, or does Mike Sillinger make every one of his goals, key ones?  God, is this man CLUTCH or what!  He plays so hard and so dedicated, no matter what the score or situation, so it is especially nice when his goal means so much to the team.  Also – Hilbert had a great goal as well.

What will happen now with the re-emergence of Radek Martinek on the blue line.  His great pinching work, led to the Randy Robitaille goal.  It now leaves 7 men on D, and with the team running at 20, and no others, it means that one will have to go to B-port.  It will be a Bruno/Campy contest, but for now, with Gervais day-to-day, Campoli is taking big advantage of the available playing time.

Good game to finish this end of the year.  With two small practices before a 4 day break, this will be a good time for the veterans to take a blow, and get some much needed rest.  Guys like Witt, Hill, and Sillinger are going to be needed for the stretch run.  Having the ‘away’ time will be beneficial.  Even though they are practicing, the Isles are the first team to be free for the All Star Break.  I know a lot of guys are heading for warmer climates.  The coach, is going to be a coach, this time in the OHL’s Windsor Spitfires, where his son is currently playing.

Enjoy the break folks, I may give an update or two, but probably not on hockey.  Heck, I do have a section on rambling…

BTW – my ‘brotha’ Patrick does the “Tri-State Hockey Report” on Brooklyn College Radio.  It runs on Friday from 1:30 PM. Go to www.brooklyncollegeradio.com and listen to the show.  His counterpart is a Ranger guy, and takes the term OBNOXIOUS to a whole new level.  I think Patrick is going to give this guy a little hell, so it should be fun!

Have a great weekend everybody!

 

Posted under Islanders 06-07

Sorry folks, I was home sick yesterday.  Especially after that tough 3rd period, I just did not want to write, and then I stayed off my computer for the whole day, except for about 20 minutes of office e-mail.  Believe me, that is tough for me to do.

Well – we will be the first team off for the All Star Break after tonight – so the Isles get about 36 hours more of a break than the others do — I hope the guys take advantage of that!

The Flyers are still struggling, and we MUST take this game, to give some positive momentum from the break.  We are not going to have it easy when we return, with two games against Atlanta, one with Buffalo and then Detroit.  The atmosphere needs to be different than what it is now.  I do not question the coaching, but maybe a different approach to the motivating may be the cure of the ills.  I know that Ted is a MASTER of it, and maybe for now, he needs to change it up a little.  The fans are not against you Ted, they are just frustrated as you are.  Look in that crystal ball, and find the magic cure.

After the report tomorrow – I am going to take some time off from writing hockey.  I may ramble about other things, but after about 120 posts, it is time for a break or two.

I appreciate everyone reading my blog over the past few months.  With each 30 day period, the number of hits has increased to the point where I am getting 400% more hits this month than I did the first.  Please continue to tell your friends about this site, as well as my ‘brotha’ Pat Hickey’s blog (www.thedriveforfive.com).  The more that read, the better for all of us!  Again, THANKS!

Now – without furtuer ado, here is Roger’s esoteric.

__________________________________________

Tonight let’s start where the action was – IN THE PENALTY BOX.
 
Before I do, I would like to thank Gary Harding for the hospitality that he has shown me over the years especially while I was deployed around the globe.  He sure makes being an Islander Fan easy even if our boys on the ice make it hard to be one.  If you haven’t had a chance, you need to stop by the Booster Club booth during the game and say hello.
 
8 Different players where in the sin bin for a total of 23 minutes.  For the untrained hockey fan that means we played over a period worth of hockey a man down.  Jeez boys!  Other than Witt and Gervais’ Fighting and roughing penalties, all the rest were hooking, tripping, high-sticking and holding.  All of which are causes of discipline.  Yashin, the Captain taking a High-Sticking penalty and a hooking penalty.  You are supposed to lead the team, but me thinks not in this manner.
 
Here is the esoteric starting with PIMs
 
Witt’s 2 for hooking and 5 for fighting (A great name for a rock band) is #114 and a total of 93 PIMs as a first year Isle 2 PIMs behind Wayne Mc Bean and Hector Marini.
 
Meyer’s 2 PIMs for tripping makes him the 348th person to sit in the box to contemplate the errors of his ways.  He is tied with 30 other players with 2 PIMs each including Eric Fichaud, Cliff Ronning, Mike Stapleton, Felix Potvin, Michel Bergeron, Steve Weeks, Ted Crowley, Chris Marinucci, Jesse Belanger, Randy Robitaille, Richard Grenier, Allan Rourke, Alex McKendry, Chris Terreri, Iain Fraser, Cory Foster, Ian Herbers, Garth MacGuigan, George McNeluk, Todd Okerlund, Derek Bekar, Paul Guay, Mike Donnelly, Mattias Koalska, Alain Nessreddine, Dallas Eakins, Ryan Caldwell, Dale Kushner, Mike Kennedy, and Jason Podollan.
 
Park’s 2 PIMs places him at #26 and 25 PIMs with the Isles, tying him with Tom Miller.
 
Hill’s 2 PIMs are his 57th and 58th PIMs and gives him a tie with Kevin Haller at #216.
 
Yashin’s 4 PIMs gives him the #74 spot and a total of 167 PIMs lifetime with the Isles only 4 PIMs behind Berard and Malakhov now.
 
Blake’s 2 PIMs for holding lands him at the #50th all-time in PIMs with 259 PIMs.  He is 1 PIM behind KJ, current AHLer Godard, and Ken Belanger.
 
Gervais sat for 2 PIMs tonight and gets his 34 PIMs to land him at #188.  He is tied with Mark Jansenns and the “Other” Simon.
 
Martinek gets 2 PIMs for hooking his 151st PIM and #81 on the list.  1 PIM behind current TB asst GM, Claude Loiselle.
 
 
GOALIE ESOTERIC
My question is why Dunham?  Why not Dubie?  Dubie has done just as well as Dunham in less games.  I understand Ricky played last night but he is our future.  He is in his twenties.  He is going to play one more game before a long all-star break.  So again, my question – WHY DUNHAM?
 
Mind you I have this postulate that I call the “Rule of Three”.  If we score three or more goals in a game we will win.  If we don’t, we lose.  Tonight, three goals wouldn’t have helped but it sure could have changed the tome of the game.
 
Here is tonight’s Goaltending numbers:
 
Dunham  played in his 12th game as an Islander.  He is #302 on the all-time player list and #23 on the all-time goalie GP list.  He has played 649 MINUTES and is #23 only 383 MINUTES behind Steve Weeks.  His GAA is 3.05 for #13 on the list.  That places him a mere .03 GAA ahead of Hextall.  His 3 WINS ties him at #23 with Dubie and his LOSS tonight ties him with Danny Lorenz at #22 with 5 LOSSES.
 
PLAYER ESOTERIC
 
Only 4 people him the scoreboard, thanks to Richard Parks unassisted short-handed goal.
 
Park’s shorty gives him 5 Goals and is now #166th on thelist tied with 11 others including Chris Simon.  The Point gives him 13 Pts as an Isle and #175 again tied with 11 others but no Simon but does include Hilbert and Gervais.  He has played in 46 GP and is #208th tied with 7 others.
 
Asham’s 7th Goal of the season gives him 43 Goals as an Islander and tied with Roman Hamrlik at #54.  The Point is his 95th and joins him with Bert Marshall at #67 all-time in Points.  He has played in 264 Games and is 11 behind English born Steve Thomas at #61.
 
Simon’s 15th Assist as an Isle and the year gives him the #141st spot tied with 3 others including Kozlov, Ronning and Hill.  The Point is his 20th and is #147th tied with 5 others including Terry Crisp and Robert Nilsson. He now has appeared in 46 Games for the Isles and is #208th all-time tied with 7 others.
 
Gervais’ 10th Assist is tied with 9 others at #173.  The Point is his 13th and tied with 11 others at #175 including Hilbert and Park.  He is now 1 Game Played behind Brimanis, Biron, and DiMaio for the #169th spot with 73 GPed.
 
Bring on the Flyers!!!
 

Posted under Islanders 06-07

Well – if you saw the game, enough said.  It just figures, when we outshoot opponents, we lose… Ugh!

Not going to comment much about the game.  I think the team played reasonably ok.  I am so tired of people bitching about Yash.  He is playing hurt, and I really think he is trying real hard.  People just want scoresheet stuff, and don’t really watch.  The same dingdongs that were praising him, are the ones that are ripping him.  Do I think he can do better?  On the results, yes.  Do I think he is lollygagging?  Hell no.

The TWIT award is definitely for the people that dont support this WHOLE team!  Support the team!

I am just so frustrated that I won’t comment….

Tonight – maybe the last time at the Igloo?????  We will see; but I hope not…

60 minutes boys – let’s get the big road 2 points, and get to Philly on a positive note!

Now – to the latest version of the Islander Esoteric (thanks to Roger Farina).

Posted under Islanders 06-07

Well – it’s Monday, a day off, a chance to recharge your batteries before a shortened work week; but a chance to feel better…

Yea, right!

When the schedule makers do their stuff, it is known that for certain teams to get a certain day or series of days for games, teams will have to accept other dates.  Hence, we got a NOON game today, against the Bolts.

To get to the arena at 11AM is just sacrilege to me.  Unless you are going to watch warmups for a night game.

But to the keys to the game, the dymanic duo of LeCavailier and St. Louis need to be halted.  Especially on the power play, as these guys are the 4th and 5th leading scorers in the NHL.  Sillinger will probably be pasted on to St. Louis’ back, which he should be.  Denis and Holmquist are not the same type of goaltender as a Martin Brodeur.  So the Isles need to take advantage of that, and early.

As a team, the Isles have not beaten Tampa lately, and #26 in white is always a thorn in the side of the home squad.  Hope things change.

But this really screws up the day.  Then to get home by about 3:30, well that just messes up the schedule of a day off.  Well – the Isles better win and make me feel better.

Man to watch:  Mike Sillinger – he has gotten his scoring touch back of late, and his main job will be to watch over the two top scoring threats (Vinny L and Marty St.L).

Report will follow the game tonight….

G

Posted under Islanders 06-07

If you take the emotion out of it – this was a great game.  The goaltending was superb.  Both guys made some incredible stops.  The defense was stalwart.

Devils got 3 PP’s in period 2 and i think some of the ref’s really missed the boat on some non-calls.  However, the Isles did their job and stopped the opportunities.

I was really expecting OT with a scoreless game.  However, John Madden did his best to take that away when he shot one pass the short side of Ricky to give the Devs a 1-0 lead.  With the goalie on the bench, and then a powerplay given to the Islanders (FINALLY), Miro Satan slid the puck bu Martin Brodeur with 0.7 seconds remaining in regulation.

The Devils dominated overtime.  However, Jason Blake coming down the right side, saw Bruno Gervais coming down the left side and fed his the puck for a great opportunity that Brodeur denied.  When the teams went back down the other side, Bruno got a pass that was in a little tight.  That made the passing attempt not get to the blue line far enough.  Patrick Elias got the puck, made some moves, and slid it to Scott Gomez, who spanked it by DiPietro to seal the 2-1 victory.

58 minutes of scoreless hockey, then 2 goals in 90 seconds to tie it, and another in OT.  My heart can’t take this…..

THREE STARS

1. Rick DiPietro – solid game in net
2. Miro Satan – 0.7
3. Viktor Kozlov – great job at the end of the game.

Next game is at NOON against the Lightning.  Should be a good game.  Hopefully the crowd is nice and big.

Posted under Islanders 06-07

With much appreciation from former NHL 7th man Roger Farina, I will be providing you with some statistical information that he accumulates after every Islander game…

He has a large database of all the skaters and stats from each from 1972 to today. (I wish I had this, and I applaud people for keeping this up).

He will send me these and I will add them to my blog.  Enjoy!

_________________________________________________

Islanders Esoteric – January 12, 2007 

Congrats to Frans Nielson on becoming the 400th player to don the Islander blue and orange sweater.  Freddy you missed it by that much and are now the 401st player to play for the Islanders in regular season games. 

Robitaille in his second stint as an Isle scored his 6th goal of the year and his second as an Islander but his first as an Islander this go around.  Got that?  The Goal places him at #202 on the all-time Goal scored list tied with 26 others.  The Point places him at #231 with 6 points as an Islander tied with 9 other players.  

 

Kozlov had a 2 point night.  One of those points was a power play goal which is his 14th as an Isle and land him at #102 all-time in goals tied with 6 others.  The assist was also his 14th which gives him a 10 share in the #143 spot on the assist list.  The 2 points gives him 28 and #132 on the point list. 

Hunter’s Goal his 49th ties him with Dalgarno, Peca, Stewart, and Reichel for the #47th spot in all time goals scored for the New York Islanders.  The point, his 103rd, situates him with Andre St. Laurent for the #64 spot in points. 

 

Poti scored his 4th goal which were all power play goals.  He is tied with 11 others incluing Hilbert and Park for the #177th spot.  The point gives him 20 points ad the #146th spot with 5 other Islanders. 

 

Satan had a 2 point night as well.  He scored those 2 points in 2 assist variety.  Did I mention that these were his 49th and 50th assists which ties him with Nik Andersson and Doug Crossman.  2 assists, 2 points and tied with 2 guys with 2 letters “S’s” in their names.  The 2 points give him 97 points and #66 on the list breaking a tie with Bert Marshall and is now 1 point behind Brad Lauer. 

 

Hilbert scores his 9th assist as an Isle.  He is #182 tied with 6 others including Gervais.  The 1 point, his 13th, is #175 tied with 13 others including Billy Smith. 

 

Sillinger nabs his 17 assist tied with 3 others including Roger Kortko.  That’s the #129th spot.  The Point is his 31st with the Islanders and is good for the #128 spot tied with Dave Chyzowski. 

 

Gervais gets his 9th assist and #182 tied with Hilbert and 5 others.  12 points for him and the team is #185 in the grand scheme of things tying him with 8 others and Mr. Richard Park. 

 

Mr. Yashin got his 162nd helper in his half decade stay on Long Island.  He is moving up the list and is #22 only 1 assist behind Mr. Palffy.  The point, gives him a total of 275 points.  He is 11 points behind erstwhile Captain and present day legend, Eddie Westfall and the #19 spot overall in Islander Points. 

 

Campoli had his 29th assist and #107 tying him with 3 others.  The point ties him with Randy Boyd with 38 points and #117 overall. 

 

PENALTIES 

Mr. Witt is rapidly moving up the PIM chart with 84PIMs and is #118.  His 4 PIM night moves him ahead of the Polish Gretzky (Czerkawski). 

Satan with 80 PIMs and #121 tying him with Jokinen. 

Hunter with 66 PIMs and #132.  Tied with 2 others including Snow. 

Hill with 54 PIMs at #151 tied with Berube. 

Robitaille with 6 PIMs in 21 total games played for the Isles and #279 on the list tied with 13 others with 6 PIMs. 

 

MISC 

Gervais 29:23 ice time 

Poti 28:08 ice time 

Witt 25:53 ice time plus 4 minutes in the sin bin 

Kozlov with 5 SOGs 

Gervais with 4 SOGs 

Meyer, Campoli with no SOGs. 

 

Another interesting stat is that of the 15 teams in the conference, Only 6 teams have a winning record in the last 10 games.  That means that the Islanders last 10 games are listed at 4-6-0.  9 other teams are doing equally as poorly or worse.  That is why we are still in the thick of it with 2 games in hand over other teams. 

 

 

 

Posted under Islanders 06-07

Ding, Dong, the Wicked Witch is deaaaaaaaaad!

No – this is not an attempt to show my feminine side with that Wizard of Oz quote, but I could not come up with any better this early morning.

Well – it did’nt start out that way, as Ricky let in two early goals, and I know that all Islanders fans were hanging on ledges, screaming at the top of the lungs, “WHY ME????!!!”

However, the team settled down, and started to play the Ted Nolan way.   They maximized chances, and play smart puck possession hockey.  Randy Robitaille has emerged from the depths of his scoring drought, and tipped in a nice shot, to get his first in his second stint as an Islander.

Then came the third.  And did the boys come out flying!

As Howie and Billy were talking about the fact that Boston is having quite the difficult time in the third stanza, the Isles rush in on the Boston net, and Trent Hunter picked a nice rebound and lifted it over Bruin goalie Hannu Toivonen, to deadlock the game at 2.  For the rest of the period, it looked like Bobby and Cindy Brady, trying to break the new world teeter-totter record. After a Bruin goal by Zdeno Chara made it 3-2, the Isles answered back on the power play.  Yes, I said it, POWER PLAY!  It is about time that the PP clicked, and in this case, they have changed some of the presentation, allowing the D to pinch a little.  In this case, Tom Poti came in, and with a Chara-like reach, was able to push the puck into the cage off a rebound, to tie the game at 3.

A few minutes later, Paul Mara skated around Sean Hill, like he was standing helplessly still, and got the puck through the short side of DiPietro, to give the B’s back their one goal cushion.  Things began to look like the syndrome was sticking its ugly head out again.

But like one of those arcade games that you have to whack the animal with a big rubber mallet, the Isles came back once again.  On the power play once again, Viktor Kozlov shot the puck into the zone to the right of Toivonen.  Alexei Yashin, pointless in his last 7, released the puck back to Kozlov, who weaved around and got a shot under the arm of the goalie, tying the game at 4 with 99 seconds remaining in the game.

For those stat hounds, according to Elias, this is the first time since 1981 that the Isles got three game tying goals in the third period of a game.  Instead of Hunter, Poti and Kozlov, it was Tonelli, Bourne and Gillies.

During the OT, Boston outshut us 10-1.  In the big instance, Glen Murray had a wide opening, in front an empty net.  All he had to do, was push the puck into that gaping hole.  However, a voice in the TD Bank North, Fleet, Fred’s Bank Garden was heard, saying the following:

NO SOUP FOR YOU!!!!!

Ricky got his stick like a barrier and stopped the slowly moving puck from crossing the line.  That will be a shot that Murray will remember for a long time to come.

Then came the shootout.  After Miro Satan scored in the first round, it went deadlocked in round 3, when Marc Savard lifted a shot over Ricky to even it at one.  When Brad Boyes was denied by the leg pad, Jason Blake took his chance.  He skated right to the Cape, and came back to deke Toivonen and lift it over him, to end the suffering, as well as end the curse.  Also – this was one of the first games in a long time, that the team that did NOT score the first goal won the game.

Now – with a two game streak, and only three points away from the dreaded Rangers, the Isles now have a quick two game home stand again Jersey (again) and Tampa Bay, before a Pennsylvania trip closes the schedule and then the All Star Break happens.

All this game could be, is a confidence booster.  And for the fans, relief.  Wow! 

Usually, we dont talk about the competition, but in this case, I must.  I want to give a round of applause for Bruins rookie Phil Kessel.  The 19 year old was diagnosed with testicular cancer a month ago, and to the delight of everyone, he is back on the ice.  You may not want to see other team succeed, but as a human, you don’t want to see something happen like cancer on a player; especially one as young as Phil.  He seems like a very strong young man both physically and mentally, which is a great testament to his parents, and to those who taught him the game, as well as life.  I hope that you gain even more strength from this Phil, and wish you nothing but good heath and happiness (except when you play us…).

And with a ‘blown call’ causing the Rangers to suffer a tough comeback loss, my Friday is going to be a real happy one.  It seems that the team that ALWAYS gets the edge on referee calls in the minds of fans throughout the NHL got one back to them. Awwww, I am SOOOOO SORRY!!!!!

Does anyone know if Tom Renney threw chairs…? What a week, he is having!

Bring on the Devils.. Another Metro Mug match, and the need for another two points.

Have a great day everyone!

Posted under Islanders 06-07

Well – I guess we have to see more of Doctor Katz….

Or maybe start banging him on the head with a shovel, like the dude on Boston Legal did…

Of course, on the radio feed, Steve and Chris mentioned that the local boys cherish playing back in Boston.  Ricky has a 1.92 Goals against average in Boston.

Well – he is over that after 20 minutes.

This syndrome is making me REAL ILL!

They better be better in the second period.  Or I will bring out the BB Gun and start shooting… LOL!

Hey Ted – get these knuckleheads back on the program!!!!

Posted under Introduction

The Scene:  A doctor’s office, specifically, the office of Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist.  There is a fan on the couch, and we enter in the middle of a session.

Dr. Katz:  Now tell me, why do you think you feel this way?

Fan:  I don’t know Doc, it just kills me.  Every time, I get my hopes up, it seems that “SLAM”, they come crashing like a crumbling rock formation!  It just happens after every occasion.

Dr. Katz:  (In a very reassuring voice)  You are making yourself so sure that the worst is going to happen, that it will occur in your mind, no matter whether it actually did or not.  When this situation happens again, you have to think of happy thoughts and positive things, and just try to overpower your mind, and take control.

Fan:  This has happened to me three times so far since early November, and sure enough, I end up crawling in the fetal positiion, crying for the pain to stop!

Dr. Katz:  You have to will yourself to know that it will not happen.  Just keep saying to yourself, “It won’t happen again… It won’t happen again.”

Pause, then phone rings

Dr. Katz:  Excuse me a second, while I answer that (picks up the phone).  Hello, Dr. Katz.  (a few seconds of phone noise)  Yes, (pause) uh, huh, (pause), no, I understand.  Let me just finish here, and I will be there to see you in a few minutes. (pause)  OK, relax and I will see you soon.  Good-bye. (hangs up the phone)

(a few second pause, then Dr. Katz, takes a long cleansing breath)

Dr. Katz:  I know you will be fine tonight, you just have to believe it yourself.  But I am sorry, I have to end this session, I have to take the train to Manhattan.  It seems that a man wants to jump off of Madison Square Garden.  He needs some serious help.  Just hang in there sir!  Things will be good.

____________________________

I know that was totally fictional, but we have to beleive that all bad things will eventually have to come to an end.  The Isles will find a way to win after a Ranger game.  Tonight will be a good test.  The Bruins arecoming off a horrible loss the other night to Ottawa.  After being up 2-0 after 2, the B’s gave up 5 straight.  The Isles must come out with intensity, and keep it going.  For a lot of the guys with Boston influences, they already have it.  It is up to the others to match and play a full 60 minute game.  We say that always, but now it is a chance to make a big move up the standings ladder.

We then get a 2 game home stand with a match against the Devils (another Metro Mug Test) on Saturday, and a noon time matinee on Monday against the Bolts.

Thanks for th help, Dr. Katz!  I am sure we will be fine tonight.  If not, see you back on the couch!

Posted under Islanders 06-07

A few years ago, when the NHL decided to create the “7th Man Award”, the first recipient of the award was an Islander fan named Roger Farina.  He was an Army Helicopter Pilot that was in Iraq at the time.  When he won the award, he came to New York and was NHL Commissioner for a day.  His first wish was to revoke the charter of the Rangers and have the Islanders be the only New York City metro area team (with no disrespect to the Devs, we just mean of teams that have New York addresses).

Well, Roger, we want the Rangers to exist.  Except now, we just want to play them 82 times a freaking year!

Hey Isles – forget about the streak… It’s over now!  The Rangers were just what the doctor ordered.  The intensity was there, the passion was there.

Remember – I bowled last night, and did not see much of the game, but from the recap, it seemed like the intensity was not there from the Rangers.  I actually heard the press conference from Tom Renney after the game, and to put it mildly, with the exception of Jagr, he is peeved at the entire team, for their lack of effort and execution.  Paraphrasing, his quote, the Islanders are up for this game, and we are not.  We may have won four in a row before this, but it means nothing that we could not be up for this one.

Tom, really, I feel bad for you.  You had a plan and it did not work.

If you believe that, I have a bridge in Brooklyn that I could broker a deal for….

Mike Sillinger had a great game, too bad he missed the hat trick on the empty netter.  Brendan Witt had his first goal in just about a year.  And he almost had two himself.  Ricky played well.  Gave up two PP goals, but stopped 24 shots, for his fourth in a row against the blueshirts.

This is making the METRO MUG STANDINGS better in our favor.  I bet the fans were crazy last night.  I got a call at the bowling alley from Derek Felix, my co-host on the New York Hockey Report.  I never heard so many f-bombs come out of his mouth, and in rapid fire too. 

I hope that for the first time since 1999, the Isles can add on to the Ranger win with another one over the Bruins.  Keep the momentum, and remember, just visualize the Bruins in Ranger uniforms. 

OTHER THINGS:

Congrats to Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken Jr, on their being voted to the Baseball Hall of Fame.  They are class guys, that totally deserve the accolades.  As a long time Ripken fan, I am totally thrilled by this.  I wish I could go to Cooperstown to see the induction, but I think the rooms and such have been reserved years in advance in anticipation of this.

The things that rips me is that how people could NOT have voted for these guys, is totally INSANE.  I know that the original class of HOF’ers (Ruth, Johnson, etc) did not get in unanimously, so people will not vote for people so that does not happen; but c’mon, get a grip.  In this age of steroids (ala Mark McGwire) and ‘me, me, me’ players, here are two guys that not only cherished the game, but gave the game the respect it deserves.

Should be an interesting show tonight (NEW YORK HOCKEY REPORT).  Let’s see how Joe makes out Lundswiss to be now???  I can lose 10 in a row, I don’t care, but if we beat the Rangers, I am totally happy! 

Have a great day Islander fans, we totally DESERVE IT!

Posted under Islanders 06-07, Ramblings