Well - from what I can see (I am at bowling tonight), the team is playing well…

They are staying out of the box.  Only 2 penalties (one PP goal by NYR thanks to #68).  Satan, Witt (his first in about a year) and Sillinger scored for the Isles, all at even strength (NYR has only 2 penalties).

Glad to see Witt get a goal.  He has been playing hard, and he has a decent shot too. 

Hill supposedly gave Hollweg a visit to the glass, and I heard he was seeing stars…

Keeping confident in my assessments.  Shots 17-16 Isles.

Cross those fingers….

Lots of questions before this games takes to the ice….

1. What kind of juggling of the lines will be done tonight?
2. How will Ricky keep his composure?
3. Key players (Yash, Blake, etc) stepping up?
4. Will Jagr play?
5. Will Rangers get contributions from other players than the top 4?
6. Will the team play a composed defensive game, and help their goalie?
7. Will Brendan Witt play another ’causer of frustration’ to the Ranger players?

These are only some of the questions that will enter the minds of fans as the fourth of eight meetings between the teams takes place tonight at MSG.

 As you can see below, the Metro Mug Standings have been updated.   The battle for New York Area supremacy is getting a little tight.  The Isles need this win against the Rangers to keep their lead. 

To members of Islander Country, this is a very important night.  We need that ’sixty minute game’ tonight in the worst way.  We need Alexei to get his game back.  I know that he is playing hurt, and from most experts, they believe that he should not be playing until his knee is fully 100%.  However, we need the warrior to play like a warrior, as well as get the results.

Other players need to step up and be the man.  One especially is Randy Robitaille.  Since he was acquired from the Philadelphia Flyers for Mike York, he has turned into David Copperfield and made himself disappear.  If this continues, he may become the new Waldo.  Hey Randy, this is your WAKEUP call!  Please come back and score some points and do the job!

The bottom line, is that we need to win this game.  There are no ‘easy’ games for the Isles in the next few weeks.  The team needs to play for each other, and go to the fire.  The fans, after weeks of wondering what the problems are, need something to be proud and happy about.  For our sakes, tonight is the NIGHT!

Let’s go Islanders!!!

Gary

Another tough game.  It is starting to look a little like last season, but I am not going to give in.

Ted scratched Yashin in the second period as a wake up call.  I think he is trying to play through his knee pain, but is not ’stepping’ it up.

This was a very tough loss, as I endured a 10+ hour overnight bus trip with the Booster Club to attend the game.  Although it really wasnt as bad as it sounds, and we had a good time hanging with the Hurricanes Booster Club before and after the game, watching the game was very tough.  Although we have outshot our opponent five of the six games, our guys seem lost at times out there.

I have always taken the high road with Ricky.  I have said in the past for every one goofy thing he did, he did three others that ‘made up’ for it.  Now, I say this!

“SIT RICKY!”

He needs a focus check.  This is a ‘team’ game, and sometimes I think he either forgets it or leaves a huge brain fart out there.  Although seeing Rod Brind’amour get a similar penalty, getting the unsportsmanlike conduct penalty shows that his emotions are hitting a boiling point, which will make him a little more ineffective.

Remember, this is MY opinon.

Maybe that deflection goal is something to get Miro going again.  Reports were that he was ’sunning’ himself in the 72 degree Carolina sun at the hotel before the game (we stayed at the same hotel that the team did in NC).  Is this a premonition?  Or just a chance to gain some color.

Happened to see a lot of the guys at the hotel.  They were glad we were there.  I also had a 8 foot wide sign saying that “The Orange Wave is HERE!”, but only got to lift it once during the game, as I missed the first goal, as I was in the loo.  I will bring it to a game…

I have pictures from the game, and will try and put them up tomorrow.  I did not get a chance to do a full size edit on the pics to make them work for here.

Well - Ranger game tomorrow…. Just what we need, a chance to win!  I think the team needs special face shields that put a Ranger sweater on the opponent.  Well - with Jagr out, maybe someone else needs to score against us.  They did win without him the other night, so it should be interesting, to say the least.

Talk tomorrow.  Have a good day!  Boy, am I beat!

G

Left Long Island at midnight, and endured a 552 mile bus trip with 30 other boosters, so see the Isles battle the Canes.

Look for an energized set of teams, both coming off losses, and both need a little pick-me-up.

Key player tonight - Alexei - it is time for the captain to set the stage, and make sure that the team takes his lead.

Not writing much, as I have things to do before meeting the Carolia Hurricanes Booster Club for a get-together before the game.  Looking forward to it.

See ya’ll!

G

Guys, think the first period is the third and play that way.

For the first three minutes of the game, the Devils seemed to look invincible.  Unfortunately for me, I was up in my attic getting a suitcase and some other things that I need for the Booster Club trip tonight to Carolina.  During the five minutes that I was up there, three goals were scored.  Two in 30 seconds for Jersey, then Trent got a deflection for us to make it 2 to 1.

In a sense I am glad I really did not see the goals.  My first reaction would be throwing something at my wide screen TV, and it would not have been pretty.

It seems to be a common theme lately.   The Isles get down early and build such a huge wall, that no matter how good they play in the latter periods, especially the last minutes of the game, it is too little too late. 

The streak is now at 5 and with tough matches coming up (@ Carolina, @ NYR and @ Boston), the team needs to solve this problem fast.  With the deep parity that is the NHL, having a losing streak like this, can propel you to depths that you may never climb out of (ask Philly).

What a nice goal Hilbert had!  Getting the pass from Mike Sillinger and launching a backhand rocket over the left shoulder of Martin Brodeur.  Like him or not, but I really believe that Hilbert has a real good work ethic, and seems to bust a nut out there.  Silly is also a good guy to have with him.  That alone, I believe, seems to boost his confidence.

Speaking of Sillinger, what a job he is doing.  He seems to come through and bring the team to a different level.  The last two games, he has gotten goals to get the team closer. He personifies what a veteran leader SHOULD do!  That is probably why he has gone to so many teams in trade deadline deals.  However, not this year!

What is the problem, you might ask?  This may go along with world peace as a question that has no answer.  We know that a team is fired up and ready to go.  With the video age in full force, teams know every idiosyncracy regarding a team, and what should be done to combat them.  Could it be the amount of toxins in the air, or the lack of minerals in the water.  One thing we know, is that a Ted Nolan coached team is prepared and ready.  We have to take our assumptions and throw them out.  We do not have Steve Stirling on the bench ANYMORE!

Eventually, the slide will end.  In my opinion, it will be tomorrow in Carolina.  At Midnight, I get on a bus with 30+ other crazies for a 12 hour journey to Raleigh.  From there, we head to the RBC center, and see the Isles take on the Canes.  I think it will be a good game.  The Canes are teed off, due to their 2-0 loss to the Coyotes.  Now - it is our turn to give them a spanking.  The time that we played Carolina at home, they came off a garbage effort at the hands of the Rangers.  Then we outshot them 20-1 in the first period.  As long as we do not have a similar fate than the last time we were in NC, I will be happy.  Check for me in the stands tomorrow night, I will have an 8 foot wide sign - you CAN’T miss us!

Will write an entry on Sunday (which will be posted when I get back to New York in the late evening).

Full of cliche’s eh?

That is what the doctor has ordered; well, at least the coach did.

The Islanders look to end their slide at the swamp tonight against the Devils.  The Isles have done quite well against New Jersey at the CAA, winning convincingly in their only test this season there.

By the way, just wanted to list the METRO MUG STANDINGS.  The Metro Mug is a trophy that is contested between the three local Booster/Fan Clubs.  The team who gets the most number of points in games between the three teams gets to hold the trophy for the year.  As the Isles go, the last time that we had this award, which has been going since 1990, I believe, is 1993.  We had it for 3 years, then in 1994, I had to go to the Ranger Fan Club meeting on the Monday AFTER they won the cup.  How tough was that….!  So, for almost a decade and a half, it has swapped between the Rangers and Devils Fan Clubs.  This year, we hope will be our year!  I will provide the info, after a Metro Mug game is played (hence tomorrow - will be another update). 

*** YES - I KNOW THAT THE GAMES PLAYED IS INCORRECT IN THIS PICTURE. I CONVERT THE XL SHEET TO A PICTURE FOR THIS BLOG.  I FIXED THE FORMULAE SO IT WORKS NOW!  - NOW DON’T BUG ME ABOUT THIS AGAIN!!!!  LOL ***

So - it is back to work for Ted and the boys.  The lines have now been juggled, hoping that the spark between the guys will begin at the drop of the puck.  As I said on the show last night, thank God, this is happening now instead of March/April.  We all know what happened to the Rangers last season, so the key to averting a slump is a) not have the slump at the end of the season and b) change the system, or the culture of the team.

And for chrissakes, get a man in front of that damn net!

Key player to watch for:  the CAPTAIN - Yash has been slowed down a bit, looking a little tentative with that knee.  We need to get the October/November Yash back, and spark a little streak of his own.  Also - Ricky will be back and he needs to keep his very solid form.  There has been some banter over who is better, Henrik, or Ricky.  Not biased, but numbers show that Ricky has been a better goalie.  He has to keep that up.

For those of you that want a cool place to see the game, check out the RACE PALACE in Plainview (off LIE - Exit 48 - Right turn off service road, and 200ft ahead).  Just bring your NYI365 card, or wear something Islander and get in for free. Good food/drink specials, contests for Islander tickets and other good stuff.  Also - try your hand on the ponies and trotters.  Unfortunately, I will not be there tonight, but i have been to about 3 of these, and it’s a good time.  Try it, won’t ya?

Also - getting ready to report from Carolina this weekend as the Booster Club takes the big bus ride down Saturday overnight.  Will write some entries from the road.

See ya,

G 

Did someone forget to turn on the switch?

I think they did.  Becuase after the third Flyer goal, and half the building left (see Twit Award below for more), the switch went on, the team woke up and played great hockey, scoring two goals (Blake and Sillinger) in just over 30 seconds to make a bad game look a lot better on the scoresheet.  Then with the goalie on the bench, Alexei Yashin takes a great snap shot from the left face off circle, that did not miss the net by very much, but the effort went too little, too late, and the Isles lost their fourth straight contest 3-2. 

The Flyers, with that win, have now won three straight.  The Isles, have now lost four in a row, and start a critical four game road swing with a contest tomorrow night in New Jersey.  A bug four point match is coming with Jersey losing its first in four last night in a 9 round shootout thriller with the Rangers.

Well, what is wrong in Uniondale?  Good question.  Here is my take:

1. Being too cute.  We saw a lot of that last season, and it is happening again.  Guys are trying to make the ESPN highlight pass, instead of just going in, and getting the job done.  Although Blakey got another goal and has been the only offensive option of late, he is slowly going back into a puck hog mentality.  His game was so much better when he was distributing the puck more and getting involved with all of the others on the ice, instead of trying to do it all himself.  Kozlov has such great moves, but sometimes his linemates were just lost when he made a blind pass.  Keep it simple boys, sometimes that works so well..
2. Get bodies in front of the net.  It is great when you can get 42 shots in a game.  However, when the goalie can see the parting of the red sea in front of the puck, then it is not a help to you.  Especially on the PP, we had all three forwards in a corner of the ice, looking like they were doing a modified Flying V.  You have large, strong forwards, use them!  Screen the goalie and let the shots fly.  At the end of the game, the Isles were doing that, but in the middle of the game, when the tone could have easily been changed, we stopped.
3. Line juggling - Teddy has finally started to do that.  Guys are just not melding together that much, so changes have to be made to get new combinations.  If guys are not doing the job, they have to sit. (Ala Randy Robitaille).

Dunny did a good job in net.  Ricky needed a blow, and you need to keep Mike D fresh.  Defensively, we are not playing bad.  Rourke is a little tentative and Bruno make a bumble or two, but overall, we are ok.  3 goals in 4 games is not going to keep us in playoff contention if this continues.  We have to get a fluky goal, to get the guys rolling.  Well, we head to Jersey tomorrow, a place where we have DOMINATED in the past.  We saw NJ play perhaps their worst game of the year at home against the Isles in December.  We need to see that again, in order for the road trip to move in the right direction.

THREE STARS OF THE GAME

1. Mike Dunham - decent job in net.  Would have looked better if his offense helped him
2. Jason Blake - night in and night out….
3. Mike Sillinger - nice blast from the right point to get the deficit to one

GOLD STAR - The Race Palace.  I won tickets in section 102 for this game, as a result of winning a contest at one of the Race Watching parties.  (Yes - my seat in 317 was vacant last night)  It was an interesting view of the game - getting the up close and personal view is different.  However, being so low, you miss some of the action in the corners, and in my case, I would see play coming at me and away from me.  Being at the blue line, it felt like a tennis match.  However, I enjoyed the seats.  BTW - the next RACE PALACE event is tomorrow for the Devils game.  It is a fun venue; you should check it out!

TIN TWIT - Well, there will be people that will not like me, hey but this is my blog!  Leaving before a game ends, always is a sticking point with me.  If you are a casual fan, one that is not a ‘life or death’ fan, this is not for you.  This is for people who ’say’ that they are hard core fans.  Leaving after the third goal was disgraceful.  I am sorry, but to me, anyone that leaves a game early is NOT a 100% fan in my book.  (yes - I meant that) And last night, made that point for me.  This team was a ‘hair’ away from tying this game, and you did not see it.  I know that these guys are professionals and make a boat load of money doing it, but you know something, they are human beings too.  How would you feel, if the roles were reversed?  I think you would be a little bummed as well.  I do not say that you are not an Islander fan, but leaving shows that you have NO FAITH.  I could almost understand, if Philly had more goals than 3 (I would still NEVER do it, but still…), but stranger things have happened at hockey games in the past…  I won’t talk about it with the certain people that I know did it - but my opinion lessened a little.  Sorry, that is how I feel.

NY Hockey Report tonight - I should be slammed by the other two tonight, and pretty much, there is no defense for it.  Ugggggh!

I know that these guys were good guys in the locker room, and in many cases, seemed to try hard, but this Islander team, in order to move forward, needed to trim the fatty portion off the roster.

No people, don’t jump off the bandwagon, because Garth has not made a move to fill the $$ from the cap space!  I think something WILL happen.  The panic button is not going to be pressed just yet.

As a team that is struggling for goals, and getting their “A” game back on the fold; enter the Flyers.  A team winning lately, but only 2 in a dozen.  A team that is just ripe for the poking.   It seems to be a common pre-game notion, but this team is right on the money with this statement:

Score early and make your mark…..

When we get ont he board first, we are nearly unbeatable.  I really feel that we did not play a horroible game against Buffalo last night, they are just THAT good.  It is an excellent measuring stick to see where your progress is.  Now that we know, back to the drawing board, and get a quick two points on the board, before doing a little road running.

Offense has to step up.  Yash, although really banged up, needs to bring the Yash of last month back.  Miro hopefully will use 2007 to get out of his first half funk.  Trent Hunter too.  Blakey can’t do it all alone?  (Wow - did I really say that!)

I think that Poti needs to bring his game up a little too… He has been OK, but we need better from the guys that are logging 25 minutes a game.

I can safely assume that there wont be a pre-game tribute to the old numbers 77 and 16?  Didn’t think so…

Will talk about the game tomorrow. 

Rather than a goaltender, there should have been a target board.  I am not sure as to what is happening to our boys. They have simply forgot how to find the back of the twine.  The Isles took a 3-1 loss from the Sabres in Buffalo on New Years Day, starting their 2007 portion of the season on a disappointing note.

Jason Blake got his 22nd goal on the season at the mid point of the 3rd period to get the deficit in half at 2-1.  However, it is as close as they got.

Paul Gaustaud got the opeining goal on a power play, eight minutes into the opening frame as Brendan Witt was in the box.

Maxim Afinigenov got the second Buffalo goal on a beautiful end-to-end drive from his own faceoff circle, snapping a shot from the left of Ricky.

DiPietro played quite well, along with his counterpart Ryan Miller.  The two best US born goaltenders showed lots of skill and fantastic efforts.  The game supplied a lot of end-to-end rushes and both netminders were up to the test.

The Islanders, in this goalless stretch, created a new record for the longest length of futility, with 186 minutes and 31 seconds, extending the previous mark, done in over the New Years 1998-1999 frame by over 7 minutes.  Jason Blake got a puck at the left face off circle and passed a shot by Ryan Miller to end his shutout bid.

The Islanders, with the loss of Martinek, have now lost three straight contest, but with the stellar play of DiPietro, the team has not looked horribly on the defensive zone.  However, many of the guys that were keys to the offense have seemed to lost their way.  Tomorrow night, the Isles come back home to play the Flyers.  This will be their last home game for 11 days, so it would be beneficial for them to come out strong, as their next few road games (Devils, Hurricanes, Rangers and Bruins) before coming back home on the 13th to face those Devils again. 

The time is now - you do not want to take a large step back being this close. 

Ted Nolan made his first return to the HSBC arena, since his departure from Buffalo nine years ago.  I am sure he had some butterflies, but once the game was on, his game face was present.  Too bad that the guys did not get the key goal to tie up the score in the 3rd period.

Well - I hope you had a great new year.  Mine was nice and quiet, thank goodness.  I went into NYC during the day, and what a jungle it was.  I was so glad that I was taking the LIRR back home to Long Island.

Bring on Philly tomorrow - we need the win!!!