Fri 23 Feb 2007
It has been so amazing that when this team is down, that they are definitely not OUT!
Another late game comeback, along with a shootout, places the Isles over Toronto and in sole possession of 9th place in the conference, in striking distance of Carolina and Montreal.
Thank God for Trent Hunter. What a game he had! Hitting like a mad man, being at the right place at the right time. He has been one of the guys that has definitely stood up for himself and showed what he can do.
I thought at the end, that when Silly and Hilbert came down the wings that the favor would have been reversed; specifically that Hilbert would get the pass from Sillinger and score the game winning goal.
Maybe we should check with Elias to see what is the record on how many dekes have been made on a shooutout attempt. Thank goodness Robitaille made the last one.
And did you notice that the Islanders gained another point on the Rangers last night, thanks to the Devils! Keep moving the Rangers further and further back in the standings. A beautiful thing!!!
Now - onto the Habs. Halak, taking over for Huet, has not missed a beat. With Kovalev, Rivet out, the team is still winning. A few weeks ago - the Isles beat the Habs 4-2 at the Bell Centre, and send Montreal into a downswing. Tomorrow - with the mascots in attendance, it will be needed to be done again. The confidence level of the Islanders is extremely high. Keep it going, and we can start to get in the playoff picture.
After tomorrow - we may see players for the last time. I hear a lot of rumors that Blake is on the block. Vancouver and Edmonton are places that he may go. Now why would the team, in the middle of a playoff push, want to trade their leading scorer? That is the OLD Islander philosophy. I can not see Garth Snow doing that. The same people that say we are letting go of Mike Sillinger. Have another Vodka, Eklund!
Well - should be fun tomorrow…
February 23rd, 2007 at 10:09 am
This and the Pittsburgh game are the types of wins that can propel a team a long way, but they’ll have to keep up that intensity tomorrow. Wouldn’t it be great to have a full house? Eleven thousand plus were making enough noise to sound like a sellout, from that first Hunter goal straight through the third. And how about that tipper to tie it, one of the best in a long time!!
As for the Habs, the Isles win over them at the Bell Centre didn’t quite send them into a tailspin, they had a very emotional comeback win the next day vs. Pittsburgh, thanks in part to Crosby’s hotdogging in OT. But, as the Isles did without Turgeon in the Penguins series in ‘93, the Habs are starting to get it done with Kovalev, needing a bit more from everybody (but who thought Samsonov would score in the final minute - see what happens when you go to the net??). That Montreal team will be ready, I see a big game from Komisarek (from an Isles standpoint, that may mean he’ll get over anxious and take a dumb penalty or two) and Higgins, if he is cleared to play. Halak can be beaten, but seems to make the big saves when they need it the most.
It should be a great game at the Coliseum tomorrow afternoon.
February 23rd, 2007 at 6:42 pm
It was, indeed, an amazing and Important comeback win. The Isles can’t seem to do it the easy way, but the end result is what is important. Every point is critical at this stage.
Yes, last night, it was Hunter, and it was Sillinger on Monday. This is what we need. A new hero each game. Someone who steps up. I don’t care who it is, as long as the victory comes. Tomorrow won’t be any easier either.
As for trades, I think moving Blake would not be a wise thing. Right now, chemistry and contributions are the main thing. I’d expect something shockingly stupid from our former GM, so I am hoping that if there is a trade, Garth will match the impressive nature of the most recent one. We could use some scoring … not give any up.