A tough period 3 for the visitors with the Long Island Habs once again spanking the Isles into submission.  A 3 goal onslaught, allows Les Habitants to take the 5-3 victory from Long Island on the first game of a four game swing.

The loss still has the Isles in 7th – but Carolina, Montreal, the Rangers and Leafs are still in striking distance.  This was indeed a lost opportunity to see the Isles inch closer to the sixth spot, and a chance to create some breathing room.  But as an Islander fan, we all know that it is not going to be an easy stretch for the team.

Now – let me get this off my chest.  I feel I need to get real honest, and simple with this (I apologize, in advance for the profanity).

RICKY – STAY IN YOUR F-ING NET NEXT TIME!!!! STOP WANDERING AROUND!!!! 

I don’t know how much my heart will take this crap!  And we have 14 years and 13 games left of it….. Good grief!!!!

When Ricky is calm and stays to his game, he is among the elite.  It is times when he tries to blaze a freaking trail, and be known for the glamour play and glitzy move, that this crap happens.  And he is now the poster boy for it.

I want to have Dunny play, but cold like that, in such an important game, is the WRONG way, Mr. Future Leader of this team!!!! Incorrect Decision Numbscle!

I did not see the game, due to the fact that I was bowling, so I saw bits here and there, but we did not play 5 on 5 the way we normally play.  Montreal was playing on such emotion and we did not counterract any of it.

MA Bergeron is making Garth a freaking genius!  Another great goal for #47, and also Ryan Smyth getting a 2 point night.  Notice now that the Sillinger, Hunter, Hilbert line has all of a sudden slowed down.  Conincidence?  I don’t know.

Also – nice to see Yash back on the scoresheet.  Ted has allowed him to get his game legs back, and he seems to be a little better each game.  His shot was a nice one to beat Aebischer to make the score 1-0.

As of writing this entry – no word on the condition of Ding-Dong Dipietro.  Hopefully, the shake to the coconut is a sign.

Tomorrow is a larger task.  Let’s just say that we are the ‘bitch’ for Ottawa.  They just spank us to submission more times than a Dominatrix at that time of the month.

We need to get some energy, and make up for the big brain fart that the Isles gave us last night, and get two ciritical points.

Need contributions from all four lines tomorrow as well.  No excuses.  Time for some serious points tomorrow – before the trip to Florida.

Have a good day folks, and watch out for the coconuts!

Posted under Islanders 06-07

Loosely translated, it means:  “Another ‘must-win’ for the Islanders, as they begin their road trip North of the Border.

Having a good win against the Caps on Saturday should have been the mind eraser for the team to forget what happened on Thursday and move on.

The Habs are a team in trouble, and one that a good ‘spanking’ can be given to.  The Bell Centre is no longer the loss palace for the team, as shown in the last win the Isles had there in January.

Although he is averaging a point a game, we need to get the Ryan Smyth ball rolling.  He has handled this bi-country roller coaster ride of a trade with class and dignity, but now we need to get to the Al Davis side of the ledger (except – replace win with score).  I know that effort is not a factor, but we need to see why the organization took this chance, and this road trip has games that we need to win.  This is the type of game, that a Ryan Smyth should crave for.  One of those games that he takes the team on his back, and makes a statement with.  As much as I like Alexei, that is one thing that he has NOT done.  I think Ryan can.

I am sure that MA Bergeron will be pumped as hell.  His wife is due anytime, and it would be nice for him to play a do well after his child is born.  It is quite fortunate that he is playing in Quebec now with the team there.  His whole family is there as well, making the situation, well, perfect.  Also – I think Quebec born players always want to do extra well, when they play in Montreal and Ottawa.

Montreal is having goalie issues.  With Huet out, Lasak and Aebischer having a tough time of late, and the lack of scoring punch, this Canadiens team is about one punch away from being knocked out.  This would be the equivalent to a long arc softball about to smacked by the King and his court.

Nolan knows this game is a litmus test, and I have no doubt that his troops will be ready to battle.  This is what makes good coaches great.  We all know that although he was a nice guy, Steve Stirling would not have made this happen.  The best statement was the fact, that Nolan told the media, that you have had your fun, now we are not talking about the Simon incident.  We have to focus on this team and what is in store NOW.  Playing for right now!  (C’mon – can’t you hear the Sammy Hagar Van Halen act singing the song now???)

And hopefully about an hour train ride from my home, the Sens take the Smackdown to the Rangers.  The Sens are battling for the number 4 seed, which means a first round home advantage.  That would be nice.

It is the goal now of this Islander team to keep winning and force the ones below to do the same and more, in order to take over.  Losing now is HUGE.

Enjoy the game everyone!

Posted under Islanders 06-07

Right now – I feel like I am talking at the point in the old time 70′s police drama’s of Quinn Martin, where you would see the word Epilogue.  For years, I had no clue what that meant….

Inate rambling over…

I know that every media outlet is making the Islanders into a bunch of hell raisers and hell’s angels.  Enough!

Here is my 2 cents.

I talked about 5-10 games initially. From what has happened in the past, (i.e. McSorley, Bertuzzi), I figured that it would be that many games would be just desserts.  However, time will say that the NHL HAD to do what they did.  I think 25 games is fine.  It may have been more, but I think that was enough.

Time to move on.

As far as Saturday goes, nice effort by the Isles, spanking a Caps team that is down for the count and getting ready to hear 10.    Blake, Bergeron, and Smyth had real good games, and Ricky had a nice outing.

But the road beckons, and the two games in Canada are critical.  Tuesday, they enter Montreal and have another chance to lay the smackdown on the Habs.  Getting the trip off the right foot and head down to the Quebec/Ontario border for a clash with the Sens.  This game is HUGE!  We need this second one, to make some justification on the playoff push.  We then head to Florida for a Saturday showdown with the kitty cats, and then the following Tuesday, to Tampa for a big game against the Lightning, who are also fighting for big fish as well, as in the South East division lead with Atlanta.

Yes – it is a cliche that you hear that this game is the biggest game of the season, but in the case of the Isles, every game is bigger than the previous one and the next one will be even bigger.

It should make for a fun week — enjoy it Islander fans!  We need the diversion from last week side show…

Posted under Islanders 06-07

Just like when you fell off a bike as a 4 or 5 year old, you were told that you had to get back on the bike, and start riding again.  This is exactly what the Isles need to do.

The team needs to make the events of Thursday evening become a quick memory, and focus on the job at hand.  The Caps are in, and they havent scored in nearly 130 minutes of hockey.  This just reeks of a team with revenge on their minds.  Keeping Ovechkin and Semin off the scoresheet this long, and you know that those two Russian lads are going to be stirring at the bit, in order to stop the schneid.  A return to the team that got points in 19 of 21 games is the cure of Rangeritis.

As far as the results of the hearing tomorrow – you just have to put it out of their minds, and deal with the process of winning games.  This may sound silly, but just play the game like Simon suffered a knee injury.  Zednik returns to the lineup, and he needs to be an immediate factor.

And yes, I know all the answers….. Didn’t you know that by now!!!???

Just have faith, Islander fans, I think we can weather the storm, and see the guys make the playoffs.  Keep the faith folks….

And no – that is not me, but Mr. Know it All says that we will make the playoffs and be just fine.

Have a good Saturday folks.  It is supposed to be a nice weekend, and today, I will get the chance to go outside, as my flu bug is just about gone.  I woke up at 3:30 having a coughing fit, but it was a productive one, as the chest congestion was deciding to extricate itself from my lungs and bronchiole nodes.  So I decided to write my piece at 4:30 AM to get it out of the way.  Now that it is done, I will go back to bed and get an hour or two more of sleep.

 

Posted under Islanders 06-07

Sorry for the lack of posts.  I had a 103 fever on Wednesday night and did not go to the game last night.

For me to miss a game, I have to not be well.  To miss a RANGER game – I was a wreck.

Now – I am going to be brief, but I will get my 2 cents in.

As far as Simon is concerned, he snapped; plain and simple.  Was Hollweg’s hit dirty?

No!

Premeditated?

No!

Worthy of a penalty?

Yes!

What goes on in a players mind is tough to ascertain.  I really think that since the play was far from the incident – other people may have been a part of this had the puck been closer and the stick incident may not have been a factor at all.  As of 1:30 pm – it was announced from the NHL that he is suspended indefinitely pending a hearing.  Barry Melrose says he should be done for the year, and for the playoffs too.  I think if Hollweg was out for a period of time, then you may be right.  Five games should be sufficient in my opinion.

As far as the Isles play – hard to say.  I was listening to much of the game and not watching, as I had a cold cloth over my head.  I think Nolan was smart to put Yashin in sporadically.  He had his chances, and he should gradually get more time and opportunities.

Worried about Smyth hobbling off the ice, but is not supposed to be serious, as reported in the media.

About the goal or lack of one according to the idiots in Toronto.  The last angle that was shown on the telecast showed through the legs of players, that the puck crossed the line.  I can not believe they BLEW it.  Sitting here watching the Ranger replay, they did NOT show the right one.  Kind of ‘Old boy network’ here… I am sorry – but that was a total BULLS$%# call, and NO one is going to tell me any different.

That is enough about this game.  Onto Washington.  Comment if you like, we all have to vent about this….

Posted under Islanders 06-07

I think in most cases, I would really be upset.  However, I am so proud of these guys; especially Rick DiPietro.  He was magnificent.  The Rangers threw everything they had at him.  As Bill Clement just said, DiPietro had his shields up, but unfortunately, two photon torpedos got through.  The one by Matt Cullen was the big blow.

However, we are still getting points out of these games.  We now have points in 20 of 23 games, keeping up in the hunt for sixth place and more.

Blakey got a flukey goal, but a nice goal nevertheless, notching his 33rd of the season.

Peter Prucha got a nice rebound from Ortmeyer at the 26 second mark of the third period to tie the game at 1.

Hilbert had a great chance to break it open at the end of a Zednik penalty when he got by the Ranger D, and made a great move on Lundqvist but sees the puck hit the post and under the goalie’s legs.

It was the Rick DiPietro show – he made save from difficult angles, from the wrong size of the net, every which way possible.  I am proud of the game he played.  I just hope that he continues this on Thursday.  Every game is now the most important game of the season now – an points are so crucial.  20 in 23 is very good – and we have to keep it going, in order to see some playoff games.

THREE STARS (I felt like doing it tonight)

1. Rick DiPietro – duh
2. Jason Blake – adding to the career totals
3. Collective Defensive unit – great job – blocked many shots and really allowed a lesser deal of inside shots.

Sounded like a great number of Islander fans there tonight — I wish I was there.

Still loving the effort of Bergeron.  If he was such a defensive liability in Edmonton, I think it got lost when it entered the Eastern Time Zone.  He has been brilliant, taking on the other teams top forwards, and handling them well, despite the large size difference.

Witt was just plain Witt.  No fights, but a lot of agitation and aggressiveness.  Poti played over 31 minutes tonight – and Witt close to 30. 

From what I hear, #79 will return on Thursday night.  Interesting to see how he does with Smyth and Blake on his line.  I hope he can spark a further fire in the team.

Again – I am not mad, a little disappointed, but proud of the way the team held on, especially in net.  No reason to put your head down Islander fans; I really did not expect to see them go 8-0 against the Rangers, but we have to start winning the other three games, and we will have the home team advantage.  The 7th men and women have to do their job, right Roger???

 

Posted under Islanders 06-07

Now – any of you Ricky detractors…… Try to make any comments about how Ricky is not the goalie that he should be.  I think I will refer to this game, to specifically SHUT YOUR PIE HOLE!

Now to the shootout…. I need a Zanax!

Posted under Islanders 06-07

Ricky has been freaking fantastic!

Rangers came out firing, and the Islanders have stood up to the pressure.

However, as I was typing, Prucha just evened the score. Ugggggh!

Cmon Islanders – get the goal back!

Posted under Islanders 06-07

Well – back to the Rangers….

We get to see them four times in the next 34 days – so get use to the bastards!

Tonight – the only one of the four at MSG – and both teams have been doing well lately.  We all know about the Isles, but the Rangers have won a few of late but 5-3-2 in their last 10, as opposed to the Isles 7-1-2 and points in 16 of 18.  (NYR wins especially against the Blues in a shootout on Saturday, and against Montreal last Tuesday).  They will be coming out as a fired bunch.

The last time that Brendan Witt saw Shawn Avery, there were some tempers heating up from an exchange that saw Mr. Avery spear Witt.  Witt has done a great job of keeping the temper in check and drawing penalties from it. (Ask Donald about that on Saturday…)  Tonight – will he (Witt) be able to do it again?

With the acquisitions, the Islanders have improved their team, and to date, we are unsure on how the lack of movement will help the Blueshirts, who are 6 points behind the Isles and four behind Carolina for the 8th playoff spot. But to get to the promised land, the Ranger$ will have to overtake Boston, Toronto and Montreal.  It is not going to be an easy task.  Just think Ranger$ fans… Had you beaten us just ONE game – you may be a little closer…. But YOU CANT BEAT US.

I know for a FACT that if we beat the Rangers again tonight – it is FULL assault on the New York Hockey report show on Wednesday!  Check it out at www.nyhockeyreport.com

Hopefully – it will be a happy recap tomorrow for Islanders fans.  Hope Ryan and Marc-Andre enjoy their first taste of a real crosstown rivalry.  If they think Calgary/Edmonton is a big one, wait till they get a load of ours….

Posted under Islanders 06-07

Best line at the game – when a Caps fan starts ringing a bell at the 60+ of us sitting at our seats, Roger Farina, the former NHL 7th Fan, asked nicely,

Hey Good Humor Man, Can I get a Chocolate Eclair?

We definitely had a good time last night.  The crowd was quiet (Pat Sajak from Wheel of Fortune fame has first row tickets there).  We did have a redneck threatening us, but our offensive prowess quieted him into his beer.

Is Marc-Andre Bergeron the real deal?  God I love watching him play, and every game makes the Edmonton fans scream with displeasure.  He still has more goals than the rest of our D combined, and he scored a beautiful power play goal which gave him 10 on the year.  He also broke another pane of glass.  I hope he has insurance for all of the glass he has shattered this season.

Ryan has been absolutely brilliant since he has come over here.  I think he has spent more time at the front of the net, than the rest of our team combined.  He is fearless, and makes all the players around him even better.

Ricky had a 2 minute brain fart, but came back and did a nice job.

The Verizon Center is a nice play to see a game.  Good sight lines.  Some fans are ding dongs – but that is the modus operandi at every arena.

Then we had a hang out at this place called R&R’s after the game.  Got a little stupid, but fun nevertheless.

Notes:  Yashin was seen at the arena, and we hear that he is back on Thursday.  Who will sit out???  Interesting things for the coach to have to ponder over.  Bates is out for the year – honestly, we don’t miss him.  Is this his last season as an Islander?  I think so.  Bergenheim blew out his MCL yesterday and probably will NOT be ready to start next season.  See Sean, should have stayed here and signed.  D’oh!

Well – got to get on the bus for the trip back home.  This was fun!  I  like winning.

 

Posted under Islanders 06-07