Tue 17 Apr 2007
A good night sleep can sometimes clear up your mind. In this case, I am still not clear about things…
I just try so hard not to blame officiating. Let alone they are human.
Well - sort of…
A combination of the ‘complete blind schmucks’ in Toronto - along with LaRue and Pollock, alias Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dumb, made it a real rough ending for the Isles last night.
Since I am sure that boards all over Islander country are going to be flooded with moans and groans, I will leave it to you - to make the opinions. It turns my stomach.
However, I will really bitch and moan about how classless we look when debris gets thrown onto the ice. That is the type of fan I do not want to be included with. It is bad enough when the Islanders get no respect in the league as it is. Then we have to show our disrespect for the league, the game, and our own team by chucking soda, beer, et al at the ice. It just makes us look like complete unintelligent idiots.
THREE STARS
- Ryan Smyth - Well Garth - you know what to do…
- Rick DiPietro - solid game again
- Trent Hunter - great digging for goal 1
GOLD STAR
- Don’t know her name, but the girl that sang the anthem not only was good, but she had “Beat the Sabres” on the bottom of her jersey - that was cool!!!
TIN TWIT
- Fans that threw stuff onto the ice. Don’t ever bother coming back - we don’t want you around! You disgust me!
There is another game tomorrow. We have to forget about that 3rd period, and play our style of game. The guys have deemed the 3rd unacceptable, and I know that Ted and the boys will find a way to reverse that trend.
IMHO - I think you are seeing the last days of 79 in Blue. I defended him for so long, but there is no excuse now. The question is, will anyone take him?
And Silly - next time - shoot the damn puck!!!
Ok - venting over - time to go back to work. Hang on Islander fans - it is only 2-1. There is a lot of time left to get it back on track. In less than 48 hours, we can do just that!
April 17th, 2007 at 8:57 am
How Dennis LaRue is even in the NHL is beyond me, let alone reffing in the playoffs.
This is the second year in a row that he’s royally screwed up a Game 3 in the first round. Last year, he missed Saku Koivu taking a stick in the eye right in front of him). He should have been fired on the spot, and frankly, he’s been a lousy ref since joining the league in the early 90s.
That being said, this series is far from over. But this team MUST find a way to win a home playoff game (I think Game 6 vs. Toronto was the last one). They know they can do it in Buffalo, just let’s send it back there at 2-2.
April 17th, 2007 at 10:06 am
Here here Rich….
Too much time working behind the net - and having no one in front… Even Smitty wasn’t there as much as he should.
I hated the debris crap - but I understand the frustration.
As much as it pains me to say this - I would almost want Kerry Fraser. Or even Paul Stewart… OK - shoot me now!
April 17th, 2007 at 1:20 pm
Bettman was in attendence at the game. I wonder if anything is going to be addressed about last night’s fiasco.
Of course I’m being niave, it’s the NHL and the Islanders.
April 17th, 2007 at 2:03 pm
Disgust hardly begins to describe the behavior of the Islander “fans” at last nights game. Following the first Buffalo goal, my wife and I were showered with beer from behind. Two rows in back of us were some Buffalo fans; behind them were Islander fans. When they cheered their team’s goal, the beer flew. What a classless display. When I turned around to see who threw it, the Islander fans were all sitting there like choir boys.
The display at the end of the game was almost surreal. The debris kept flying onto the ice. It was bad enough that a few morons did this, what was even worse were the idiots who continued to do it while the Ice Girls and Coliseum staff were trying to clean it up. At that point, I really had to stop and wonder about the phrase “We’re All Islanders”. Those “fans” who behaved in that manner should be ashamed of themselves. They not only embarrassed themselves, they embarrassed our team as well.
April 17th, 2007 at 2:29 pm
Great point Rich… I would never want to associate with those idiots. I know nothing was done in 317… But in other places…
I am sorry that you got showered. Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day.
Gary
April 17th, 2007 at 4:33 pm
I’m a fan of the blog, though I’ve never commented before.
I was there at the game, sec. 305. I agree that the beer shower after the first goal was pathetic. But I completely disagree about the debris shower after that last penalty.
I was upset about the officiating from the beginning of the game. Remember when Ryan Miller took a puck to the facemask, and the refs blew the play dead despite our potential scoring opportunities off the rebounds? Twice?
The entire game, top to bottom, was called against us. Tossing out litter onto the ice was indeed disrespectful to the league, and I’m fine with that. Last night’s officiating was embarassing. We outplayed Bufallo, and yet they were handed the win. Perhaps it’s because they’re emblematic of the “new NHL” while we’re more “old school,” so to speak.
Didn’t our series against the Canadiens in 1993 (I think) have similar episodes of atrocious officiating? Didn’t Coach Arbour flip and make very public comments about the whole thing? (I was pretty young at the time, so I may be misremebering.) When the league is screwing you royally, you call them out on it. And the fans reacted in the only way they could. It wasn’t classless. It was exhasperation, and a feeling of complete betrayal.
April 17th, 2007 at 5:57 pm
I disagree totally with the previous comment. Regardless of how badly the game was called against us, there is NO excuse for the way those fans reacted. Maybe part of the reason we get no respect is because crap like this has happened before. When a player is believed to be injured, the refs have to blow the play dead. Both times Miller was hit, the rebound was not close to him , neither was an Islander close enough to shoot it in before the whistle was blown. Throwing debris on the ice is NOT the only way fans can react. If that is the only way those fans can react to the horrible offciating, they should stay the hell home. They do more harm to us than good.
April 17th, 2007 at 10:41 pm
I am in full agreement with Tom. The only thing appropriate to throw on the ice would be hats for a hat trick. (Of course, an octopus is only appropriate in Detroit at playoff time.) The way to react to horrible officiating is to boo and chant bull-(crap). The Islanders have demonstrated heart and character all season. We as fans should be worthy of the team we cheer for.
April 18th, 2007 at 6:56 am
Here here Tom!
April 18th, 2007 at 11:02 pm
I might be insane, in fact I know I probably am, but I think that maybe the people in the building might need to shut up. If we yell at the officials to make a call, especially if we’re fans of a team they don’t seem to like, I think they might be more inclined to call against the fans, simply to say “ha ha, I’m in power, and you’re not.” Keep in mind, I’m very sinical right now (Rob F. Schick will do that to ya), but there’s an anti-Islander bias. Let’s not fual the fire. I love a loud, expressive crowd as much as anyone, but I’m starting to think that if we begin chanting “goal” or “no goal,” it’s going to go against us, even more than it is already. Let’s not be back seet refs.