On the ride home from the game last night, I was thinking about what I was going to write today. I was really going to comment on the fact that it was a great game played by both sides, and the outcome, albeit happy for Islander fans, both teams played reasonably well.
The officiating was tough. They got on both sides for some calls that can be argued from both sides of the plate. However, the Isles were the ones that took advantage. Interesting move by Renney to put 5 fowards on the PP, like a “super PP!”. However, the Isles PK were EXCELLENT, swarming the O, blocking shots, trying to keep vision as clear as possible for Ricky to see the puck.
And by the way, was Ricky OUTSTANDING, or what!
I see signs of the 96 Sabres team that was coached by Ted in this team now. They grind, they work, and they make things happen. I could not be more pleased at the effort the Isles are putting out right now.
Tonight - they are in TO to take on the Leafs. Toronto got a double blow the other day with the 7-1 drubbing at the hands of Carolina at the time that Jason Blake announced that he has Leukemia. Our thoughts and prayers are with Jason. But bottom line, there is a game to win, and no matter how the players feel about their former teammate, 2 points are at stake. I am totally sure that Ted will remind the boys exactly that.
MY THREE STARS:
3. RUSLAN FEDOTENKO - this “Bull in a China Shop” forward is just what the doctor ordered. He plays hard at both ends, creates chances, and gets on other players skins.
2. BRYAN BERARD - welcome back. Great shot on the 5-3 for the GWG. Creates an interesting dilemma for the coach, as now he has 7 capable defensemen. I would assume that Aaron Johnson would be sent back to BPT real soon.
1. RICK DIPIETRO - this game totally makes the case for why he was signed long term. He outplayed the Swedish Meatball, and showed why he WILL be an ELITE 5 Goalie this season.
TIN TWIT AWARD - although this matchup always brings out the total idiots to both sides of the equation (I am saying that a lot of Isles fans that attend this game are not saints - so no one give me crap about that!!!), I will have to take deep umbrage about another blog, from the NY Sports Day Network. Yesterday, I put a link to my blog for a site called “My Blueshirt Heaven”. A woman named Margaret Hurley writes this site, and since she is a part of Joe McDonald’s group of bloggers, I thought I would give the respect and add the link. After reading what she wrote about the game last night, I may change my mind. This is EXACTLY the crap that bothers me about this rivalry. I try to not only be objective, but give credit when due on both sides. But she reminds me of what is observed not only by Islander fans, but fans about the NHL in general. She is in total belief, that halos should be on every Ranger player, and anything done to them or their fans in a negative light, is commendable by death. Let me critique some of the comments:
If the Rangers are going to get penalized for clean checks, Ranger fans should penalize the Islanders, the NHL and their incompetant officials by not writing their checks to see the ice get tilted in Uniondale.
You have GOT TO BE KIDDING ME. You can tap Jagr’s shoulder and you get sent to the box. Breathe the wrong way on Straka and you know that two minutes are had by you. And Shanahan - he is the biggest crybaby since Eric Lindros! He thinks he has been violated by terrorists every time he gets a penalty. The Rangers are known as having the highest differential of PP to PK in the league over the past 5 years. So don’t even start about your angelic players.  And don’t get me started about Hollweg either.
Stop driving revenue to the Islander franchise. Your dollars help keep this franchise afloat. Just Say NO! Stay the hell home!
By all means…. I give respect to the fans that show up in droves. For many Ranger faithful, it is quite difficult to get tickets, I can understand that. Ranger blueshirts invade just about every arena in the North East. I have argued this time and time again. I get on Islander fans for a) giving their tickets to Ranger fans for this game, and b) not showing up for these games. In many cases, not only are they exciting games, but lately we OWN the Rangers. (7-1-2 in the last 10 would say JUST THAT!) Yes - it was about a 60/40 split, and to an Islander fan, that is horrible; but believe me - this team is not ‘afloat’ because of your fans! In all reality - this team loses about 20 Million a year, and the $700,000 that comes from Blueshirt support - does not make the difference. The Islander organization needs some success to bring the faithful back in the droves that it used to have. Making the playoffs and out in the first round comes up just short. But believe me, this year may really be different. The team believes in itself, and the GM (that Rangers fans laughed at last year) is looking better and better by the week! Margaret, I respect you, but why don’t you worry about your inept power play, and inability to get the job done, instead of moaning about the lack of my fans attending games. You sound bitter and sad, which is how most Ranger fans feel when their team loses to the Isles. Your team is not God’s gift to hockey, so get over it!
For anyone that wants to leave comments about Margaret’s musings, check out www.myblueshirtheaven.com and let her know.
Well Isles fans, have a GREAT DAY!!!! I know I will!
BTW - NY HOCKEY REPORT is on tonight at 9:00 PM - make sure you check the show… I intend to start taking umbrage on any Islander comment. Please help out, and call the show (646) 716-7209. Anytime from 930 on - please call - it is time for Islander fans to stand up and be PROUD!
Posted under Islanders 07-08
This post was written by Gary Harding on October 11, 2007
Great post. I, like you, am even-handed when it comes to dealing with the teams I love, and the teams I hate. Give credit when it’s due, and show the ability to look at events from all perspectives.
Come on Gary, 60/40?
More like 80/20.
And what you dont’ want to acknowledge on the other end is the Islander fans are out in big numbers at Msg and provide the Dolan’s some of their only legitimate sellouts of the season.
This works both ways, Msg propaganda notwithstanding.
NYIsles1,
I sit at the Booster Club kiosk and sell 50/50 raffles (if you are by Gate 3 - you hear me yelling at people to support the Islanders Children’s Foundataion by buying tickets). If you looked at the count of jerseys, I would put it at about 60/40. If it was 80/20 as you say, then their loudness made it 60/40. As much as I know that you and I and other serious faithful yell and scream, they can at time out do us in our own barn, and that is not a good thing.
Tell your islander friends to start losing their voices the next day…. that will change the ratio.
As far as Isles fans at MSG - I have gone - I have seen it and I know it has increased year after year. Dont EVER tell me I dont acknowledge our fan support. I am a BOOSTER member, and a former PRESIDENT of the organization. The day I lose support of this team, is the day you will find me in a pine box!!!!!!
GO isles
!
Great post, the blog written by that Rangers fan was an absolute joke but can you expect anything else from them. They think the hockey world revolves around the Rags. Her blog was a joke and I let her know. Way to expose her!
But it seems that she does NOT approve “Anti-Ranger” sentiment. I know of at least 4 or 5 people that have tried. Appreciate it Mike!
Gary,
It does not work based on the number of jersey’s fans are wearing that you count and I’m well aware of how long you have been a great fan.
When it’s an Islander game against the Rangers at the Coliseum the percentage of Islander fans going with families and kids is not going to shout down the visiting adult Ranger fans who mostly leave the family home and go with adult friends to make a lot of noise and be rowdy in some case.
When the scene shifts to Msg the reverse happens which is why you hear the Islander fans cheering and even mocking the Rangers at Msg last season, we leave the kids home and it’s the adult die-hard crowd for the Islanders that does go to cheer loud.
As for recently, Islander fans have been out in big numbers at Msg since the dynasty and it’s getting more and more mention in the papers. 93 I was in the Garden for the Turgeon goal and it sounded like a home game for our team. 00-01 first game after Goring was fired and on our way to seven in a row without playoffs Islander fans took over Msg to where the next day Larry Brooks called the Garden, Nassau Coliseum mainland. The last five years Islander fans always come out to Msg and support the club just like they did on a day’s notice like Easter Sunday in New Jersey.
Only thing is at Dolan-controlled Msg Howie Rose cannot call it Nassau Coliseum mainland because Msg owns his contract and the broadcast.
Last season Islander fans were chanting first place early at Msg and you can’t beat us. I saw some Msg video’s from the stands of those games and you would have a hard time telling who was the home team at Msg.
I’ll be happy to give you a link to the live fan reaction inside Msg video clips.
I think the Ranger fan should recognize that an Islander game at Msg is just as important to Msg’s business because they are usually not sold out. They are not sold out even for Friday.
Seriously? A rant about how fans shouldn’t go out and support their own team? …because it put’s money in the Isles wallet? Talk about sour grapes LOL !!! And this somehow effects this officiating?? Why are U even sweating this ridiculous babble my friend… that blog is nonsense.
…carry on
I definitely lost my voice. None of my customers at work are able to understand me today.
I have season tickets, have been a fan since birth, and a fan until I die. But I never am quiet at a game. Any Rangers fan that chanted I chanted right back at them.
NYIsles1,
We are agreeing, but saying it in different ways, and if you think I am on THEIR side, then you need to re-evaluate. I am just trying to show what these people are thinking. In other words, they feel that their poop dont stink.
As an accounting/finance/numbers kind of guy, I will stick by 60/40 - as much as you do NOT want to believe it - but it was. That doesnt make the outcome change - we beat these freaking guys, and I love it!
Here are a few numbers that nobody can dispute:
Islanders 2, That Team 1
Three wins, one loss, .750 winning percentage when many “pundits” having them at .250, at best, at this point.
Now, go make it 4 of 5 by thrashing another team (and its fans) with an undeserved sense of self-entitlement tonight in Boreonto!!
Woo hoooo!!!!! Great thought Rich!
And then Saturday, spoil the Fryers opening night (yes - I spelled Philly right!!!)
Sorry, G, but I won’t waste my time trying to respond or debate a Ranger fand with the typical mentality that makes Ranger fans among the most hated fans in the NHL. The Rangers are, y statistical proof, one of the dirtiest teams in the NHL and have been for several years. Puh-lease. As if they didn’t get gifts from the empty suits in the league office the last few meetings last season with utterly disgraceful and disgusting calls against the Isles. And, to think the four games played at home keep the franchise afloat? How arrogant and ignorant. How Typical of a Ranger fan.
In any event, a big win for us. We got the two points and Ricky was truly a Wall in net. You are right on all observations, G, so no point for me to repeat them.
Gary,
We agree to disagree respectfully. All I can add is please don’t buy into all the spin from the Ranger fans in the media about their fan support in this market. They went to Ottawa and the Post, Newsday and Times did not even spend money on a writer.
I think the Ranger fans in the media like to spin the Ranger fan impact but fact is they likely have as few fans as the Islanders. One thing for sure is their television ratings last season on Msg were lower than the John Spano sportschannel Islander ratings a decade ago at below 40,000 homes on a network spamming them.
An Islander team playing in front of 5,000 fans had ratings back then equal to 55,000 homes.
Imagine if 20 Ranger games were on Msg-2 and they were not seen from April until opening night and the Islanders were covered daily all summer on Msg and through preseason.
I’m betting our ratings would be around 40,000 homes per game too.
I tend to think the Ranger fans in the media have really influenced the Islander fans a little too much on their spin on things.
Rangers got a 1.1 rating in a three team market for a second round playoff game last year that lost out to Nascar by 38 percent in NYC, to the Nets by a 3-1 ratio.
Take care and good luck.
By all means feel to visit my blog, I think as a long-time fan you will enjoy the content and quality.
newyorkislanderfancentral.blogspot.com/
“You have GOT TO BE KIDDING ME. You can tap Jagr’s shoulder and you get sent to the box. Breathe the wrong way on Straka and you know that two minutes are had by you. And Shanahan - he is the biggest crybaby since Eric Lindros! He thinks he has been violated by terrorists every time he gets a penalty. The Rangers are known as having the highest differential of PP to PK in the league over the past 5 years. So don’t even start about your angelic players. And don’t get me started about Hollweg either.”
Too bad the fans in the Mausoleum only get to see the replays management chooses to show you. You don’t get to see the replays shown on Versus. If you had, you wuld have seen Callahan get yanked down form behind. That’s not divining. Diving necessitates a forward momentum. Ask Greg Louganis.
Opponents hang all over Jagr like pilot fish and never get called…especially Brendan Twit.
Shanahan gets slashed across the wrists and get called for stick holding.
Keep trying to absolve you angel “Chris Simon” for the twohander on Hollweg. That will bolster your credibility, NOT!
Tell Teddy to keep the boys hittting high to their opponents heads, like that cheap POS Andy Sutton did to Callahan in a preseason game. Your roster will be thinned out by more suspensions.
Oh, btw, nice Game in TO last night.
Well - An early morning ripping - and that is fine. I truly expected that.
However, I did see the Callahan play - and yes, that was questionable. I will see when it happens to us, and you can ask ANYONE in 317, I will be the FIRST to admit when a penalty or situation SHOULD go our way.
But my dear Margaret, we can agree to disagree and that is fine. I respect your opinion. But there is no doubt in my mind, and I have been saying this when the ‘long-locked lollie’ played with Mario, that the best players get the calls. And there was NO DOUBT, that Jagr gets about 15-20 Power plays for his team all by himself as a result of players touching him.
And if you can sit there and tell me that Orr and Hollweg are one step short of Angelic, then you need to either increase your medication, or double that shot of Jamison! There is a lot of scuttlebutt around the league that says that Hollweg is in the TOP5 of dirtiest players in the league. The Simon situation was bad and a black eye for the sport. However, it was provoked by a hit that was so close to borderline attempt to injure itself - that he should have seeked forgiveness from his priest!
About the 25 games, that is NHL regular season games. It did not mean PRE-SEASON. If I was Ted - I probably would NOT have put him in that game, but it was the only game at home, so he did. Move on…
As I said originally - I linked your site to mine, and I like to provide all sorts of views to get the whole story. However, when I get a comment from a visitor to my site, that wanted to remain anonmyous (I pinged the IP that it was sent from, and it was a Verizon FIOS connection on Long Island), and mentioned your comments, he asked for me to mention it. I did not want the vulgarness to appear as comments (I will always try to stay as PG rated as possible), I sent the link to let you know. I like the passion that bloggers have, but just to remember everyone, it’s a HOCKEY game! It is not life, and there are much more important things in this world!
Margaret - have a good day, and thanks for coming on the show. You did a great job, and it will be fun to talk again soon!
You are right about officiating, it BLOWS. We as fans have to deal with it.