The last time was not a lot of fun….

Their offense was up for the charge, and the Long Island connection killed us again!

Got to stop Mr. Higgins.

With Witt out for this game, the D has to step up even more.  Especially Meyer, who played a great game the other night against Ottawa.  Keep the game simple, but charge when needed.

MAB has had a renaissance in his return to the lineup.  Berard is doing OK but we could use a little more push.

On the forward end - I believe that there will be a B-port guy coming up for Tank, due to that nasty hit at the end of Sunday’s game.  No call - don’t get me started on that…

The offense has to once again, keep taking chances, as well as get bodies in front of Huet.  We just do not win, if we play a passive game on the offensive side of the puck.

Hopefully, the podcast from my visit with Rob Kowal on New York Hockey Talk will be up today.  It was great getting to be in studio, talking about the Isles, and having a good time doing it!  I just want to thank Rob, for giving me the chance to come on the show.  I look forward to getting another opportunity in the near future.

Go to www.nyhockeytalk.com and check it out.

Have a great day!

That’s right - I am going mainstream radio this weekend!

Rob Kowal, who hosts New York Hockey Talk, which airs on Sundays at 9PM Eastern, on WGBB 1240 AM, does a real nice show.  He has great guests, and really does a great job in covering ALL aspects of New York Hockey (I also like that he includes the Buffalo Sabres in this as well).

Rob has had a number of bloggers, and staunch fans of the local teams appearing as guests on the show, and this week, I have been asked to be a part of this cast of characters, of which I am proud to be included with.  I really think you should check out the show.  If you can not get to it live, the next day or so, the interviews will be on his web site, which is www.nyhockeytalk.com. 

Check it out… I am really looking forward to being a part of it.

Now - all I am going to say about my Islanders, is that I HOPE that smarter heads prevail, and the team returns to the form that had gotten points in 7 out of 8 before this Western Canada Saga.  Getting a win tonight, would be huge… It would confirm that the Rangers are in LAST PLACE in the division.

Now - speaking of them boys in Manhattan, isn’t is rich that after the half way point, the local team that most ‘experts’ that had them planning their Cup winning speeches and hand waving gestures to the crowds along the Canyon of Heroes, are slipping heavily into the drudges of the league?  I was concerned on the way home from work last night, when I was told that the Rangers had a 2 goal lead, and Hollweg got both… He had 1 point in 40 games before this, and he had 2 goals in less than 20 minutes.. Ugh!

Then when I got home, my wife yells from the other room, “2-2!!!” 

Then, “3-2!”

Then, “4-2!”

Once I turn on MSG, I hear the boo-birds…  Music to my ears…

I am sorry Joe McDonald, but if the Rangers don’t make a big turn-around, then I really think that Renney’s job should be in serious jepoardy.  He was expected to take this team to the promised land, and he is so far from the Mason-Dixon line, that these guys are starting to look as frustrated as “Larry the Cable Guy” looking for extra bisucits and gravy at an Waffle House.  GIT R DONE!!

Have a great day, and a great weekend, Islander fans!

I honestly did not watch after period 1 as I needed sleep….

I saw that the Isles gave up 19 shots in the first and looked like they did not listen to the coach’s lecture.  However, the second and third were better.  Comeau seems to be taking advantage of his chances…  Guerin showed why you should hustle at every opportunity.

However, 6 rounds in, Alex Elder, a defensemen selected ahead of the Sedin twins got the winning goal past RIcky for the Canucks win (12-0-2 in last 14 on home ice).  The next stop on this tour is Friday in Calgary.  The Isles usually fare pretty lousy against the Flames, and with Iginla on a tear, and Phaneuf becoming one of the top D-men in the game, it should be a hard test for our boys.

For those of you youngsters in Blog land, TO TELL THE TRUTH, was a game show in the 60s and 70s which had three people claiming to be a person, with celebrities asking questions to these people to determine which of them is really the person that they claim to be.

Right now, a few Isles, Josef Vasicek, the most prominent, seem to be one of the contestants on this show.

Just a couple of goals in the last 17 games, and ever increasingly lost on the ice, Coach Nolan has moved Vasicek, Satan, and Fedotenko to the 4th line, and if this keeps up, off the Island.  Satan looks like a man going through the motions, and his line mates, look equally of despair.

This team, if it wishes to keep up in the race, needs to have the desperation attitude.  This is twice now this season, that the Isles have had a funk of significant time.  Ricky has been brilliant, but as we all know, he can not do this alone.  Cmon guys, help your goalie.  Calgary is not a team to ease up.  They will come at you hard and strong.  If you play Calgary like last night in the first, they will have 30 shots in one period.

Maybe two days may help… But Ted may need to increase the practice intensity level a little, and get a little more pissed…  Hockey players seem to respond to emotion.  Maybe it is time to add a little.

Will the real Josef Vasicek, please stand up!

Played a decent road game.  Had some good opportunities, but did not get the results wanted.

It was mentioned that the second line is a little disappointing of late, and I can not agree more.  I am a big Vasicek fan, and truthfully, he is struggling big time. (Sorry Dawn - I have to be truthful about this…..)

To get at least a point in the game, you have to take a positive spin about it.  Start that with the play of DP.  He was freaking brilliant at times, making some incredible point-blank stops that are worthy of Sports Center.  Now that Pad-gate is completed, we can just concentrate on the game and the player and not the size of the equipment.

The wife give the kudos from last night to Bruno.  A great setup pass, with good vision, seeing Jackman with an open lane.  Speaking of #28; what a good foot soldier.  I really did not expect much from him with the exception of pugilistic tendencies.  However, on the line with Hilbert and Blake Comeau (alias - “New Guy”), they have made the most of their opportunities, with Hilbert improving even more with every game.

The wife also proposes an Oscar like performance from Ryan Smyth for doing his best two step to side step issues of his leaving Long Island.  Although supposedly, he is not allowed to really talk about it.  Just another way of the Ali Rope-A-Dope.

Tomorrow - at Edmonton.  Here is a team that you do not want to face in overtime, as they have nearly 50 per cent of their victories in their season in the extra session.  They are a fast team with one prominient D-man (Souray).  They are a team that needs to be tackled immediately, and pouncing on this young squad.  Garon played well against the Ranger$ last night, and I wonder will he get the nod again….

The division is so tight, and I like the fact, that despite us being the lowest scoring team in the league, we are just a win or two away from being in the top 6.  It is such a great version of parity in the league, where you can take NO one for granted.

I like it!

For whatever reason, the first 30 minutes or so, were not recorded due to some technical glitches at Blog Talk Radio.

However, the John Buccigross interview is fully in tact.  He is a great guy, and covered a myriad of topics, and he got Joe.  In the part that was missed, Joe was arguing with me, that an outdoor game would never sell.  Even with all 3 teams, we would not fill up a Giants Stadium, or Meadowlands.  He basically does not give the casual sports fan a chance in hell to get interested in a game like this.  He thought that other teams fans (if it was Isles/Rangers - the Devils, or move the Isles/Devils around), would not go.  I told them that he has no faith in the New York Sports fan.  Buccigross, when asked that same question, said the game would ABSOLUTELY work.

Nice job Bucci!  Way to SHUT the Big TOE!

Anyway - due to my Year End Accounting Close, I will not be at the game tonight.  Hoping Ricky will have a strong game, and get the team ready for the big upcoming 5 game road trip.  I also hear the Ryan Smyth is out for the Avs.  Too bad.  I am sure some guys would have liked to give him a little hello…..

Enjoy the game tonight - I will be listening intently.

Gary

Ottawa was just too much, but on the Overall point - the Isles had a good week, with wins over the Devils and the Canes to end the year.  Dubie did a great job filling in, as the Panthers will get to see Ricky return to the nets.

BTW - was that game in Buffalo just too cool?  Well - a little snowy, but an exciting game; and don’t it figure that Sid the Kid would notch the game winner in the shootout?  Just what the NHL wanted, to see the NHL star, light the lamp.  Hopefully this can be the start to turn people onto our great game!!!!  Tune in and find out…

Well - the mid term report card (a little early, but it will be a quick, down and dirty comment and grade for each of the Islanders.  I will go by uniform number.

2.  Aaron Johnson - coming back in a few weeks.  A good soldier.  Grade:  INC

4.  Bryan Berard - great start, but deeply inefficient of late.  He is not needed now.  Grade:  C-

7.  Trent Hunter - hitting and working hard, but not getting results.  Grade:  C

8.  Bruno Gervais - always improving - great job of late filling in for Martinek.  Grade:  B

10.  Richard Park - slowly looking like a Team MVP - or Nystrom winner to me…. Grade:  A-

11.  Andy Hilbert - coming along of late, 4th line may be his chance to spark.  Grade:  B-

12.  Chris Simon - out for 30, and should no longer be an Isle.  Sorry.  Grade:  F

13.  Bill Guerin - The captain showed some Yashinitis, but seemed to rid himself of it.  Grade:  B

14.  Chris Campoli - slowed down a little, but overall a great improvement:  Grade:  B

16.  John Sim - Out for year:  Grade:  INC

17.  Shawn Bates - Out for year.  Grade:  INC

18.  Mike Sillinger - stats are dissipating, effort is there (see T. Hunter).  Grade:  C

20.  Sean Bergenheim - 08 version of energizer bunny.  If numbers were better, his grade would be great.  Grade:  C

24.  Radek Martinek - does all the little things without fanfare.  Grade:  B

25.  Andy Sutton - miserable start - great last 10 games.  Keep this up….. Grade:  C+

26.  Ruslan Fedotenko - if he just did not get hurt so often… just the way he plays.  Grade:  B-

28.  Tim Jackman - hustles, and hustles some more.  Grade:  B-

32.  Brendan Witt - defensive MVP - does it all, and pisses off the opposition.  Grade:  B+

34.  Wade Dubielewicz - last few games - we saw the YODA of April past.  Grade:  B-

39.  Rick DiPietro - The glue, big toe, call it what you want… Grade: B+

44.  Freddy Meyer - looked lost, but seemed to find his way..  Grade:  B-

47.  Marc-Andre Bergeron - a tale of two years.  I like the second one better.  Grade: C

63.  Josef Vasicek - Best pickup of the year.  Slowed a bit of late, but still a force to be. Grade:  B

81.  Miro Satan - End of contract year, shows signs of elite, but can slip to mediocrity.  Grade:  B-

89.  Mike Comrie - if he can just try to keep it simple and not look for the homerun play to impress the girl, he would be an all-star for sure.  I criticize, because I like his game and he can be just so much more for us.  Grade:  B-

That will do it for the Isles.  John Buccigross from ESPN, and a friend of hockey indeed, will be our guest on the NY Hockey Report tonight.  Make sure you tune in and listen.  It should be a great show…

See ya, and HAPPY NEW YEAR.  May your days be filled of fun, laughter and excitement!