I am just going to give a brief thought synopsis, you can get the news anywhere.

1. Thought the team played a strong game. The first period was not as strong, but the team improved by each period, and stood up to the Flyers. Especially in the 3rd period – the forecheck was brilliant.

2. “Amazing Andy” – great presence of mind to hold the shot, and get the puck to bounce off the Flyers D and in…

3. I think MacDonald was fine in net. Two of the goals again, were shots that got to the Flyers players off a miscue. Just about any goalie would not be able to get the shot. Some of his saves were outstanding. Even got a skate to the mask. Thank God the blade hit his neck guard, or we would have had a Malarchuk incident.

4. Sutton back was a nice thing. It gives the D a large presence, and he was put to the test immediately against Scott Hartnell. Him and Streit worked well.

5. Welcome to the NHL Mitch Fritz! His name sounds like your accountant, but he does not look like one. He is huge and I am looking forward to seeing him get into some pugilistic tendencies.

On a score of 1-10, on the Isles play, I would give them a 7. Improvement all around. Get a break or two, and the 1 point gained could have easily been 2.

My Isles Three Stars

3. Nate Thompson – true grit. He has stepped up his game.
2. Trent Hunter – hitting machine, and Biron had a lucky stop on his point blank effort.
1. Andy Hilbert – You can see that he is a Gordon disciple. His game is much better than last year.

I will not be blogging live tomorrow. I will be sitting in my own seat, and being a fan. I will write a little on Sunday about the game.

Enjoy Halloween, and make sure that your kids are safe…

Posted under Blog Box, Islanders 08-09

1. Considering we were missing four of our top 6 D, our starting goalie (well – he still is an All-Star goalie), and a struggling offense, I think we stood up to the Rangers quite well. We just let the opportunities slip away, and let the Rangers dictate the 3rd.

2. Has Mark Streit shut up a lot of critics? Almost a point a game, and playing decent D. He will make mistakes here and there, but he has been a lot better back there than the experts said he would be.

3. Okposo played fantastic last night… If we can only get that out of Tambellini… Kyle was hitting, getting (making his own) chances and causing havoc. Nice job!

4. Joey was yeoman like out there. He did not blow you away, but made some great saves when he needed to.

5. Henrik… Love him or hate him, he has been outstanding, and has given his team at least 3-4 wins solely on his shoulders.

6. I see the Wade Redden lovefest is over with the Ranger fans. Truth be told, they want to send him back to Kanata for some pucks, and an “I’m sorry for taking him off your hands message!” to Bryan Murray

7. Don’t get General Tso’s chicken at the NVMC. Not hot, not bad going down, but over 15 hours later…. (Yes Dee and Doug on the Box — ) I know!

8. Some of these fans are just abusive (and I say BOTH sides, but the Ranger fans get the brunt, because it is my blog, and it is not their building). An idiot was standing up in front of my friends, and they politely asked him to sit down, that they could not see the game. Not only was this drunken fool rude, but challenged my friends father (who is in his 80′s to a fight). What a real hero, eh?

9. I am having too much fun in the box! These guys (and yes, lady – Dee), made me feel right at home. It is a great fraternity – (even if Tom L will decide to join us one of these days… LOL!)

10. We are 30th in the league, and there is no getting lower. We can only climb from here.

11. Hopefully we will see Andy Sutton back on Thursday. We need him BADLY!

12. Martinek may be back in a couple of weeks.

13. Say a prayer that Witter is not as badly hurt as we fear…

14. Glad to see Park getting some points and getting rid of those minuses that he had last week. He has to improve more, if he wants to repeat as the Nystrom award winner.

15. Are those new jerseys great! Finally, no complaints about a uniform we wear. And if you are complaining, what the hell is wrong with you?

16. The goal song… Again — play Lady of Spain. As long as we score more than the opponents – I dont give a rats behind what they play.

There – that is enough for now. Have a good day everyone, and don’t forget to listen to the New York Hockey Report on the Blog Talk Radio Network, on Wednesdays at 9PM.

Posted under Blog Box, Islanders 08-09, NY Hockey Report, Ramblings

1st period

Got here at 645 – loaded with Ranger fans… Ugh!

MacDonald in net – Hilbert Thompson and Sim up front – Pock and Streit on D.

20 seconds before Potvin chant started…. 56 seconds in – Rangers get a lucky goal that bounced off MacDonald as he was getting back to the net. It is going to be a looooooong night!

1:45 – Isles showing a little pressure – get a PP – this is crucial! Great start — 2 shots by Neilsen and Streit. Nice vision by Weight to see Hunter in front – for a one time in the slot. Nice save by Lundqvist.

4:40 – Kyle got a golden opportunity up front and missed high. Zherdev with some bad mistakes so far (although he got an assist on the Drury goal).

5:31 – another PP = keep the pressure on… Not as much – 1 shot through 90 seconds.

So far – not so bad…. If we can get rid of those 1st minute period goals (I think that is 4 for the season so far).

8: 37 – Gervais – holding – lets see how the PK does…. Joey – nice 2 point blank saves on Naslund… Great job. Cleaing up the garbage in front of the net….

11:54 – Ises getting sloppy and slow. Need to pick up the tempo.

Can not blog and watch game. Will give a little more analysis during 2nd frame.

And sure enough, as I walk away from the blog, to visit my wife, Okie scores, at 19:52.

Note: my buddy, Chris Pepe told me that DP’s situation is a lower body injury, not related to the knee, and will need further evaluation…. Makes you go hmmmmm..

2nd Period

4:25 – Drury hit in the shield with the puck… Nothing much going on at this point.

4:41 – Hillen – bad penalty — taking down Prucha. Rangers to PP

6:54 – Park inadvertently clipped Zherdev – 2 man PP for 1:12 – time for Isles to get real focused… Ranger take time out – Bruno – Campi and Thompson. 1 penalty down – only 1 shot for the Rangers. Nice job by Campy and Bruno. Great job by Streit. His d lately is NOT a liability.

Hearing the Let’s go Islanders chants now. Crowd getting into it, and Dee is bopping next to me.

The ice tonight is as choppy as it was on Saturday. Actually, it is worse.

Voros – Thompson fight – nice job by Nate – and Voros actually pnched himself (credit to Doug – my fellow blog boxer)

Point blank save by MacDonald on Dubinsky.

16:16 – Callahan scores off of a deflection in front of the net. First fight in the stands… Section 330. That is when you know that you ARE at a Ranger-Islander game…. 5 minutes later – still some movement by the security guards.

2 periods in the books – and only down 2-1 – I will take that. Just need to keep the sustained pressure going, and get some good chances. Joey Mac is keeping these guys in the game.

Assessment by the blog boxers… They are happy with Joey right now.

So far after 2 – 10 of 25 shots by Isles on man advantage. Okposo with 5 shots, Sim with 4. Park, Okposo and Comrie +1, Pock -2, Streit with 18:12 TOI leads both teams. Skinner with only 4:44 low on the Isles – Orr with 1:56 – low for the Rangers.

3rd period

What do we need…. Pucks and bodies on net, that is paramount. Will we get it? 20 minutes to find out…

2:17 – penalty on Zherdev – PP meeds to score now! And Guerin screwed that up, tugging on Sjostrom’s stick while in the o-zone. Back to the corner of the room for that infraction.

Joey Mac playing a strong game, trying to keep it as simple as possible. So is “AMAZING” Andy Hilbert. Good PK – nice job.

Bergenheim – doing his Walt “Clyde” Frazier impersanation with the puck, and grabbed Zherdev as the first penalty was called, and then got one himself… Whoops.

6:42 – MacDonald took a shot off the side of his melon, but looks to be ok. It hurt just watching it.

6:52 – the crucial 2 goal lead just happened on a 4 on 4. The shot by Gomez just snuck over the shoulder of MacDonald. Now the Rangers fans wont keep quiet. Right now – the Isles need to get some chances to the net, and make some traffic like they did in the 2nd and 3rd the other night.

Another skirmish in section 337.

Bergenheim clipped Voros – Weight got 2 for hi sticks. 5 on 3 – god – we have to kill this. And Drury scores again – 4-1. That does it. Now the obnoxiousness begins. Another fight in 339.

Now the building is 3/4 Ranger fans. At least we can say that our team woke up Drury. Park with a breakway – deflected away.

Security going up to 314 now. The yellow shirts are having a busy night tonight!

Voros laid out a nasty hit on Hillen. Guerin stood up for his teammate. The fights are all over the stands. It is a war in Uniondale.

Three Islander Stars of the Game.

3. Okposo – 1st goal of the year
2. Guerin – stood up to big bad Voros – I like that.
1. MacDonald – Kept the team in the game.
1.

Posted under Blog Box, Islanders 08-09

Game 1 of 6 in this great rivalry is renewed tonight.

The Rangers, as we all know, are flying high right now – even with a woozy coach. Zherdev is playing like the guy that Columbus THOUGHT would be. Right now, Jagr is the last thing that they are missing at this point.

Ricky is seeing an unknown doctor about an unknown ailment. Danis was called up as an emergency. If there was ever a time for Joey Mac to stand up — it’s tonight!

The looks of things, it should be a Ranger walkover tonight. However, you never know with this rivalry. Hopefully the boys will take the 60 shot barrage from Saturday night, and take the positives from it and put it to tonight.

We can only hope.

Will blog from the game tonight – should be a cracking night! Will also see if the Phils win it all tonight – yuck!

Posted under Blog Box, Islanders 08-09, Ramblings

Got to the box late, so did not get to see warmup. Sutton out, Hillen in and shockingly, so is Richard Park. But he is -5, and the worst on the squad. ** SCRATCH THAT – Park is laying. Strike 1 to Roger Luce.

BTW – Booster Club note – next meeting is 11/19 at the Long Island Marriott, guest will be Kyle Okposo.

Chad Larose just beat Ricky like a rented mule when Pock failed to clear a puck out of the zone. Looked like he either surprised him, or his legs are just not quick. Less than a minute later a scrum in front of Ricky, and the play under review. – NO GOAL.

Last few minutes – the team has played with a little more passion. We (the blog boxers) are having a over under on how many times the team takes shots from the outside. I say 18, and I have heard 27 and 36.

Freddy Meyer trying out for the WWE with a headlock and take down of Eric Staal.

And Ricky just blew another one, this time off the face off. If this continues – there will be about 500 people here by the time the game is over.

Carolina took a penalty – Cam Moore for handling the puck outside the trapezoid. See if the PP takes advantage and make plays. Well – uh – no. Two shots, but nothing much.

So far – 3 outside shots out of 8.

Okposo on the PP had a golden opportunity in front of awide open net, and had a brain fart…. Needless to say, the fans were not happy.

Streit just saved us from three by getting in front of a wide open net to the left of DP.

Going to sit the 2nd back in section 317. Hopefully the third period will be better (and the 2nd too).

2nd period analysis – Ricky out – looked like he may have ‘tweaked’ himself at the end of period 1. McDonald was left to dry by Freddy Meyer makking a lousy pass towards Mark Streit. The goal by him made the crowd a little happy.

They have 38 shots in 2 period (21 in period 2). The effort is much better, but the thoughts from the crowd (I sat in 317 this period), is so negative, it kills me. Right now – this team needs a shot off someones arse an in the net. Definitely a little bit of luck is needed…

Third Period

Great SHG by Bergenheim. Meyer and Bergie on a two on one – Bergie with a fantastic deke beating Ward to cut it to one.

This team is looking the way it is supposed to. But right away, Bayda got one past MacDonald to bring the deficit back to two. Just when you get the crowd going, splat. Back to the negativity.

Another PP – and another chance to get the crowd back into the game. Brandon Sutter was absolutely clocked by Doug Weight. Absolutely clean hit, but Carolina stood up for their guy. Both team’s trainers were out right away… Hope he is ok. He got up on his own power, but you will not see him in a game for a while.

Important PP now – Isles at 50 shots. Streit on the PP – 4-3. Wow – this is going to be a game,folks. What a blast. Now we know why the PP in Montreal is missing him!

Will blog the three stars, and locker room stuff tomorrow.

Thanks for reading!

Posted under Blog Box, Islanders 08-09

Pre game notes – Campy in the lineup. Hillen out.

Crowd sparse… A question I heard while walking around the arena….

Where is Monica the Ice Girl??? I guess that question is more important that wat lineups are being set for the Stars or the Isles? Very interesting.

Food critic – Chicken tenders and fries at Gate 11 – grade them a B-. could be a little better, but Nathan’s is always good.

The Avery sucks chants started before the Anthem. Geez, our fans are so forgiving, aren’t they?

Starting Lineup for Isles

Gervais and Streit on D
Neilsen, Tambellini and Hunter up front
DP in net…

1:10 in P1 – Avery in to a booing ovation… Okposo brushes by and Avery turtles like the gutless puke that he is… Yes that was a Travis Green name, but it has now been passed onto the right guy. Erikson makes the Isles pay on the PP.

14:13 in P1 – just when they start to look good (couple of chances by Park and Okposo), Morrow come down and pushes one underneath DP, for a 2-0 lead. The natives are getting restless and the door to the bench is getting slammed more and more.

This needs a good bit of confidence. Right now – it is not coming at all. It is interesting to hear Gordon scream from across the ice. Another stupid penalty for the Isles to take (Bergie). Have to stop grabbing and move your feet more. This Stars team is not fleet of foot. They should be taking advantage of that.

18:22 of P1 – Erikson again. I can see the veins popping out of Gordon’s neck. This is not fun.

I will be sitting in my seat for Period 2 -and will be back at the Box for period 3. Hope it is a little better this time…..

Analysis after 2 periods….

At least Billy G got in the scorebook off some nice passes from Streit and Bergie. However, not taking advantage of a full 2 minute 5 on3 plus another minute of advantage folllowing that. Just horrible. I am not questioning effort, per se; but when a power play struggles, it sems to constantly look for the perfect pass and the perfect play. I will not name names, but numbers, maybe….

89?

I wonder what the talk is at the GM meetings in Chicago?

Stats after 2:

Park -3. Okoposo, Gervais, Comrie -2
Guerin and Weight – +1

Streit 19:29 ice time. Gervais – 18:04

Nothing much else to be happy about…

3:28 – P3 – The Islanders are the last team to get a goal from a defensemen as Mark Streit scores to cut the lead to 3. As Section 317 says:

It’s a Power Play goal…… xxxx you, Sam Rosen! And Joe Micheletti too!

Still too much look for the home run pass….. Section 301 just LOVES Billy G. but they are more concerned about his life after hockey.

Around the 5 minute mark left – Sim gave a nice shot to Avery – nothing came about, but it looked nice….

Will add some comments tomorrow to this (after game locker room quotes).

From the locker room after the game.

Guerin – (paraphrasing) – putting too much on the PK’ers. Witt loss is tough, but it means that others have to step up. Ribiero had a great game, Modano looked good for 37 (is actually 38).

DiPietro – fans have the right to feel how they want. The fans are passionate about the game, and hate to see the team lose.

I think practice will contain a little bit of soul searching, and finding ways to stay out of the box. Especially against a Carolina team that is quick and tough. You have to stay focused, and make an effort to not grab and clutch to keep them in bay.

Good luck in practice today boys!

Posted under Blog Box, Islanders 08-09

Would you want to bring HIM home to your family?

I am sure that he will still be booded and jeered every time he comes on the ice. The image is still prevalent to Islander fans everywhere.

The Stars got totally pasted last night against the Devs. NJ looked awesome and Turco was definitely not himself. I am sure that Mr. Tippet will have these guys pumped for tonight. Dallas has not started that well, and this will be a game to make a serious point.

The Isles in the good game, bad game mode, are in for a good game, and with three days off, the guys should be ready to breathe fire. DP will be in net for the first time in the home sweater. Interested to see how the fans react to him. Kudos to MacDonald for the great job that he did. I hope that Gordon will work on using him more frequently than other coaches that used their backups.

Will be in the Blog Box tonight for periods 1 and 3. I will sit in my seat with my wife in period 2. Well – I have not been there this season, and I need to feel that old seat for a little while. I will try and blog during the game. If you are on AOL, IM me (nyibc1), or on MSN (nyiboosterclub@hotmail.com).

See you then!

Posted under Blog Box, Islanders 08-09, Player Analysis

Mark Parrish, according to Chris Botta, has signed a 25 game tryout contract with the Sound Tigers. It gives him an opportunity to return to the Isles at some point.

Interesting….

What do you think of his return to the Island…??? Make a comment, and let me know.

Thanks,

Gary

Posted under Islanders 08-09

Glad to see Campy back on ice. He needs to get back as soon as possible. He lost some valuable time, and we could use him. As much as I want to see Jack Hillen succeed, I think he needs some AHL seasoning. This move could do just that.

The Stars are in tomorrow, after seeing the Rock tonight. I hear that Nate Thompson (according to my friend, Mr. Botta) may get to be the ‘in your face guy’ with Mr. Avery. He was pretty calm against the Ranger$ the other night; it will be interesting to see how he is at one of his favorite buildings to play in.

Will blog at the game tomorrow night. If you are at home, and you have your computer on, please IM me (if you have AOL). My ID is NYIBC1. I will be glad to add your comments to the blog tomorrow night.

BTW – update on Mom… The surgery went well. She is due to go back to the rehab center this morning. Thanks for all the well wishes…

Posted under Islanders 08-09

Hanging around a hospital waiting room can make you a little nutzo. I figured I would write a little, and take away some of the anxiousness and thoughts. Although my mothers surgery is routine (skin graft), she is 82, and has a history of breathing issues and COPD to boot. So…..

I decided to come up with some thoughts that have been entering my mind after 5 completed games. The thoughts are random, because right now, I am random.

1. Scoring down, goals against up. – this is one of those statistics that if you break it out by 16 (16 * 5 = 80), it makes us look bad. To me, the only numbers I am looking at is 2-3. A lot on the boards are complaining and moaning, but hey, at least we have two wins. Look at Philly (0), Tampa (0), Anaheim (1) and Calgary (1). It is not so bad yet…. Don’t jump off the ship… and you know who you are…

2. What happened to Jon Sim? I guess he is just not used to playing so many games….. (bad joke, I know). He as pushed down to the 4th line, and his T.O.I. has dropped significantly. He is just not being the ‘pest’ that he was in the first two games of the season. Those kind of players will get their games back. It is just usually a ‘brain fart’ and back in the saddle again. I expect him to play much stronger against Dallas (one of his old stomping grounds).

3. The “Streit” Confidence factor. He is not scoring goal yet, but #2 has logged some serious minutes for the Isles this season, and it is just not all offensive situations. He has been seriously relied upon for the PK and major 5 on 5 situations. He has responded ok. With Martinek on the shelf again, he will be needed more and more, until him, Sutton and Campy return to the lineup.

4. Gordon leaving… What dope was on the serious spiked Kool-Aid when they said that they thought the coach was leaving after 3 games. Do they write for a soap opera in their spare time too? Maybe they will come up with a cliff hanger that a player will develop a serious illness an die on the training table too? Scott is here for a while and hopefully, when the guys fully endear to his style of play, the team will be better.

5. Tinkerbell… My name for Mike Comrie. It is not that I do not like the guy, I do… but he seems to try and dodge a play, or try and make a ‘too cute’ effort, to get an “ESPN” like move. You would figure for a player of his age, that has now been on 5 different teams, that maybe, just maybe, he would get the idea that he needs to change his style a little and adapt. Hey Mike, here is an idea, you have a stick, and the object is to take that stick and strike the puck towards a goal. Copying a line from Nike, JUST DO IT!

6. Line changing – going back to Scott for a second, I am glad he is making small changes. I like Ted, but it seemed that he changed lines so much (even from period to period), that I could imagine what hewas like on an extra value line at Burger King. Scott seems to be making changes, and trying to keep them going for a little while, before attempting another change. I know that this is only 5 games into the tenure, and I could be proven wrong a little bit, but I am liking the approach. He is not wavering his philosophy and we will wait and see what happens.

7. DP – I am glad to say that he played a good game on Saturday night. The first goal, I think no one would have stopped. The second… well, but overall, he made some great saves, and kept his team in the battle. He looked good going from side to side, and did not seem to let his injuries get the best of him. Gordon started him slowly, and it seemed that everyone wanted to kill him for that. But once again, I applaud that fact that he stuck to his guns. MacDonald, for the most part, played a yeoman like effort and he seems to be relied upon when needed.

8. Crowds – for the most part, the first two games were loud and almost filled. I am interested to see how much we get this weekend. Dallas on a Thursday night does not scream “WALKUPS!” Carolina on Saturday should be interesting as well. The team is promoting games, and doing what they can, and I know that they are trying. Some people do not believe how much the back office is doing, but I am one that believes they are. Fans are so fickle, and have been hurt so much, that I can totally understand their feelings. However, give it a chance. Rome wasn’t built in a day. It make take more years, but I have the feeling that eventually, it all will work.

9. Blog box – yes, the number of people involved has increased, but I think that is all good. For the first part, a number of them are not able to come every game, so when they can, it gives them the chance to get involved. For others like me, BD, Mike and those who have season tickets, we will be there to report. I have heard that their were some issues with the people they chose. I happen to think that they got a good cross-section of people, opinions, and styles, that encompass some or all Islander fans to some point. I think it is fine, and I am glad that I am being welcomed to this new fraternity.

10. The NHL in general. Interesting how some of the team have started this season. The Rangers with their 5 game win streak, before going 1-2-1 in the last 4. San Jose looks outstanding. Detroit, well, uh, theu are Detroit. And tell me why in the hell, did Chicago yank Savard just 4 games in? What were they thinking? And for Quenville, his crying that he was going to take the year off before coming back to the game? I am glad you are not a politician, Joel!

11. – Sheffield Steelers report. Right now – after 11 regular season games,the Sheffield Steelers of the UK Elite Ice Hockey Leauge sit in 5th place in their 10 team league with a record of 7-2-2 for 16 points. Belfast are top of the table with 20. The Challenge Cup semi-final berth has eluded the Steelers, and the Belfast Giants and the Manchester Phoenix will get the top 2 spots from Group A. Ashley Tait, a UK born star, leads the team with 9 goals and 18 points in 14 total games played.

Wow – this went fast, and I wrote almost 1,200 words on this. It helps when you have time to do this. And my Mom has not even gotten into the surgery yet. I have a few hours, so I may edit this and add some more, or just make another post. I hope you are having a good day.

Posted under Blog Box, Islanders 08-09, Player Analysis, Ramblings