60 is an interesting number.

It is the number of minutes in an hour. The number of seconds in a minute. To many – 60 is the start of the golden years of one’s life (many will argue that the number to that is getting higher, because many at 60 act and feel younger than that – and I believe it 100%).

To Scott Gordon – 60 is utopia. And this is his exit.

Last night – he achieved that nirvana-like number, and twenty other guys were getting off that exit.

Now – if every trip, they get on this Exit, instead of Route 40, or 50…

Solid game by all, outshooting them, executing plays, pinpoint passing, making solid decisions, especially in the third stanza.

Now is the type of game, that Snow and Gordon were envisioning for this club.

And to make things even better, in Ottawa, a place where they are just about horrible in… This team over its past 42 games before last season, only won 5 games. Last season, the Isles were 2 for 4.

Now – 1 and 0 for the rematch tomorrow night.

Congrats to Josh Bailey for getting point number 1 last night. Great sense of mind to get that pass over to Okie for a blast. I can see Kyle getting dozens of goals each year from that same spot. It was where he got goal number 1. I can get used to that.

Bergie is looking better and better with the Good ol boys Dougie and Billy. They work hard, and got good results with goal number 3.

And don’t get me started on Trent… Well – you can. That work by him to lift Kuba’s stick, and make that move on Auld was simply brilliant.

Joey Mac, after surrendering that early PP goal (on a penalty that was bush to say the least), was flawless. He challenged shooters, and was sharp, especially when he had to move side to side. He had one Ricky D dangling lost moment, but he recovered quickly.

I have never heard the Ottawa crowd that angry at their team. They have been so used to success in the past, that they are letting their players and coaches know about it. I think this team will rebound, but hopefully, not tomorrow.

I will not be in the Blog Box tomorrow – I will be in my seats. I will not be at Monday’s game (too much work), so I will not blog live until the day before Thanksgiving.

And by the way, 45 years ago today (just before midnight – to be exact), a woman gave birth to a five pound eight ounce baby boy, that had some difficulties coming into the world. His umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck, and it wasn’t an easy delivery. However, he turned out fine, and today counts every blessing he has. On this birthday, I say thank you to my mom, for bringing me into this world. I am thankful for having my family, and especially my wonderful wife, who I can honestly say is the best thing that has ever entered my life!

Please make sure that you thank the people in your life that have meaning to you every day. Not just Thanksgiving! Family and friends are a gift that should be cherished every moment. Even in these tough times, without them, it would be a difficult road to travel.

Posted under Blog Box, Islanders 08-09, Ramblings

And I am at work…

Will be listening to the game today – hope to make some replies tonight, if I get home early enough.

Keys to game… Stomp on Flyers early. Have to dictate the play. And, um, oh yea.

DON’T MESS UP THE THIRD PERIOD!!!!!!

Pray for a win tonight.

Posted under Islanders 08-09

Just found out thanks to Tom Liodice at www.thetigertrack.com, Nate Thompson out 2-4 weeks with a mild groin strain… Just what we need… another injury.

Sabourin and MacDonald in the nets tonight.

Jackman is up, as well as Bergie returning to the lineup.

Thanks to Alex and Steve from Hockey Night on Long Island for having me on the show. It was a lot of fun. If you have never heard their show, you definitely should. Go to www.hockeynightonlongisland.com and check it out.

Crosby playing tonight, despite missing pratice with on Friday. Satan is playing on his side. Rumor has it that he has found God and is changing his name to “Holy Spirit”.

Believe me – that was a bad joke, but I keep on trying.

_____________________________________

Starting Lineup

MacDonald – G
Streit Sutton on D
Hilbert Park Okposo up front.

No singer tonight -> What’s up with that?

Period 1 Notes:
1:00 Crosby does not look so bad.

2:30 – Malkin got hit with something – did not see but he was grimacing.

3:30 – Mac’s first big test by Crosby – nice save.

6:00 – Malkin’s back. The team is not intimidated by the Pens. Howver, there is nothing to show for it. It seems to be like a feeling out process for both teams.

8:30 – Ice is very sloppy

9:20 – Penalty on Talbot – great PP so far – good movement. Okie – had a nice chance but blocked in front.

12:00 – getting a little chippy… I can not believe that the scorebord only shows 5 combined shots in 2 periods…

16:23 – GOAL – Weight shot over left shoulder of Sabourin!

“Amazing Andy” Hilbert and Guerin with the helpers.

18:00 – Great job by Hunter’s line. Nice energy – caused areat turnover.

Good period – did not stand back from these guys. I am hoping that period 3 looks like period 1.
________________________________________
2nd period

Spent most of the period in 317.

Team looked good. Not taking any gruff from the Pens. Great goal by AMAZING ANDY Hilbert, on a great move and pass by Okposo.

Amazed by the way that Jackman’s ability. So much of last season, I thought #28 was useless. However, this season, has has 6 tallies for the ‘Port. That was Tim’s 4th career NHL goal.

Bergie missed a great opportunity late in the period. I like that they are sticking to each other, and are not showing any signs of weakness. Holding Pittsburgh to 11 shots in 40 is quite an accomplishment.

Crowd quite unhappy with the officiating. Can’t say I blame them.

___________________________________________

Period 3

Currently praying to every hockey god I can think of…. (Toe Blake and Eddie Shore to start), for a safe period, and to keep the system going without having it blow in their faces. They need to keep the effort and the hard nosed play for the first 40 to fall into the last 20. First things first, kill the damn penalty. The first two minutes of a period are the worst for this team.

Hopefully, being only up 1 instead of 2 or 3 is a good thing…

Big save for Joey Mac!

Another great opportunity by Kyle falls short. More confidence and those go in. OK – we got through first 4 minutes and so far, ok.

It it easy to see how Streit is overlooked on his defensive abilities. However, in afoot race, he had te presence in mind to work on positioning, so that if he lost in the footrace, he would not get beat on the play. I like his demeanor.

Pitt just hit the crossbar. phew!

It is amazing how much a puck bounces on this ice. Where were the good old days, when players loved the consistency of this rink.

Comment – love the uni’s but I do not like the vertical stripe on the back of the socks. It looks stupid to me.

So far – half way into the period – shots are 10-0. Four icings in the last three minutes. Is this team getting cursed or what? Got to get some sustained pressure on the other side of the net.

Finally a chance – we got no shot, but Nielsen drew a Pitt penalty. I love the way he has played.

Time to make a stand on this PP – first of all – get a shot on net! Well – NOT!

This team is scaring me. I like that we are holding on, but the inveitable scares me. Sutton has done a great job.

3:15 left – Pitt ties the game on their 17th shot of the period – a blast for Goligoski, tipped by Kennedy that hit the top of the crossbar and in. This team seems too damn tentative, and sometimes, I can understand why, but you can not win the game if you do nt get shots on the net.

2:14 – Tambellini finally gets us on the shot column! Yaaaay!

Last second chance, but OT is here. We got a point, and did not gve up 3 goals in the 3rd. Not bad.

My Isles 3 Stars (may change with ot)
3. Jackman -1st goal
2. Streit – great play all around
1. Hilbert – goal assist, and overall nice job tonight.

OT was exciting. A couple of great chances, one by Guerin that I do not know how the heck Sabourin got his skate on it. A little life to say the least.

Now to the shootout….

Weight misses (could not even see it with crowd standing up)
Sykora scores 1-0 Pitt

Guerin – shot in front of the circles – miss
Satan misses (thank God!)

Hunter – misses, but Sabourin slides into the net.
Is it?

Is it?

No – inconclusive. The puck may have crossed the line, but it needed to be 100% visible.

Tough way to lose 1 point. However, it is something to take. The team may have been outshot 18-1 in the period, but it was not a total collapse. The third period is still an issue. A big one at that. I just do not get it. Why do they continue to struggle? If you can figure it out, please let me know?

I think the team will have the day off today, and have a hard practice on Monday in anticipation of the matinee on Tuesday with the Flyers. They need to step out and get this past week out of their minds.

Now if I can only get it out of mine?

Posted under Blog Box, Islanders 08-09

Honestly, I sat in my chair Thursday night, frustrated a can be. I just can not figure out what is the problem with the 3rd period. I can see effort, I see that the team is not sitting around watching the opponent go by…

But translating to making plays and keeping the opponent off the scoresheet is another thing.

I just really did not want to write about the game that night, so I just made a less than 100 word entry, showing my frustration.

Last night, as I got home from work, I find that my blog was quoted in the NEW YORK TIMES.

Yes, the freaking NEW YORK TIMES!

Here is the link:

http://slapshot.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/11/07/isles-move-to-the-back-of-the-line/

Yes – it is a blog entry on nytimes.com, but still, the New York Times! I feel so honored. Also, my buddy Patrick Hickey made it too.

But now to tonight.

With the results of the other night, you would hope that your next opponent would be a team that would be an easier target to get your groove on.

As we are famous for being a Murphy’s law team, we get Sidney, Evgeni and the Pens.

Welcome back, Miro and Ruslan!

Doesn’t it figure that Satan is all of a sudden a goal scorer again? He has 8 already (3 more than any Islander), and looks like a completely different player than the one that looked like a lost puppy dog. I believe that it was more the Nolan system, and the fact that he seemed to be in the dog house. But it feels like what happens to former Mets, that they turn out to be stars when they leave. Miro is not a star, but this is the player that this team wanted. Oh well…

Ruslan, has been injured and struggled. I also think he did not really get the chance to shine.

Once again – this team need a 60 minute effort. We need this to be a CONSTANT goal. I have never been a hockey player on ice (my knees would never allow that), but I can understand that this ‘system’ of Coach Gordon’s (I hate using that word, system) somehow does not work at all, if the team is not fully subscribed to it the whole game.

But enough of that. The player to watch is Kyle Okposo. I think that he has played ok, but I really think he needs to step up his effort. We need for him to get some points. Maybe one off the butt, or something like that.

Interesting to see that Mark Parrish got a hat trick in his first game with Dallas. I can see the boards going nuts with this….

Congrats to Peter Laviolette for achieving the highest win total for a US born coach.

I will be blogging at the game tonight – let’s see if this team can ‘step it up’ and get something to happen.

See ya at the game tonight.

Gary

Posted under Islanders 08-09

I just don’t get it…

What is with these guys?

I really thought that after the 2nd period, this team seem to have the right idea for the game. I really felt comfortable about the team, and thought that their 3rd consecutive victory was in the bag.

Well – think again.

We lost another 3rd period… well, destroyed in the 3rd.

I can not talk about this.

Saturday – I hope this team gets their act together. But oh – the Pens are in. I hope we don’t get spanked…

Posted under Islanders 08-09

On a day that witnessed a country delving into new territory and electing a man, that is promising a culture of change (I am not making this political – I refuse to do that on this blog), we saw something from the Islanders that may be the sign of change as well…

A 60 minute game.

Yes fans, it can and did happen.

In all places, MSG!

I am sure that Ranger fans walked into MSG last night saying that the Isles are 30th in the league, they nearly lost another game in the 3rd period, and this should be a cake walk. I was getting abused at the local deli at lunchtime yesterday, by a Ranger fan at the counter.

I can not wait to go back there today!!!

This was exactly the display of the ‘system’ that Gordon has wanted from this team, and add to that, they system worked for the whole 60 minutes. There were little lapses from it. Although the Rangers did have 38 shots on net (or so), the Isles blocked over 20 and the Rangers had nearly 20 shots or so miss the net. They had nearly 90 opportunities, but the Isles held their ground, and Joey Mac was simply brilliant between the pipes.

The only two goals were on the P-kill, with Nate Thompson doing his best David Wright ‘line drive single’ impersonation to get the first, and Richard Park, swatting Michael Roszival errant pass towards the middle of the ice, then get it and snapped one past Lundqvist for the eventual game winner.

Park’s game has elevated, after I commented about his -5 to start the season. Let’s see, who can I get fired up now….

My Three Stars

3. Thompson – 1st NHL goal – and boy is he good on the PK
2. Park – great effort to get #2 – his stock is rising again
1. MacDonald – what can you say – he kept his team in it – and they rewarded him for it

Honorbale Mention

Bruno Gervais – his play was solid and stellar. Not on the score sheet, but he logged some serious minutes (Over 25, I believe)

Rest day today, I’m sure, before they fly to Altanta to face a struggling Thrashers team. I do not see Kovalchuk there much before the trade deadline. He is languishing there on a terrible team. He has talent, but he can not ‘carry’ a team like his comrade Ovechkin in DC.

Have a good day… Now the the Isles beat the Rangers – I will!

BTW – NY Hockey Report tonight – 9:00 – should be interesting. Stop in and join the fun (646) 716-7209.

Posted under Islanders 08-09, NY Hockey Report

Thank God for Campy… Well – he made his mother’s birthday complete! Really had a hat trick with the first one of the two going through and out of the net… But he will take two and like it!

Another collapse in period 3. What is it? Missed assignments, a little lax in chasing pucks. Losing battles left and right. You would think they would have learned their lesson after Saturday’s Debacle with Montreal.

There was some good signs… Richard Park finally got one in. He has been doing well the last 5 games. So has the Captain. What a move he made to get the 2nd goal out of the box. Campy has done well, since returning to the lineup. Sutton has made the defense a little bigger and stronger.

Hunter with four helpers in 2 games. (Congrats for Player of the Month for NYI) Joey Mac had a decent game, not brilliant, but workman like. He should be back in tonight at the Isles head to the Garden.

My Three Isles Stars.

3. Park – 1G 4A in last 4 games – picking up the pace
2. Hunter – 2A last night – all around good game
1. Campoli – 2G – makes momma proud.

Posted under Islanders 08-09

Yann Danis will get the start tonight for the Isles against Les Habitants. The former Montreal netminder played six games at the Bell Centre, will get to face his old friends looking for a little retrubition.

His stats via HockeyDB.com

RS Scoring RS Goalie Stats PO Scoring
Season Team Lge GP A PIM Min GA EN SO GAA W L T Svs Pct
2000-01 Brown University NCAA 12 0 0 667 40 0 0 3.60 2 8 1 316 0.888
2001-02 Brown University NCAA 24 0 0 1451 45 0 3 1.86 11 10 2 684 0.938
2002-03 Brown University NCAA 34 0 0 2074 80 0 5 2.31 15 14 5 1043 0.929
2003-04 Brown University NCAA 30 0 2 1821 55 0 5 1.81 15 11 4 901 0.942
2003-04 Hamilton Bulldogs AHL 2 0 0 120 3 0 1 1.50 2 0 0 42 0.933 1 0 0
2004-05 Hamilton Bulldogs AHL 53 0 2 3075 120 0 5 2.34 28 17 6 1458 0.924 4 0 0
2005-06 Montreal Canadiens NHL 6 0 0 312 14 0 1 2.69 3 2 0 138 0.908 – - –
2005-06 Hamilton Bulldogs AHL 39 0 4 2242 111 2 0 2.97 17 17 3 1017 0.902 – - –
2006-07 Hamilton Bulldogs AHL 44 0 2 2540 119 2 1 2.81 23 14 5 1129 0.905 1 0 0
2007-08 Hamilton Bulldogs AHL 38 0 0 2064 113 2 0 3.28 11 19 4 941 0.893 – - –
2008-09 Bridgeport Sound Tigers* AHL 5 0 0 302 12 0 0 2.38 3 2 0 123 0.911

Accoring to Islanderspointblank.com (and if you are not reading it – why the hell not?) No word on Bailey or Sillinger yet (although the latter is skating with the team).

What do the Islanders need to do tonight?

1. Continue their inspired forecheck they had in the latter part of the game against Philly.

2. Look for Okposo to continue growing in the offensive zone

3. Look for Danis to step up big time against the old teammates.

4. Neilsen needs to step his game a little more, or he will be visiting his friend Jeff T in Les Box de Bow Wow!

5. Give those new jerseys that we will start waring a nice start.

Rumor mill has it that they may be the permanent jerseys within the next two years. I would like that. For once, a jersey change that the fans absolutely love…. And they dissed the orange numbers that were hard to see for the fans and the media alike.

I will not be covering the box tonight. I actually get to sit in my seats! Woo hoo! It will be a different feeling for me. First, I get to wear a jersey (My Vasicek Core of the Four). I get to watch play come at me and away from me, instead of turning my head like I am at the Us Open Tennis match.

I will talk about the game tomorrow morning! Let’s Go Islanders!

Posted under Blog Box, Islanders 08-09