Welcome Andy McDonald to your first NHL game, replacing Brendan Witt!
(Photo courtesy of Dee (7th Woman) Karl… http://7thwoman.blogspot.com)

The only good thing about this game, is that I am on a 3 game live winning streak – and I am thinking that we will hit 4. With the Miller injury – Patrick LaLime will have his hands full with getting Buffalo into the playoff picture. Right now – they are on the hanging on the 8th slot in the playoffs, but with a few teams a few points behind, every game is a major chance to keep above water – or be on the outside looking in.

The Sabres are 2-2-1 in the last 5, and are missing top scorer Tomas Vanek, as well as Ryan Miller.

What is the game plan for the Isles? As most games have been in recent time – they have to get aggressive, and get on this goalie quick. Their backup just came over from Portland, via Sweden.

As the Lighthouse song goes on – it is HOCKEY Time!

Danis in the nets, the rest of the lineup:

D – Martinek and Hillen
LW – Bergenheim
C – Nielsen
RW – Hunter

Here we go…

Linesman missed the too many men on the ice call. A ton of Sabre fans in 336, and the “NINETEEN NEVER” chants from Loudville.

Nice rising shot by McDonald on his first shot on net. Great effort.

Sabres had a great opportunity – and unfortunately, Gervais did not take the body too well. His play has been near exceptional of late, but that was not a good showing to start the game.

Great to see Hillen get the start. It shows that they have a lot of confidence in him – and that makes the trade look more and more beneficial to him.

McDonald playing with Callahan, as the Let’s Go Buffalo chant comes from up above.

That is two miscues from Bruno, as Buffalo comes back on a 3 on 2 with Danis making a great stop.

Interesting to see that Bill Guerin is NOT on the bench… Very interesting… Point blank is saying that a deal is 90%. My guess is Billy G is going to Boston – but I am not sure. This is going to be quite a night…

Boy – is Streit as cool as a cucumber – especially around the net. He just went round Danis calm and relaxed. Bergenheim almost had a goal drop in his lap, but just missed. Couple of more opportunities in front of Lalime, but to no avail.

Penalty on Dean McAmmond. The Buffalo chants are back on.

Jackman on a two on one- pulls the trigger and hits the pipe. Great job on the PK.

Bruno – can you PLEASE hit the net!

They just celebrated the movie about the Smile Train kid that just won an Oscar. Maybe the Gold can lead to some goals for us.

Pretty much a period that you would not have minded that you missed. Shots 9-7 Buffalo – one penalty. as fun as watching paint dry.

0-0 after one….

Off to see the wife. You may have a guest writer next period….

Welcome Sports Fans! I’ll be your resident Blog Usurper also known as IslesOfficial! I figured I owed Gary for that time that he took over my computer while I was carousing about the Coliseum with my girlfriend.

The boys have looked good through the first 20 but that’s not the real story we’re chasing tonight.

Billy Guerin is conspicuously absent tonight from the bench after being on the ice for warmups.

Fear not because your Blog Box is chasing down as much info as we can get. Don’t forget to stop by all of our sites for updates as we get them.

In my humble opinion, the only two teams I could see Billy actually being trade to are the Bruins or the Devils (his hometown or the team that drafted him).

Start of the 2nd and Bergie gets a great chance right off the bat. He’s been skating like a bat out of hell lately. I thought he got hooked on the play.

Yaro Spacek takes a 2 minute interference penalty at 2:39. Isles to the powerplay.

BERGIE SCORES!!!! He’s been on FIRE lately. Isles 1, Blades of Buff 0

And thank you – your usurpiness!

I am back – after having to beg my wife to be nice…

Assists to Hillen and Kyle (THE FUTURE) Okposo.

It is still not the most exciting play at this point – but we are all talking about potential players to come here (whether it would be prospect or picks).

TSN has it up on their site, but amzaingly – it did not get put up until 800PM – those Canadians are getting slow!

Meanwhile back to the action. I am quite impressed with Hillen’s play tonight. The way he reminds me of Martinek (not necessarily his style of play), but his demeanor. He does not appear to be over hyped, or pressured. He is smooth with his passes, and makes some good decisions.

Thw directly above us (Sec 301 Row A) got Chipotle burritos. I was just going to ask if we would get any, but my buddy Doug got one.

Well – after another break – back to the game. Another good sign about Hillen – he got the puck andsaved it from going over the blue line; got the puck over to his other defenseman. Then got a shot that nearly took the head off of Lalime.

Great scrum at blue line – Kudos to Comeau for standing up to Paul Gaustad. Isles end up with the PP. Great job by the kids – “Youthful exuberance”, replied Mike Schuerlein – www.Islesblogger.com

Three great attempts at net – one by Hillen, the next by Hilbert, and the last by Sim; all stopped by Lalime.

According to Hockeybuzz.com

He took the skate, was healthy, but is a no show for the warm up and game against Buffalo….

Updated…Guerin has texted Andy Strickland to tell him that we will all know what is going on with him in the morning…he has left the building.

Andy has learned that it is NOT NJ or Boston. I found out that it is NOT Philly…

I am hearing that Washington, Buffalo, and Pittsburgh are all possible.

Looking into it…

Callahan just took 2 for defending a teammate the got bolted to be boards by Adam Mair. Callahan dropped the gloves but Mair just stood there like a dope.

But the two minutes ar done, and Jackman just got crossed checked by Craig Rivet. Doug, our resident official called the referee something that women use to freshen themselves. Sorry – he referred to Rivet, but I like the former as opposed to the latter.

The game has vbecome increasingly chippy. Now Okie is getting into the act. He and Drek Roy just got 2 for roughing. Looking foeard to see what the 3rd period will bring.

Martinek – 2 for elbowing Chris Butler — are we going to see a suspension for that hit, Colie Campbell? And on cue, Paul Cartier – plays Looney Tunes on the organ.

Trivia Question – how many times in a row, has Danis taken a shutout into stanza 3?

1-0 after Two!

Doug is praising the statistics of Karl Alzner – who is from Washington – and he may be a nice player to pick up. Let’s see if he is right?

OK – will the defense hold and get the win for Yann? I am pretty confident about that. Isles are short handed for the next 53 seconds.

Another penalty – this time to Bergie. Danis has had to stand on his head right now – - hope he keeps it up. However, the talk is still of the Guerin deal. Is he out of the building or not?

Yet another big kill. This PK has looked real well of late – conservative, but an occasional stand.

Paul Gaustad had a huge hole in the net to shoot at. I know I would not want him to win a golf tournament on a three foot putt.

Penalty on Tim (Not tonight honey – I have a headache) Connolly.

Bergie a grea opportunity on net as the PP has ended. Isles had three shots on PP- lookedwell moving the puck around.

McDonald lost the puck and got back to take out Pommenville with a clean move, and actually had the Buffalo player stick break. Great job.

Skating has definitely increased in the last few minutes.

Nielsen now playing with Comeau and Okposo instead of Bailey.

Jackman got a great cross-ice pass from Tambellini that almost caught the upper left post. Thought the pass was going between the cicles, and not where it got…

According to hockeybuzz, Washington E4, Buffalo E3, or Montreal E2. Doug is wanting Alzner, and he wants him like women want babies and marriage.

Less than 4 minutes to go =- and the Isles are now outshooting Buffalo 32-30. This has been a great effort by the Isles all night. Got to be happy with the effort – even with 19 players on the ice tonight.

Stafford down he looks like he was SHOT!

Buffalo taking lots of chances – Tamby a breakaway – shoot from the point – easy save.

Blogger quote – YOUR DAD WOULD HAVE GOT THAT ONE!

Bergie does it AGAIN! 2-0! 2:02 left in the game – great effort and execution. And yes – Mama Dee is HAPPY!

My THREE STARS

3. Streit – great game on D
2. Danis – another shutout…
1. Bergenheim – both goals and overall inspired performance.

Quotes to follow after the game – will be the next post tomorrow.

Have a great night. And by the way – 4 straight for me!

Too bad I can not go on Monday and Thursday…. Win in abstentia for me!

Posted under Islanders 08-09

I can definitely go the nasty route and say that Colie Campbell is ridiculous….\

However, I can see the reasoning…

Witt gets 5 for the hit on Niklas Hagman. As Billy Jaffe said on the broadcast last night, because Witt did not have his stick, the tendency is to get the hands up before making the hit.

However, it was a hit that executives in the NHL does not want to see.

The $64,000 question is….???

Does Witt still get traded?

Tune into this site and see what happens….

I will be at the game, and will go down for quotes, but no covering the game. I will be sitting in my seat for a change, and do a REAL VIEW FROM SECTION 317.

See ya.

Posted under Islanders 08-09

Two of them in two consecutive nights. Six games in a row, that the Leafs have had to play past the 60 minute mark. But they live for the extra time, apparently, and goals from Jason Blake an Tim Stapleton (first NHL Game), gave the visitors the extra point.

Two two-goal deficits overcome by the Isles showed they were in the game, and did not want to give up and croak. This is one thing that this 30th place team is not doing.

Kudos to Bergy for a great short-handed goal.

And yes – Witt did lead with the elbow. Not intentional, but when you are without a stick, the hands will tend to come up. He faces a meeting in the NHL offices today. Probably my guess will be a 1 or 2 game suspension.

My Three Stars

3. Jack Hillen – his play has improved greatly since his responsibilities increased
2. Sean Bergenheim – Stay out of sin bin, and your play improves. Getting quite smart lately
1. Mark Streit – showing why he IS an ALL-STAR

Will be in my seats for tomorrow (for a change). I will try and go down and get some quotes and such. I will not be at next two after that.

Have a great day and a great weekend!

Posted under Islanders 08-09

I think I have a 3 game win streak at home – I hope I do not jepoardize them tonight. I am still at the office, and I have to be in early tomorrow; so it does not benefit me to race, then race home to sleep.

This way – I can be refreshed and happy for the morning… YEA!

GO Isles! Blow the leafs!

GH

Posted under Islanders 08-09

How many is that now? 20 or so – games lost by 1 game. Elias has to have some stats on bottom teams losing so many by just 1.

If we were blown out 1/3 or 1/2 of the time, that would be another story. Take 30% of those 1 goal losses and get them to OT or shootout – and this team would not sit in 30th.

Danis was simply brilliant in net. The goal he surrendered was a tough one with a scrum – his own D man falling on him from a check from an opponent…

Nothing to be unhappy about – but the two points missed. Tonight – the Leafs blow in, fresh off the victory in the shootout against the Rangers, spoiling John Tortorella’s Rangers re-debut. He is now lost 5 games in a row as the head man in New York. And this blogger is not feeling bad at all.

Hope to be there tonight – have a great day everyone!

PS – I made the LI Lighthouse Blog. Here is the picture from the site:

Thanks Katrina! By the way – check out llighthouseliblog.blogspot.com and check out the blog stylings of Katrina Doell – she is real sweet, and the lady knows her soccer; which makes her ok in my book.

Posted under Islanders 08-09

His activities on Sunday will keep him out of the lineup tonight.

Usually when something like THAT happens, someone (#71 perhaps), will step up and be the man. Please – skip that tonight Geno, please…

Also – Ryan Whitney is out for personal reasons. Hope the Isles can pounce. I will be in the car when the game starts. Hope to see most of it.

Talk about it tomorrow…

Posted under Islanders 08-09

Pittsburgh will be peeved after Sundays debacle against Ovie and the Caps. They will not be a happy bunch. The Isles spoiled the debut of Dal Bylsma last Monday.

This has the makings of a slap dance…

Not if the Isles can help it.

Sid is in pain and not at 100%. This team is just not the same club that drubbed the Isles early on in the season. I think this will not be the blood bath that it could be.

Again – as in the Devils game – when this team establishes the forecheck – early and often – it is a big bonus. Do that again tonight and I do not see the one-sided affair.

I hear Park may be back early… Am I surprised? No.

Witt – do I want him gone? Not really – although his plus-minus number is dreadful, a team needs characters like BW. And he has also said that he WANTS to be here. I think you need more of that too.

Bergie has gained some serious points in my book for his comments about being here. Atta boy!

Well – let’s hope for a good game, and hey – maybe stealing two points from a desperate club. I don’t like the term spoiler, but I guess it will work. Anyways, we have Pittsburgh’s last home game as well. That will be the big litmus test.

Posted under Islanders 08-09

Looks wierd not seeing Campy out there…. McAmmond wearing his usual number 37. Probably will be on the 4th line tonight.

Tonight is Town of Hempstead night, and would the Town Supervisor have the GUTS to show up?

An overwhelmingly NO…..

The receiver of Taxes will be here. Oh boy!

Of course, the scuttlebut around the blog box is of the trade. Campoli got 2 helpers in the game against Montreal today, but from what I hear (I did not see the game), he was not really as impressive as you would think. Comrie almost scored…. But wait – that happened a lot on Long Island….

Three weeks from tonight – I will be in Ottawa as the Booster Club takes to the road, to see our Islanders take on the Sens. It will be quite interesting to see how the Isles take on their old mates. I for one, am looking forward to the matchup.

Before that – your homework assignment –> check out www.sheffieldsteelers.co.uk. This is the web site for the BEST hockey team in the UK! I have been a 9 year supporter of this team, and they have a 10 point lead in the UK Elite League standings!

OK – on to tonight’s match!

I will only be blogging for the first and third periods, as I will be sitting in my seat for the second period.

Callahan is in today; another chance to prove his worth.

Starting Lineup:

G – Danis
D – Martinek
D – Witt
LW – Bergenheim
C – Nielsen
RW – Hunter

Loudville is yelling “BUILD THE LIGHTHOUSE”

:45 – Bergeie on a breakaway had a great chance for goal – if we could ONLY finish.

1:00 – Parise on the ice. Can someone pull a Tonya Harding and get the pipe on his knees.

1:38 – Penalty on Streit – hooking….

2:15 – nice job by Okie – quick snap shot – high and wide

3:20 – great save by Danis on Langenbrunner.

3:40 – PK done – Streit out of box – great pass to Bergie – and this time – he FINISHED

3:50 - NYI 1 – NJD 0

** ISLES ARE DOING JUST AS I SAID IN MY PRE-GAME NOTES – BE PHYSICAL AND TAKE SOME CHANCES **

5:00 – Hillen looks a lot more comfortable out on the D-line

6:00 – Katrina from the Lighthouse stopped by and took some pictures. We in the blog box are stars!

8:49 – Stephen from IslesNation.com came back with his video recorder, taking video in the stands. Rumor mill has it that he is producing a soft core presentation of the Hockey Chicks Take Uniondale!

9:25 – Okie with his best impersanation of Jeremy Roenick.

10:27 – As Kate Murray’s video – the booing was loud and severe. When she said I am an Islander, I heard a lot of BULLS%$& from the stands… BRILLIANT!

So far – Isles outshooting 7-4 and the Devils look a little lack luster to say the least. Hope that stays for the next 49 minutes.

10:50 – great body save by Danis – and on the other end – a little scrum action in front of Scott Clemmensen. Sim and Salvador – penalties.

11:30 – Parise with some room in the slot – great stop by Yann.

14:00 – great job by the D – getting clearance. I like how Callahan looks. Devils are really getting outplayed x’s and o’s as well as physically.

15:10 – Danis – another great stop on a point blank shot by Travis Zajac.

Period goin by so quickly, and no final TV time out. 38 seconds left – in front of the crease – and no one to slap it in.

I will be in the seats for Period 2. Great save by Danis in the last seconds to end the stanza 1-0 in front.

3rd Period

Back from a period in 317. The Isles are still dominating the corner battles, and taking the speed out of the Devils game.

Great job by Sim. Amazing that he may have 15 goals or so with spending many games in chateau bow-wow.

Another excellent save by Danis off a drive to the net by Rolston. Parise has been just about silent today, expect for one good opportunity in front of the net.

Defense doing an outstanding job. Some comments in the stands, concerning just that. I, along with some others, really liked the way the Hillen is playing. Very smart, and positionally sound. Just getting some more experience and taking some cances, will move his game to the next level.

I would like to provide you a great article by my good friend Doug from islesofficialsoutlook.blogspot.com. He wrote a great piece about the Lighthouse, and I want to share it with you all:

Saturday, February 21, 2009
Meet Me at What is the Next 25 Years on Long Island
I am a Long Islander.

I was born here.

I was raised here.

I learned to have a passion for hockey here.

I am, for all intents and purposes, a part of the fabric of 1401 square miles of some of the most densely populated land on the planet.

That is why I need the Lighthouse.

All of you who read this blog and have a passion for Long Island as a whole, should ask yourself this question: “What does the Lighthouse mean to me?”

I am a young man in search of the path for the rest of my life. It has become a reality in the years after college that I was going to have move off this Island that I’ve called home for the first 24 years of my life. The unfortunate truth is the fact that young people simply cannot get a foothold here with the cost of living and the lack of alternatives that would allow me to strike out on my own.

With that being said, it is my firm belief that if two Long Islanders in Charles Wang and Scott Rechler want to give the place I live an identity, a place to call our own and something we can be proud of, we should give them the support that is necessary.

The Lighthouse transcends anything that happens with the New York Islanders. This is about Long Island. This is about you, me and everyone that has been contacted and shown their support (nearly 180 outreach attempts have brought back a 100% acceptance of the project).

This is about 60,000 construction and 20,000 permanent jobs.

This is about a Sports Complex that will attract State Championship after State Championship for all youth sports on Long Island.

This is about an improvement to the quality of life for all of us on Long Island. With roughly $60-$70 million dollars generated in revenue each year.

This is the “Imperfect Storm” as one Lighthouse Development spokesman stated.

Without your support this whole project could fall through the political cracks like so many before it.

It’s time to take a stand and make our voices heard.

Tonight 2/21/09, at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, a “white-out” will be held to show how seriously we Long Islanders are about improving our lives. This is our time. This our home.

This…is our Lighthouse.

Please show your support by coming out in full force tonight and on Tuesday 2/24/09 at 10:30AM for the Approval of the Final Scope of the Project by the Town of Hempstead. The Lighthouse Project is ready. The Environmental Impact Study is ready.

Are you ready?

wasn’t that great?

Back to the action:

I have been also pleasantly surprised by Witt’s play of late, he actually has shown some speed and smarts that I have nott seen much of this year beforehand.

McAmmond has not been bad on the 4th line tonight. I am not expecting him to be setting any scoring records, but he has played solidly.

Nice effort by Jackman – Clemmensen made a great save. I love the effort that he puts on the ice. Salmela gets a cross-checking penalty. Great job by the forwards to draw the call.

With 7 minutes left – the team has the potential to do something they have not done all year.

Witt back on the power play – let’s see if he pulls the Dave Semenko job… well – if they can get a shot on net…. Hey – if this is the worst thing tonight – then it is not a bad day for the Isles….

Unfortunately – due to the fact that I lost my media cridential on the way back to the blog box from my seats in 317, I can not go down to the locker room after the game…..

Clarkson called for a double minor for clipping Matinek. That means the Isles can end the game on the power play.

Let’s get the 3rd goal, andend this party once and for all.

3-0 – OKIE on the PP. I see a lot of RED and BLACK leaving the building right now. Okie on the door step, and slammed it home off the right shoulder of the Devils netminder.

Okie got hit right after the goal and got a shot to the face. I did not see who did it, but he is getting checked out, and should be ok.

Parise – stoned by Danis.

Another penalty to the Devils. Gionta for hooking. 49 seconds of 5 on 3. This is nice!

5 on 3 with Witt playing Semenko. And YES!!!!! 4-0. We have the next Wayne Gretzky there… Well, maybe Mark Parrish. Guerin gets the goal – but Witt caused the proper ruckus to make it happen.

OK – 110 seconds to shut out time… Yes – I am saying it. I think we will get this one in the books tonight!

My Three Stars

3. Okposo – 1 G and a lot of physicality
2. Bergenheim – 1 goal and just as much toughness
1. Danis – the shut out

What a nice effort fr the guys – something for the team to build on. I should be able to get some audio from the game tomorrow and put it on the web site for all at that time.

As Kool and the Gang does CELEBRATION on the PA system, it will be nice to hear the happy recap from Doolin’s.

Have a great night everyone.

Gary

Don’t forget. Hockey Night on Long Island tomorrow at 3:30 PM. www.blogtalkradio.com/hockeynightonlongisland

Posted under Blog Box, Islanders 08-09, Lighthouse, Sheffield Steelers

Is it just me – or does Parise give you the willies???

I hate Mike Milbury!

However, the Isles have a daunting task ahead tonight – taking on a Devils team that has owned us this season.

What to expect

1. Hopefully, an aggressive start… They need to establish the forecheck, and get physical right away. The secret to beating this team, is to be tough, and STAY THAT WAY!

2. Get good goaltending… I assume that Joey will be in net tonight after the great game he played last week in Newark.

3. Get the kid line major minutes.

4. Do whatever you can to stop #9 in white.

Very easy to do, isn’t it?

LIGHTHOUSE INFO

From the Lighthouse web site. (www.lilighthouse.com)

Lighthouse supporters,

On Tuesday, February 24, 2009 at 10:30 a.m. at Town of Hempstead Town Hall, the Town of Hempstead will vote to adopt the scope of the environmental studies for the Lighthouse project.

These studies have been completed and will be submitted to the Town in a very short period of time following the adoption of the final scope.

Support the project and come to this very important meeting.

For more information, please contact the Lighthouse Development Group at info@lighthouseli.com, or (516) 414-5800.

For more information on the Lighthouse project, please visit www.lighthouseli.com or lighthouseliblog.blogspot.com.

Thank you.

Katrina Doell
Public Relations Coordinator
Lighthouse Development Group
1236 RXR Plaza
Uniondale, NY 11556
O – (516) 414-5801

Hope to see you at the game – If you are by section 201 – stop by the BLOG BOX and say HI! If not – keep the support going!

Let’s Go ISLANDERS

Posted under Blog Box, Islanders 08-09, Lighthouse

As I wrote in an earlier post, I will be on the Hockey Night on Long Island show on Sunday afternoon at 3:30 PM.

Check it out….

Posted under Islanders 08-09