As the Blog Box was not available today, I had to actually do a REAL VIEW FROM SECTION 317.

And we saw a good game… A little scary at the end, but nevertheless, a 4 point weekend for the boys.

The things that came out of the weekend.

1. The Isles are capable and definitely have the ability toplay against different styles of teams, and systems. In this weekend, we encountered a Devils team with outstanding skill levels. They crashed and crashed again, and were able to remove the best goaltender in the world out of his net. In the case of Phoenix, a similar looking team as their opponent, they were able to beat them to pucks, and win the battles in front of the goaltender.

2. The re-emergence of Jeff Tambellini. Hey Jeff – glad to have you back! He looks so comfortable with the puck and is crashing the net with strength and confidence.

3. Although Joey Mac has done a yeoman like job – we are seeing the scale sliding more and more to Yann Danis. He has not only made major strides on his play, but has taken that play to whole new level.

4. The forwards do not look like young and green, but are playing like solid NHL veterans. Then you get 26 year old Mike Iggluden – who not only come in from a similar system and fit in nicely, but has 3 assists in 2 games. Not only does he fits in, he is a snug a a bug in a rug.

5. The defense is slowly improving game by game – and guys have made tremendous strides. Bruno Gervais, who honestly did not have the best two games this weeknd, has done great with his pairing with Mark Streit. Jack Hillen has taken the Campoli role, and showed great confidence in a very short time. Joe Callahan has stepped up well in the absence of Brendan Witt, and has been solid. Tomas Pock has come back, which has allowed the Isles to send Andy MacDonald back to Bridgeport, and get his 22-25 minutes back; which will help him out.

6. Scott Gordon has got these guys believing that they can take on ANY team, and stay with them with no issues. This will make great inroads for next season, as they move to the next level of their development.

And do NOT tell me that this team should just lose it – in order to secure the first pick in the draft. I, like all of you, would love to see the name Tavares on an Islander jersey. But I want to see this team grow and develop as this season comes to a close. No matter what – the goal is development for ALL players, not just the potential new #91.

Well – the team is NOW on the road for six games, and no home match until the 25th. So the number of entries may be small, but I will make comments as needed.

On the late evening of the 20th, I, and 49 others will get on a bus and make the trek up I81 and head to Ottawa to see our boys take on Chris Campoli, Mike (Tinkerbell) Comrie, and the rest of the Senators. We (the booster Club) are going to be wearing our ORANGE as our trip group is normally called the ORANGE WAVE! I a looking forward to that trip, and I will be writing entries from the road, and after the game.

Have a great week everyone. Way to go boys. Real proud of ya!

Posted under Booster Club, Islanders 08-09

Here are the clips from today’s Game…. Enjoy!

Scott Gordon

Kyle Okposo

Blake Comeau

Sean Bergenheim

Frans Nielsen

Mike Iggluden part 1

Mike Iggluden part 2

Posted under Islanders 07-08

Of course – #30 in white… Came out to a TON of boos.

Zajac, Langenbrunner and Parise – the Islander killers.

Isles lineup

MacDonald – G
Streit, Gervais – D
McAmmond, Hilbert and Jackman up front.

Game Time

Devils get the early pressure going – MacDonald up to it. With the great play of Danis over the last few, he needs to make an impression on the judges in order to get more playing time.

Martinek – on the blast from the faceoff circle – 1:42 in – 1-0 ISLES. They did exactly what I expected them to do – get in Marty Brodeur’s face.

That is the way to start – get the red fans in their seats and quiet.

Great pressure by Iggluden and Hilbert. This is EXACTLY the way that you beat the Devils. Keep this story line going – and it should be a happy recap.

Nielsen had an open night and was listing to starboard….

Early reports have the Devils looking lackluster and not focused on the game. Passes off by a mile, missing checks – blowing assignments. I know that THIS will not last long for a Brent Sutter team.

I am just noticing how HUGE Joensuu is – and what does he do – he blocks a shot that nearly would have made the 300 section, it flew so hard and fast.

So which team is in 30th place in the league right now????

Devils with Parise out there gainng some pressure. Penalty on Nielsen for cross-checking. Now the Isles have to get the PK going. All of a sudden – the Devil game is gaining some ground. Great job – forwards were just enough aggressive and MacD made some nice stops. Now – Devs have had 8 straight shots. Isles need to get the foerecheck going again – and not let NJ dictate the play.

Devils – penalty on Madden – high stick. Mr. Madden did not like the call.

BTW – the bobble head looks real good. Interested to see how #19′s looks like tomorrow.

Isles PP – we need a goal real bad! Got to be smart and just as I say it – Kyle Okposo gets it in – 2-0 Isles!

Maybe by my pre-game comments – I should be coaching…

Great job! Bailey and Nielsen get helpers on the goal. Wow – this team is FLYING!

Tamby on a breakaway – 3-0! what an excellent move!

Who is this team? And where was this all season long.. I just reminded the box that we looked like this earlier in the season against Montreal….. Remember that night????

Even when this team is making mistakes – they are doing the right things. Shot off the pipe from Zajac. Isles get a cheesy penalty on Streit for tripping – longest delayed call that I have seen in such a long time.

They are doing the physical things that they need to do on the kill. Keeping it up and ending the period with 0 for the visitors would be a great testament to th coaching and the passion level that the kids have.

Will sit out the 2nd at my seats – so will report for the 3rd. Way to go boys!

2nd Period

Keys – stay the course
Don’t get sloppy
When in doubt – hit some more.

As soon as some of my colleagues come back -I am off to the View from Section 317. I will be back for the 3rd period. I will put some comments on when I get back.

29 Seconds in – Gionta gets a deflection past MacDonald – 3-1. But 60 seconds after that – we get one back ourselves on a scrum in front of Brodeur. The goal was Bergie’s from Iggulden – another Islander gets his first NHL point in his first game. NOICE!

Devils score – I will never get out of this seat. And yes – the killer Zach got his 40th assist of the season on Langenbrunner’s 21st.

I am out of here before I can be in Hotel California state.

BACK FOR THE 3RD PERIOD

What a great period once again. The team is just taking it to Jersey at every opportunity.

Bergie got his second of the game, and his 13th of the season, after Blake Comeau notched his sixth on the Power play. The Isles second extra man goal of the game in as many opportunities.

#1 in net for New Jersey

Mike Iggulden got his second point in two periods. Look out #99. Well….. I am stretching it a bit.

What to look for…

Smart play – keep the aggressiveness.
Attack Weekes with everything. Fans want TRIPLE CHILI!

With Marty getting the loss today, it should mean that he wuld have the chance to break the reconrd in Montreal in front of the home town. A little poetic justice…

Hilbert gets a tripping call 52 seconds in. This is an important PK. Even with a 4 goal lead, this is the kill that you need to prevent a power team like Jersey to gain any momentum. And the Isles did just that.

Then Tambellini gets a boarding call, and the Devils made him pay. Elias from Martin and Holik. With 12 minutes and change remaining. we are 3 goals up. Comfortable, but they still need to take it to the Devils and keep the passion going.

For those of you that have been around the buildings (NC, MSG, Meadowlands, etc.), the immortal FUZZY was at the game.

Joensuu – once he really learns how to harness the aggression is going to be a stud. The leaps and bounds that he has made, since training camp in September have been mind boggling accordig to most experts.

A scrum in front of MacDonald has a little extra curricular activities, and the puck went in (albiet after the whistle).

They are just not quitting. The physicality that I mentioned in the pre-game is doing the job. You know that if you can keep the wheels down, you sincerely have a chance against this team.

We are hearing that Hunter is done for the season. He was only in the game for a few minutes. Fractured ankle – out for the year.

This has been an excellent game – and momentu going to the Coyotes tomorrow.

And WHAT a job by BERGIE – getting the puck between the legs of Shanahan and to the empty net with 0.7 seconds left to make the game a 7-3 final. This is the first hat trick since Guerin’s last year. What a job by Bergie!

THREE STARS OF THE GAME

3. Tambellini – Strong game – physical – great goal and maybe a step in the right direction for his improvement at this level.

2. Iggluden – two points in his NHL debut – what else can you say..

1. Bergenheim – the continued maturation is paying more dividends. If we can invest in that, rather than stocks, we can beat this economic downturn.

Quotes will be on a new entry tonight….

Posted under Blog Box, Islanders 08-09

Greetings from a gorgeous Saturday afternoon and what am I doing? Stuck here at the Coliseum seeing the Isles take on the Devils I just wished the day wasnt so gorgeous – - but anyway after being stuck in the office this week, during my accounting close, it is nice to see some live puck action.

Another call up – Mike Iggulden – wearing number 36 is making his NHL debut today. The 26 year old St. Catherine’s Ontario native, and former Red of Cornell, is averaging nearly a point a game in Bridgeport with 58 points and 23 goals in 63 games. If truth goes the same way as other debuts – it should be a nice one for Mike.

Thomas Pock makes his return to the lineup after missing 14 games with a hand injury. Nate Thompson still has not returned, so Jesse Joensuu remains here with the big club. I really did not realize not only his skills, but his size. He is a large young man!

McAmmond, Hunter and Streit are wearing the “A”‘s. No surprise there. As I did not see the last two games.

Amazing that so far, the Isles have missed 438 man-games due to injury or illness. That issuch a depressing statistic.

For NJ – of course, who would you expect to be between the pipes? Marty B – going for shutout number 101 tonight. And is only three victories behind Patrick Roy (551 vs 548) for the most in NHL history. What makes it scary, is that Marty is only 36. Look at some of these top goalies that have played into their late 30′s orearly 40′s. With the pace that he is on – that 551 number could blow up to nearly 700. It will get near the caregory of the 2632 or Ripken or the 56 of Dimaggio or 511 of Cy Young as untouchable.

BTW – my winning streak is at 4, and I AM predicting that it will hit 5 today!

Keys to the game –

1. Get physical early and often. A Brent Sutter team is one that like to establish control and stay that way. You have to get on top of these guys and stay on them. When they feel like you are letting up – get on EVEN MORE!

2. Dont over focus on #9. We all know that he is a KILLER of this team. At the game here a few weeks ago – he was stopped nicely – had 6 shots, but only 1 or 2 were significant. You have to keep your eyes on him, as well as keep him to the outside; as well as show him who is BOSS!

3. Keep throwing pucks to Marty. He may be the best of all time, but he is NOT invincible. Find ways to beat him; get a lot of situations to make him have to move around. His mobility is great, but constant will break ANY goaltender down.

4. Get the PP going. The Devils are very good on the man disadvantage, but any time a PP can work – it can make a difference. And we all know that we are 0 for 18 in the last 6 – this has to change.

I will be live blogging during the game today, so check on the site often for updates.

Posted under Blog Box, Islanders 08-09

As of 11:30 AM – there is still no word. A lot of the outlets are saying that Montreal may now be the lead team in the sweepstakes.

Also – an article from Newsday is now commenting that Gordo may have had some serious issues with the ‘vet’ players, specifically Guerin, and Weight.

The news should be out shortly. What are we getting….

By the way – I am now on twitter. My name is IslesSection317.

Here are some of the audio comments from post game:

Scott Gordon

Kyle Okposp

Sean Bergenheim

Yann Danis

Posted under Blog Box, Islanders 08-09, NHL Stuff