After 40 minutes of play – the Bruin fans were at their worst. They could not believe that the Islanders got three goals in the second stanza, and were really taking it to the Eastern Conference regular season champs. The Isles were outshooting the B’s at almost a 2-1 clip. They were getting to the rebounds, and winning the battles to the pucks.

With about 9 minutes to go – there was a buzz in the air, that the Bruins would be losig their third straight game at home.

However…… As an Islander fan – we have seen too much in the last couple of years that the team can crumble.

They unfortunately did just that.

Let’s look at the positives, shall we?

JT… Enough said. 5 points in 3 games, and just does not look like a rookie. He is doing exactly what he is supposed to do.

Jon Sim. Dont you just love it that he just goes after such larger players. He had to jump to stand toe to toe with Zdeno Chara, but he has NO Fear!

Matt Moulson – just keeps getting involved in the play, and being a factor for the Isles.

Basically, to summarize the forwards, I can not be disappointed in their play. However, this entire team just looked like the aggressiveness just disappeared when the clock went under 10 minutes remaining.

Defense: I was just not thrilled with the back line last night. Bruno Gervais, who in my opinion grew by leaps and bounds, looked confused and indecisive. He just did not seem to make a lot of right decisions. Even though that he made a crucial defensive assist in front of Roloson – I am extremely disappointed in his play. Although Martinek got the opening goal of the game – the back six as a group just failed to impress as the game went on.

Goaltending – For 50 minutes – Dwayne Roloson was sharp. Although two of the three goals in regulation were not totally his fault, it was the shootout, that totally disgusted me. He has faced five shots in the shootout. Four goals, and a post.

Let me repeat. Four goals and a post. NOT ONE SAVE.

That has to be not only identified, but the point made – this MUST improve. Why would a goalie that played a solid effort – be that bad one on one? It boggles the mind.

Well – I believe that it is only Toronto and the Islanders are the only teams that do not have a victory this season. However, only three teams, including the Islanders, have NOT lost in regulation. That is a surprising stat, and is showing that the Isles are hanging in there. But as it happened a great deal last season, the third period proved to be an achilles heel to this team. Not only many times did they allow teams to come back in games, the Isles seemed to give the opponent the green light to thrive. The boys need to keep the aggressiveness that got them the lead in the first 40 through the next 20. Hopefully the message sinks in further and the team rebounds to get the first W on the ledger.

Tune in – in 36 hours, to see if that happens again.

_______

Go whale!

As I mentioned earlier – my wife and I got tickets with the Hartford Whalers Booster Club to attend the game. Yes folks, I said the Hartford Whalers Booster Club. They are a fan club that has continues to not only exist, but function as an organization, having meetings, running trips, and still staying involved in the game of hockey.

To the fans of the Whalers, it is still tough to watch hockey when it is not your own team, even 12 years after their team left the capital city of Connecticut.

“Yes, I still cry about it!”, said Joanne Cortesa from Hartford, a member of the Booster Club for over two decades. “I have gone to Wolfpack (the AHL team in Hartford – a Ranger affiliate) game one last year, but I was bored.”

Although the Wolfpack are a decent draw, many fans will stay away from the Civic Center, until an NHL team returns. There have been petitions drawn up with over 15,000 signatures on them, and there are groups that are trying to look into getting a new arena in downtown Hartford to either lure a team to Connecticut, or get a expansion team there.

The nearly 100 Boosters of the Whalers are still involved in the community. Every year, they still provide a scholarship for a college bound hockey player (both a girl and a boy).

If you are interested in finding out more about the Whalers Booster Club, and other information about Hartford, please visit www.whalerwatch.com.

Have a good Sunday! I will be heading back to the ferry in New London and then back to Long Island. Will be off from Work on Monday – so I will be at the game Monday afternoon.

Posted under Blog Box, Islanders 09-10