For these reviews we will do it in numeric order.

So since we do not have a #1, I guess #2 will do.

Mark Streit

Here is his stats.

Games 82, Goals 11, Assists 38, Points 49, +- 0, 48 PIM, 9 PPG, 2 GWG, 187 Shots 5.9% efficiency

Yes, the numbers are a little behind last years stellar numbers, but in this season, he did not have to take the defensive scoring load all to himself. He was able to play fully in all three zones with a little more comfortability.

He was fifth in the league with minutes played per game with over 25. And with his quiet demeanor, he led by example. I think players like Andy MacDonald, and Jack Hillen will definitely get some skills and advice from the “A”. I really think Montreal would like to re-think their position by not re-signing him last year. They just did not rely on his defensive capabilities and showed the NHL what kind of player he really is.

Mark is a solid foundation for a young defensive corps that have a great base to build on. With three years to go on his contract, he is showing that the money given to him was defnintely worth it.

I give him a B+ this year. What do you think?  Please add your comments to this grade.  I will be comparing to see if the readers of this blog are on the same page that I am on.

Next review – Mark Flood #4.

Posted under 2009-10 Review

The draft positions did not change.  Edmonton is still #1, and Boston (from Toronto) is still number 2.

The Isles will be able to get a good player at this position.  However, remember the last time we were at number 5…. We moved down twice, and the fans at the draft party were about to commit mutiny.  I am sure that Garth will do the right thing, and get the best person available at the time he makes the pick.

Well – I am proud of the guys for the season that they had.  An improvement of 18 points, and lots of hope for the future.

During the next few weeks, I will be doing a report card on the players and coaches, and will look at the draft and the upcoming free agent crop.  Enjoy the spring and the playoffs.  My picks for the finals are Washington and Vancouver.  The Canucks are my #2 team, and I am not totally convinced that they will get to the final, but I am rooting hard.  The Caps are just head and shoulders over the rest.

Have a great day folks!

Posted under Cool A-C League

The last game….

The “Wrecker” is back in the lineup – replaceing Sean Bergenheim.

Now a line of Rechlicz, Haley and Gillies, would be our version of the Hansen Brothers.

Rollie in net.  Interesting to see who plays for the Pens.  I know that Sidney will need 2 for the “Rocket” award.  But it will quite an interesting development as te game progresses as to how much time the Pens mainstays will get.

Congrats to the Sound Tigers for making the playoffs.  Already see the signs for playoff tickets for next Saturday at Harbor Yard.  Too bad that Josh Bailey will not get to play after the hit he received on Thursday.

So forMacDonald, Kohn(upon injury return), Haley, Rechlicz, Gillies, and Reese, this is a continuationof things.

Doug the betmaker is asking if this is Jeff Tambellini’s last game as an Islander.  Unfortunately, no one is taking him on this bet.

After 2 periods, the Rangers are up 1-0; with the Flyers outshooting the Rangers by a 30-14 mark.  King Henry is playing like a mad man today, but there are 20 minutes left for the Philly boys to get their act together.

Will be updating this blog after each period…. Enjoy the game!

+++++++++++++++++++

1st period

Starting Lineup – Roloson – Streit, MacDonald, Moulson, Nielsen, Jackman

Good guy award – Martin Biron.

Greast jersey I saw in Section 201 – it was a DP jersey with the name 15YEARBUST on it!

IT’S GAME TIME

Crosby and Malkin are getting the start.  Will Jackman take a shot at one???

19:14 – just found out that the Flyers tied the score at 1.

18:59 – Fleury not in net – what a surprise.

18:05 – Gillies – Rechlicz and Park – the non thug.

16:51 – Malkin gets a gift from Mark Streit – and slaps it into an empty left corner of the net. 1-0 Pittsburgh

16:30 – Craig Adams - 2 for tripping Roloson – - Nice call Doug (alias Mr. Referee – should have been goalie interference).

16:00 – Moulson had 30 in front of the net – but puck trickles away.

14:19 – One shot on the PP – not a lot of puck control

13:57 – Ice girls out.

13:55 – The Wrecker – one left to Rupp and he goes down like a sack of onions!

13:25 – Eric Godard got the puck past a diving Roloson – and give the Penguins a 2-0 lead.

12:00 – Moulson gets a good chance at Johnson – easy save.  Godard gets his first. in the 82nd game of the season.

11:05 – Interference on Gillies.  Just what this driving Pittsburgh team needs, a power play.

10:54 – the talk on the box is that this game will get out of hand and quickly at that.

8;32 – Pens get a penalty – Staal -  hooking   .  However, the Isles should hae declined the penalty.

7:25 – Streit – interference.  Well – so much for that power play.

6:56 – Hunter hit the post for about the 30th time this season (sarcastic – but it feels that way)

6:18 – Rollie flopping mad – making saves on Crosby.

5:39 – Guerin called for interference.  Iguess these refs like interference – call of the day.

442 – Isles on PP.  Trying to set up Moulson for #30.

4:03 – Okposo had a lane – but dumped to Tavares – who had his lane blocked by the Pitt D.

2:57 – As the Haley, Rechlicz and Gillies line was out – Malkin spotted Crosby streaking down the left wing, and puts it byRoloson for #50.  Penguins 3 – 0.

2:36 – Let’s Go Pens chants go out.  Almost sounded like Let’s go Met’s.

1:42 – Staal called for a crosscheck.  Ranger game is going to a shootout.  The playoff spot is going to a skils contest.  Thanks to SlingBox, we are wathcing it.

1:06 – Letang -delay of game – 5 on 3.

0:43 – JT cleans up the garbage and gets his 23rd. 3-1 Pens

++++++++++

2nd period

19:05 – Cosby scores again as the penalty expires:  4-1 Pittsburgh. He now has 51 – if Stamkos does not get 1 – the Rocket award is his.

But Islander fans are not as forlorn, as the Rangers have been eliminated at the hands of the Philadelphia Flyers in a shootout.

19:00 – ok – do we see some fights this period?

18:43 – major scrum in front of thpenalty box, and the funny part was that Jackman nearly took off the helmet to get in a fight.  First of all – the hit from Hillen on Dupuis was legal… 

18:05 – Islanders PP Goal – #30 for Matt Moulson!  Yes 4-2 Pittsburgh

16:43 – Rechlicz and Godard – great heavyweight bout – to a draw.

16:43 – Malkin ad Jackman – jostling in the faceoff circle – both sent to the box – two minutes – unsportsmanline conduct.

15:10 – Bruno Gervais – the BLACK HOLE ON DEFENSE – kept the puck in the offensive zone -

14:08 -  Malkin – gets 4 – 2 interference and 2 unsportmanlike – and Jackman – 10 misconduct.

13:50 – Moulson – two on net -and nothing on net.

12:10 – box is talking about this being Park’s final game.  That is a tough one for me.  I like his professionalism – but younger players are needed ore on this suad right now.

11:30 – Isles outshooting Pitt 17-14.

11:20 – PP playing much better.  Johnson made a great save on a Streit slapper from in front of the left faceoff circle.

10:20 – Trent Hunterhad two fantastic opportunities – and just missed on both.  JT- embellished a hit a little bit – but no penalty called.

8:51 – Malkin scores from guess who….. 5-2 Penguins. Can’t get Popcorn without a goal being scored.

5:51 – game has calmed down a little bit… 76 minutes in penalties called in this game so far – 46 for the Isles.

4:20 – Hunter making some un-Hunterlike moves,but still could not get the puck past Johnson.

3:03 – Haley gets called for Goalie Interference and gets hurt after the play, (looks like a knee).  Just what Bridgeport needs.

2:20 – Crosby just hit the pot on an open shot at net.

0:31 – Okposo – drew a penalty to end the 2nd with.

+++++++++++++++++++++

3rd period

Isles start the period on the PP.  Get one here, and there is  glimmer of hope.  See if Gillies an the Wrecker will get one fight in before the season ends.

17:40 – not much for typing now.  Unless something excites me – I will be keeping my mouth shut (now that’s a change.)

15:51 – Kyle Okposo drills one from the right faceoff circle – 5-3 Pittsburgh.  Still a game here…

15:07 – Jon Sim gets in and puts one by Johnson in front of the net.  5-4 Pens.

We have ourselves a hockey game here!

14:33 – Roloson made a great save on Kennedy.  Crowd getting into it.  This is a nice way to end the season.

13:30 – Jackman and MacDonald get twopoint blank shots on Johnson.  Getting loud and raucous. YES!

12:20 – Rollie – some spectacular saves.

Just heard that Stamkos scored his 51st of the season.  So Crosby needs one to have the award on his own.

11:28 – Gervais takes a penalty giving Pittsburgh a PP – and some of the blog boxers are excited.

9:20 – Hillen gets 2 for goalie interference.  Anothr power play for the Pens.

3rd period has been realtively penalty free, but exciting to say the least.

4:13 – Freddy Meyer pushes a puck through that was tipped by Tavares, and it is 5-5!

3:27 – Nielsen – nearly got a five-hole through Johnson.  The other Bloggers are attempting to commit hari-kari, because the point would put the Isles in 6th, and have no chance for the 1st pick.

They gave Meyer the goal, but we clearly saw JT’s stick touch the puck as it was going in.

2:39 – I am sorry – but I am not in the sae belief as these guys are – whatever happens, happens, and if they end up 6th from bottom – so be it.

0:50 – Roloson is playing outstanding.  Making saves out of nowhere.  This crowd sounds like it is at Game 7 of the Conference Finals.

Timeout – Pittsburgh

15.1 seconds to go.

Islanders now got point number 79.  Still have a chance to get number 80.

The balloons are falling from section 319 and down to the lower levels.

End to end action that is exciting and driving my nerves in a frenzy.

Leopold scores with 34.4. seconds left – what a fantastic game! 6-5 Penguins.

Posted under Blog Box, Islanders 09-10

Will be in 201 – covering the last game of the season.  Hopefully – we get a win, and force the Pens to lose the Division.

If you are watching at home, please either IM me (nyibc1 on AOL), or e-mail me at gharding14@gmail.com.  I am also on Facebook too.  Please give me any comments, questions, whatever.  I will make sure that they get entered into the blog.

The Blog will update at the end of each period.

Thanks for the support all season.
Gary

PS – oh yea – we lost last night 7-3.

Posted under Blog Box, Islanders 09-10

The folks of the Quebecois persuasion know how to get the tickets to the Islander games, that’s for sure.

There were hundreds upon hundreds of  Bleu, Blanc and Rouge at the Coli last night, and you would think if you were just listening, that you were in Centre Bell.

However, it was an Islander home game.

Despite being down a couple of times in the 3rd period, the Isles responded, and ultimately got the second point from the skills competition, sending the Habs fans home unhappy.

This team, even with them being out of the playoff dance, are playing their hearts out, and are not settling for just ending the season.  The grit, determination, and overally intensity is up, and the results show in the “W” column.

For anyone that has the audacity to say that the team should ‘tank’ it – and try to get a better position for a Tyler Hall or Seguin or some other hot prospect, should be just shot!  As a professional athlete, especially a hockey player, can not just drop their play level.  They are the proudest bunch of the athletes in professional ranks, and I am proud to follow these guys.

Poor Blake Comeau – hurts his leg (foot), in the first period, after scoring again.  Such a shame he was not among the top 3 of last week.  He should have been there.  Hopefully, he will be able to suit up for the remaining 3.

Sean Bergenheim was all over the place.  He was a pest, and made some great moves in the offensive zone.  I just wish this intensity was around all year, but I am happy it is here now.  Something so positive to bring to next season.

Would any of us thought that we could say that Marty Biron is 7-0-2 in his last 9?  Wow!  The ultimate team player, and I so wish he comes back next season.

From first hand knowledge – this is a great locker room.  The guys ALL get along so well, and all seem to enjoy playing together.  Even with Jon Sim in his face last week , Andy Sutton, would not rule out coming back to play here next season.  That says BUNCHES about the character of this team.

Just so appreciate that this team is ending the season on such a high note.  They are currently 17 points ahead of last season with 3 games left.

I just hope that more and more folks in Islander Country appreciate the overall effort of the team.  Yes, we did not make the playoffs, but unlike last season, there are a great deal of glimpses of hope, that a corner will be turned again.  With a positive outlook, cap space galore, the continued improvement of the current corps, and the talent that is ready to come up – you have to look forward to 2010-11. 

If you are not aboard the Islander train – we can stop it – and let you come on in.

Posted under Islanders 09-10