It has been a tough week for me…

Workload – long and tedious, but challenging and got through pretty good.

My mom’s condition has been level, but far from good. There were some issues that really got me very emotional. Too difficult to talk about here, but thanks for the support.

Anyway – the annual Booster Club trip is upon us. We leave from the Coliseum tonight around midnight – bussing through the night, arriving in Ottawa around 10:00 AM or so. We are staying downtown, and will be hanging around the hotel and downtown before we schlep the 30 minutes to Kanata for the game at Scotiabank Place.

I will be taking pictures of the ORANGE WAVE (our group) and will have them on a photobucket site for viewing on Sunday. I have told the radio and TV guys that we will be at the game, and we hope to be on TV too.

Keep checking the site for notes and things from the trip.

See you in Canada, eh?

Posted under Booster Club, Islanders 08-09, Ramblings

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

Pens coach Michel (I can not be called Michael anymore) Therrien was let go after Saturday night’s 6-2 debacle at the hands of the Maple Leafs, starring Jason Blake. Even with last year’s magical run, Pittsburgh players were at severe odds with the coach, and this season, with the exception of the two young stars, this team was definitely lacking passion and focus.

I see Streit out on the ice, which should be a good thing for the Isles, as they try and up end from this five game streak of losses. You know that the Pens will be fired up to play for the new coach, former Islander assistant, Dan Blysma, but this Islander team needs to match or play above the opponents intensity level, and take a stranglehold of this game.

By the way – the Islanders are doing a number of charity opportunities:

1. Get the stick from the player’s hands
2. Get to skate on the Coliseum Ice
3. Get to be in the Islanders official team picture

All great opportunities for the fans. For further information, please check out www.newyorkislanders.com for more information.

I will be blogging during the same, and saving to each period.

Also just got word that the ICE BREAKERS are no more. I guess LOUDVILLE will be upset with that……

Posted under Blog Box, Islanders 08-09

I did not look at the Internet – or listen to any radio before getting to the Coliseum last night. As soon as I got there, I got the question:

Do you really hate Columbus?

Hearing Dubie was picked up by Columbus was a huge blow to me. I was thinking on how the team could use the boost. Maybe not to get out the cellar, but bring some respectability to the team.

Well – that’s now gone….

So it was onto facing the Devils that spanked us in the prior two matchups. Danis was adequate. 31 of 34 were saved. That is over 90% and that is a respectable game. He had some great saves, and we all know what happened to the first goal. But if I have to rate him on a scale of 1 to 10, I would give a 7.

But that was not the problem.

Once again – the Isles were taking most of their shots from low percentage positions. And the power of finishing has passed them by like a Mercedes M class on the Autobahn. I know that I can be a little tough at times, and I have never played the game, but I just do not see the methods in place for this team to show any offensive spunk.

And that gets me to the next rant. That would be number 89 on your program, and about 2 million 300 thousand 4 hundred and sixty four in your hearts. Mike Comrie, alias Tinkerbell.

Where do I begin?

Well – in his late twenties, Comrie is now with his fifth team. That says either one of two things. Either he is desperately wanted by teams, or he wears out his welcome. Now – be honest – what do you think the answer to this is?

You can see that he so wants to make the great move, but I think that he needs to look back at what he does on video, and realize that he is NO Gretzky or Kovalev, or any player that lives on great moves… In fact, a few have mentioned, and I agree, that he seems to be living in 33rpm where everyone else is moving in 78rpm (if you dont know what a turntable is, you are too young).

Remember when you were young and played little league, and you had a kid on your team that was always in fantasy land, thinking about his GI-Joe’s and wandering aimlessly around left field? I see that in 89. I am not necessarily questioning his desire to play, or even his will to win, but actions speak louder than words.

I know that every time he touches the puck, I wince. I know that in past years, I have been critical of Shawn Bates, and others too many to mention. But in the others, I saw the desire and ability to want to play better and succeed. It looks like Comrie does not fit that bill, unless he is visiting his girlfriend.

I know that may be a little critical, but as a person working on this blog, I am not a reporter, I am a fan. I want to see my Islanders winning and being successful. Having this player on this team does not accomplish this. I hope that the future Islander teams, do not have players that fit this mold. He has the skills to be a great hockey player, may he will still be with us when he finds them. However, I seriously doubt it.

Now – Kansas City.

Smoke in mirrors… I am believing that this is media trying to sell papers and make a rumor bigger than what it really needs to be. Although there are roadblocks and issues with the Lighthouse project, I still have faith in the Islanders getting this project off the ground. I really feel so bad that politics is getting its ugly head into this process, but Long Island NEEDS this project, and its only major PROFESSIONAL franchise a place that it can be proud of. C’mon Supervisor Murray – get this going. You surely do not want to be the person that thousands of Long Islanders will deem responsible for moving this team? It is not a threat – it is a promise.

A word to Islander fans. Stay with it. We are the 30th team of 30 in the NHL – but that does not mean that we are all bad. We are team that has been decimated with the injury bug, and a team that needs help. We are definitely in the running for John Tavares or Victor Hedman (personally – judging by the WJC – we want the former and not the latter). With the cards in the right direction and sstart and planets in order, this team can make a turn around. Just remember what the situation of the Penguins were a few years ago. They were as bad, or even as worse as where we were, and look at them now. Last year, a Stanley Cup Finalist. Can we be in that same mode a few years from now?

Why not???

Well – see you at the rink tomorrow. I will be half covering the game, and half in the seats. Enjoy the weekend!
Gary

Posted under Islanders 07-08

Happy New Year!

Weight out – Sillinger out – Hunter – out Ricky out (surprise!)

Sim in – Trevor Smith in – (congrats on first game)

Mitch Fritz was waived – so that means he will be back in the PORT in 48 hours!

The guys came out to Ozzy – that has to be a new trend!

Starting lineup – MacDonald, Streit, Pock, Park, Bergenheim, Jackman.

Weight IS out there, so that means that the PA guy at the Coliseum drank the wrong Kool aid!

Sim – penalty 3 minutes in – certainly a trip to the Chateau Bow Wow for him again!

PK need to be a little better – now 17th in the league, as opposed to in the top 10 a few weeks prior. This group (Bergy, and Jackman) did a nice job. Bruno has looked ok too. He has been getting beat up in the forums, and quite honestly, a bit deserving. He needs to step up his efforts a lot, or he will just have a PR job with the Islanders, instead of a hockey position.

6 minutes in – and we are being out shot 6-0. Whoops – as I say it – we got 2.

Right now – Panthers DOMINATING the play – but slowly, the Isles are making their way into the play.

I like the line combo of Okposo, Comeau and Comrie. They seem to have each others backs, and look very fluid out there.

13:56 – Florida (Campbell – penalty). Time for the PP tp start to work…

PP Goal – nope – penalty – goalie interference on Sim. Very questionable to say the least.

I will say it here folks, when Bergie is moving his skates and causing trouble, he is definitely at his best. He just needs to get the stupid cells out of hs brain.

One thing that is definitely better is the face-off %. So far with 2 minutes left in the 3rd period, it is 53-47 in favor of Fla. Not great, but better than the 30′s that we have had in the last few games.

I will be back in the 3rd period, I will be in he seats for stanza 2.

Well – not so fast – Dvorak on a deflection from a point shot with 1:36 left makes it 1-0 Florida.

2nd Period

For the most part – I missed the first five minutes, and according to the shot clock and musings around the arena, I did not miss much. Looking at the stats, Mark Streit with 9:38 leads in ice time, Guerin and Comrie had 3 shots each.

Comrie – on a pass from Comeau and Okposo. The chemistry is flowing like Mentos and Diet Coke. Play under review – looked like it was hit with a skate – but it is a Tinkerbell special.

And now the team is playing physical. I just love the way Jackman plays like it is his last shift. You would never know that he was a 2nd round pick from days gone by. But he has such a passion for the game, that I wished others would display.

Remember we were bring severly outshot when we started the game… It is now 19-14 Isles at the half way point of the game.

By the way – it is Marvel Superhero day at the Coliseum. Only one problem – the Hulk looks like he is either on Slim Fast, or got Gastric Bypass.

Comrie has two – it’s a Power Play Goal – nice little bank shot off Vokoun. He must have been playing billiards with Hilary Duff when he was hurt.

Bergenheim – with 23.9 left jamming it home. See Sean, good things happen when you work hard… Great effort, and nice shot above Voukon’s right shoulder. Mama Dee would be so proud!

Great effort this period. Let’s tell the guys to keep the pressure up on the third frame.

3rd Period

Comrie with 5 shots leads the team – Streit with just over 17 minutes of ice time. Weight is now sitting on 999. Will he get the 1,000 before the day ends?

Guerin and Streit had a 2 on 0, and Guerin pushes off to Streit for the shot. The Captain should have taken it all the way, in my opinion, but nevertheless…

I really like the way that the team has come out in this period. Disciplined, smart, not playing a conservative game. I hope I don’t eat my words. I just don’t want to be a doom and gloom guy.

Joey Mac has done quite well tonight. He hasn’t got sloppy, and made a couple of great saves early in the third.

The PP has gotten one goal tonight, but has not looked for the simple. They are trying to make ‘sexy’ plays.

Too many men on the Isles. PK looking good.

PP Goal Isles – Streit – with a blast. Did Dougie get a helper? I don’t think so. Still on 999. But what a nice effort for the Isles. You HAVE to be happy with the team’s overall effort. The Panthers had made the Isles look real bad the last time they were here. Now – it is the other way around.

Three Stars of the Game.

3. Okposo – another nice game, got a helper and really looked good.
2. Streit – 2 point game – and made a few nice defensive plays.
1. Comrie – I guess he and Hilary will have a Happy New Year celebration

Will add a quote or two after the game, if something is good.

I wish you all a Happy, Safe and Blessed New Year! May all your wishes for the next year, be realities!

Posted under Blog Box, Islanders 08-09

Well folks, it is official now….

I will be a member of the 2008-09 Islanders BLOG BOX!

I just received a letter from the organization, and it will be updated on the Islanders web site, with the new group of writers…

Honestly, last year, I did not send an initial e-mail. I was not sure if I really wanted to do it; but after a while, I realized it would be a lot of fun, and a chance to get more visibility to my page.

So now – starting Opening night – I will be in section 201, with the rest of the Blog Boxer’s giving our take of what is happening in Islanderland!

So maybe I should change the name of the page to Section 317/201???? Hmmm???

Nah – my loyalty is still to 317. 5 Days until the season starts – can not wait for it to come!

BTW – tailgate – Saturday 3:30 PM – SW Corner of Coliseum parking lot – (NO GLASS), come on down! Look forward to seeing you there!

Gary

Posted under Blog Box, Islanders 08-09