
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
This post was written by Gary Harding on February 28, 2009
Tags: Andy Mcdonald, Bill Guerin, Brendan Witt, Danis, Game Plan, Going To Boston, Hillen, Hockey Time, Lighthouse Song, Many Men, Martinek, Miscues, Nhl Game, Patrick Lalime, Playoff Picture, Ryan Miller, Sabres, Tomas Vanek, Top Scorer, Winning Streak