Game On....

So I'm here, but I won't be Tom. He's here, but I can try to do some sort of play by play on tongiht's game. I would love to see the Penquins WITH Sydney, but he's not well enough yet. Speaking of well enough, I hear Witt might be well enough by Saturday. That would be nice.
Hossa wasn't in the warm ups... Guess he couldn't make a flight out.

Nice to start out with a 5 on 3, too bad they can't do anything with it. I'm sure they are more relaxed now that this is all over. Ok, not for nothing (in my best Brooklyneese) I can't wait to see Sydney back on the ice. I'm looking at the Penquins, I something is missing. Yes, the face of the NHL.

Looks like Tamby is doing exactly what they wanted him to do.. SHOOT, go to the net, and be fast. It's very pretty. SOG now 9 - 0 with 11:34 in the first.

I saw it coming, beleive it or not. There was no way that Rick was getting out of that without a goal behind him. Sure enough, with only 2 SOG, one goes in behind him and they are down by 1.

And with 6 minutes left, the Penguins are down by 2. If they can't do this now to even it up in the first, I will be very dissapointed. But then again, I'm sort of used to being dissapointed, now ain't I?

Oh look! Nope. They did nothing with the opportunity. Did we expect anything else. And tell me... why the hell is the cotton candy now ORANGE and not pink? I don't get it. It's ugly.

9:34 of the second with shots 29 to 7 in favor of the Penguins and the kid line does produce. Finally a goal in the Islanders favor. Nielsen & Tambellini for the goal. Nice. I'm sure that makes Garth feel good.

I was told to call Hilbert "Awesome Andy" from here on in. And I will, if he does something that is "awesome". Penguins a man down yet again at 6:40 0f the 2nd, it would be nice to tie it up here.

Frustrating is the word for the Power Play as they can't get out of their own zone and cant convert on anything. The power play expires and they are once again, trying to protect Ricky. They were supposed to be able to get the score even on the man advantage and instead heard nothing but discontent from the Islander faithful in attendance.

Here's to CJ Pappa who must log about 6 miles a night here at the Coliseum going around in cirlces covering everything before he heads to Channel 55 for the 11 o'clock news. At least, good bad or indifferent, they'll have coverage of the game when some of the other 11 o'clock broadcast will just ignore the Islanders.

Even more frustrating, the shots are now 32 - 10 Islanders and they still can't covert a goal. There were so many passes in the last three shifts, we were getting dizzy up here.

And the Penguins take another Penalty, but we should just say, no thanks. There is only 1 minute remaining in the 2nd, and they look like they will go to the locker room down by 1 still when they had so many chances to tie it up. And sorry, but Conklin is not "just that good." They timing is just off, and it shoudln't be. They should be electric right now. There's a power shortage.

Sweet, but not to be. At the very beginning of the third, it looked like newbie Davison had his first goal, but it was just an optical illusion. And so are the Islander playoff hopes if something doesn't happen soon. 1704 of the 3rd, SOG 37 - 11 and we're still down by 1. They need to catch on fire, now. As in RIGHT NOW.

Martinek in the box for holding, so now the Penguins get to be on the power play. Do we think maybe Park can get another short handed goal? Or are they just going to let DiPietro have a coronary in his own zone?

For someone new to the team, Ted is certainly giving him enough ice time to get his feet wet. He's had seven shifts so far. But we need a win Ted. come up with the right strategy to make it happen. Make it exciting.

The crowd tries to will them on at 8:25 left of the 3rd. Some of the are flying to other end, but they just can't connect to the net. Nice SOG by our new #3. So, what does this guy look like? Ken called him 'handsome.' I asked if he was blond with a bad attitude. Tommy said "No." And speaking of Blond with a bad attitude -- has anyone else noticed that Wade Belak is like Jason Blake on steroids? Where has he been all my life? Just kidding.

The shot disparity is staggering, and with 8:04, we're still losing. It's 46 - 13. Why can't that be the score and not the shots? Oh... 'cause then it would be like... basketball. in the first quarter.
And just like that, one get's roofed into DiPi's net and it's now 3 - 1. Staal and Malkin. No stopping them for sure. Say GoodNight Irene. This game is done.

But a nice first night on the Island for #3. I'm sure it'll be his scared butt they'll trot out into the locker room to meet the media. Poor kid. Welcome to Long Island boy. How did it feel to lose?