Kyle's Big Night 3-18-08

The moment everyone has been waiting for is just a few minutes away. It must be very exciting for him to say the least. They even mentioned it on XM's Home Ice today. That's a lot of pressure for a 19 year old boy. No matter how good he is, it's got to be difficult when everyone is talking about you.

I stopped by this morning to see how things were going, and the practice was nothing next to yesterday's. Of course, I wasn't there for Kyle though, and everyone knew why I was there. I sat behind the goal and just watched, taking notes and taking pictures. Not many though. It was cold, and I was hungry, but I stayed anyway.

I was lucky enough to have company when Greg Logan found me sitting alone in the third row. We chatted for almost a half hour before I knew I had to leave. By the time I got back to work, I had emails from TO telling me everything I already knew. But here's what was left out of the press releases:

1) Sudsie was coaching Joey MacDonald in goal.

2) John Sim was skating very well.

3) Sutton was working on his shot until the Zamboni forced him off the ice.

4) The Leafs are damn fast.

5) Their Assistant coach's peeping whistle every few seconds is damn annoying.

6) Sundin skated, but he came out late.

7) DiPietro's MRI should shut everyone up about Nolan putting Dubie in his place that one game.

8) Deb Kauf... um... PLACEY is the sweetest woman you can meet.

9) You can see Cliff Fletcher's white hair from one end of the arena to the other.

10) They actually drag out the mop buckets when we're not here. But you can't tell.

I was hoping it would have filled in a little more, but it is rather sparse considering the 1/2 price tickets they offered. I must have received four emails on it, from both the Islanders and the Sound Tigers organizations. Oh well. What day is it? Tuesday. During the off season (which starts soon) I'll do a little spread sheet on attendence based on day. Whoopppeeeee... should be fun eh?

Blake's first shift, did they actually have to boo him when he brought the puck in? Was it really necessary. So Kyle gets the first "KO" chant with his first shift out.

Okposo Net Ken almost had heart failure when Kyle almost had his first goal.

And the first penalty is Marty in the box. How surprising. Not.

And the first goal is called "watch the bouncing puck." That shoudl have never been in. I don't know who they'll give it to, but I think Park.

Nope, they gave it to Davison. That's the only way he'd get one.... according to Frank.

First period of the Big "O's" debut is over, not bad at all. SOG is pretty low for both teams, but Dubie is playing as solid as ever.

Davison gets the first goal and a penalty to balance it out. But the Leafs can't convert. The crowd tries a half hearted "let's go Ilsanders" chant, but it quickly wanes. I'm thinking by the middle of the 2nd they should start letting those in the 300s move down. What do you say SMG people? How about it... Give the kids a betgter look at KO.

And now Tucker goes to the box. How is that power play this evening? Can they manage to do anything with it?

And that would be a no. SOG Isles 9 TO 19. But still the score remains the same.

You know, I had always wanted to see Sean and Blake play on the same line. No one would be able to catch them. But now, seeing them play against each other is somewhat heartbreaking.

Kyle takes a Leaf into the net hard, and dislodges it to stop play. Frank noticed he was skating over the bench "gingerly." But there was no trainer with him, so that's good. I just called it "Welcome to the NHL son."

Islanders back on the powerplay with under two minutes to play. The question has come up as to why Ted would continue to put Comrie and Guerin on the PP when they haven't been able to establish anything. Good question.

Here we are in the third, and they manage to let the Leafs tie it up with less than 12 minutes left. If this game goes into OT, it will be ... uh... annoying for me at least. Dubie makes an excellent save to keep it from going to 2-1, and then there's a scrap at the other end of the ice as Kyle just misses another chance for his first NHL goal.

With the crowd booing Jason once again, little Aaron takes a penalty for holding him against the glass. Penalty kill now will be engaged, and with luck it's still better than the power play.

For some reason, I knew that as soon as I went to the ladies room, someone would score. Sadly, it was the Leafs.

Time to pack it in and see what the ending brings... later all.