Ok... I made it here, and at 7:08 pm, it's not as crowded as I expected. But I"m sure that will change by 7:30.
Today was busy at the Coliseum as Mike & The Mad Dog did their WFAN show from the tunnel with all the Islander notables. Sorry, I still rather listen to XM, but I listened for what I could.
Blog Box is busy tonight with B.D., his Ranger Brother Scott, OkposoNet Ken, Tiger Track Tom Liodice, and Voice of the Fan, Frank Trovato.
Oh look....18:31 w/2 sog... Shanahan came in alone. And so it freakin' starts. Where the hell is my valium. I'm not going to get myself upset yet. There's plenty of hockey to be played this evening.
Johnson mixes it up a little with Avery behind the net, which is a little silly if you ask me. But no one did. And at least... he's not on his butt.
The Ranger fans are pretty loud this evening, as usual. But as I said, I won't let it get me yet. But I can see this game is going to be ugly. If Andy ever needed a game to be AWESOME... it's this one.
Dubie made some very nice saves on Jagr, with Witt close behind him. But what completely pissed me off is Avery running into the crease and crashing into Dubie. I couldnt' help but yell at him, but I see theres no penalty. If I find out what car he drives... grrrrrr...
Note to Ted: Meyer is haveing a horrible first period, and Frank may have a heart attack for sure. Rangers up by 2.
#14 goes to the box, and we're scared. Do we have to take the power play? Can we just say... um... not thanks. We're good.
B.D. and Scott are SHARING a computer. How quaint. He should just keep it away from Scott and let him use a tablet and chisel.
SignGuy is here with various signs tonight. Hopefully, he'll be able to use them if the Isalnders find their spark.
It's either Bates or Sim standing in the tunnel watching at the glass, and I"m sure, wishing he was on the ice himself.
Powerplay offers up nothing, but almost offered another short handed goal. THAT would have been completely disheartening.
Ok. I think I'm going to bring the laptop down to the bar and watch from there. SOG are now 7 - 7 with 6:35 left, and the score is now 0-3 with a goal by none other than Sean Avery. Wow... I'm not feeling very well. And I'm not going to look down the table at Scott. Oh... It wasn't ... it almost was.
I got sidetracked by the softball dads who came to visit me from my daughter's team. They stood and chatted with me for quite awhile. Pain in the neck Ranger fans that they are.
It took forever to get around the concourse for the meet & greet and even longer for one lousey slice of pizza. I missed Sean's goal, but when I saw it on the replay, I screamed like crazy.
Ok. Now, it's a hockey game. I told IQ not to worry. Although 4Cupz told me "If they get to 3 - 0, push her back in my direction. We're leaving."
5:28 left of the 2nd, and Avery takes a penalty. Frank is declining it. I don't blame him.
Someone in 301 dumped their beer, and it ran down the blog box sign and onto Scott's coat.... not nice. I'm tyring to type and eat at the same time, and this isn't working. There's pizza on the keyboard. Big Angry Man won't be pleased. Just kidding.
Good day for the little blond angry hockey players. Blake has a goal and assist tonight against the Bruins. Must be the moon.
3rd starts with a raucious cheer of "Let's Go Isalnders." The blog box table is shaking like crazy, I hope I don't dump the laptop, but at least my pizza is done and won't end up in my lap.
SOG are now 26 - 15 in favor of the Islanders. Let's see if they can get through this powerplay without giving up another goal. And the answer to that is.... NO. It bounced up, over and in. I don't even know how. The pizza may make a second appearance if this gets any uglier.
What's with the "beat your wife Potvin" chant? Were any of those guys even alive when Potvin played? But what can you expect.
Oh... speaking of foolish Ranger fans -- I found it very interesting that someone called Gary Bettman today on his radio show and was complaining about Mike Milbury making a coment about the Ranger fans today being more "respectful" than the fans of yesterday. She was all bent out of shape and wanted him "to be punished." I think Bettman didn't know what to do. I think he should have just said, "next caller." How foolish.
Vasicek takes a penalty, and they're back to trying to keep Dubie out of trouble.
Lighthouse Cup winning Coach Frank Pasqual stopped by to say "Hi" to me in the blog box. This is quite the social night for all my Ranger Fan friends, isn't it. Well... we all have them.
I will only say this about the last minute of play.... Dubie must be having heart failure. It was that much of a flurry of activity right in his crease, and he, without a stick. But as if by wizardy.... the puck stayed out. The force must be with him.
The crowd in 337 is getting loud with their Ranger chant, and others are beginning to leave the arena with 8:01 left in the 3rd. Guess they don't want to wait too long in the parking lot. Even my boss just left. But then again, he likes to get a head start at the Marriot.
Well, I guess they were due. WE knew they couldn't win EVERY game they played against each other. Yes... I'm talking about throwing in the towel now. I know I know there's 6:47 left, but we don't have anyone that can make magic right now. So... I may just pack it in and get ready to go downstairs.
(actually... I'm hoping that if I do that... they will come back in an amazing fashion, tie it up and go into overtime.)
And witt is hurt again. Great. Ok... Later all.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Miracle on 34th Street?
Almost. Well, that's what Uncle Stan said the Islanders would need last night on what we now call a "pre-game" show. Dubie delivered one. Whether he summoned "the force," or played on sheer will-power, he delivered the goods and kept Islander Country on the edge of their seats.
To many Islander die-hards, it doesn't matter if this team of un-likelies captures a playoff berth. It only matters if they capture the "Hummer Challenge" by beating the Rangers as often as possible. Continue to beat them the balance of this season, and it will be a success! All will be forgiven as all summer, as Nystrom said over the weekend, when the Ranger fans try to make fun of our boys playing golf in April, at least we can say "Yeah, but they beat the Rangers how many times last season?" Yep, sweet victory. We can lose the war, but these battles are paramount.
The team with the superstars tallied only one point against the team with "The Kid Line." The energy they spilled out onto that ice was just no match for the likes of a very frustrated Jagr. The Bridgeport boys didn't get discouraged every time the Rangers got one past Dubie. They just pressured more. It was a thrill to watch.
I wasn't going to write this morning, but due to the weather, the fire pager in my kitchen went off at 5 am, and that was the end of my sweet repose. (Why can't the Big Angry Man get a chip implanted in his head so only HE can hear that damn thing?)
Quick points:
1) Bergenheim is maturing before our eyes. And it's a beautiful sight.
2) I yelled at the TV at Aaron Johnson, who spends way too much time on his rump on the ice. He must have heard me. The very next shift, he was so stellar that Jaffe pointed out all his strong points.
3) Davison was a good addition, I like the way he plays. But for a fear-factor, I can't wait to see Kip Brennan on the bench. (Yap at that mountain Avery!)
4) Tambellini is finding his comfort zone, and Ted can't help but be pleased.
5) Comeau may not only share my other favorite's name.
6) Colliton should stay up.
7) Obviously they're doing something right in Bridgeport!!!
On to Thursday. Can we get a Miracle On Hempstead Tpke? Please?
And to fellow blogger and friend, Bouncing Puck's B.D. Gallof -- Keep your Ranger Fan brother as far from me as possible. You KNOW when provoked I can have violent tendancies. Just ask "Voice of the Islander Fans" Frank Trovato.
To many Islander die-hards, it doesn't matter if this team of un-likelies captures a playoff berth. It only matters if they capture the "Hummer Challenge" by beating the Rangers as often as possible. Continue to beat them the balance of this season, and it will be a success! All will be forgiven as all summer, as Nystrom said over the weekend, when the Ranger fans try to make fun of our boys playing golf in April, at least we can say "Yeah, but they beat the Rangers how many times last season?" Yep, sweet victory. We can lose the war, but these battles are paramount.
The team with the superstars tallied only one point against the team with "The Kid Line." The energy they spilled out onto that ice was just no match for the likes of a very frustrated Jagr. The Bridgeport boys didn't get discouraged every time the Rangers got one past Dubie. They just pressured more. It was a thrill to watch.
I wasn't going to write this morning, but due to the weather, the fire pager in my kitchen went off at 5 am, and that was the end of my sweet repose. (Why can't the Big Angry Man get a chip implanted in his head so only HE can hear that damn thing?)
Quick points:
1) Bergenheim is maturing before our eyes. And it's a beautiful sight.
2) I yelled at the TV at Aaron Johnson, who spends way too much time on his rump on the ice. He must have heard me. The very next shift, he was so stellar that Jaffe pointed out all his strong points.
3) Davison was a good addition, I like the way he plays. But for a fear-factor, I can't wait to see Kip Brennan on the bench. (Yap at that mountain Avery!)
4) Tambellini is finding his comfort zone, and Ted can't help but be pleased.
5) Comeau may not only share my other favorite's name.
6) Colliton should stay up.
7) Obviously they're doing something right in Bridgeport!!!
On to Thursday. Can we get a Miracle On Hempstead Tpke? Please?
And to fellow blogger and friend, Bouncing Puck's B.D. Gallof -- Keep your Ranger Fan brother as far from me as possible. You KNOW when provoked I can have violent tendancies. Just ask "Voice of the Islander Fans" Frank Trovato.
Monday, March 3, 2008
The Good, The Bad, The Alumni
As Mr. Logan said in his article on Sunday morning, it may as well have been Groundhog Day. Another unexpected loss to a team they should have beat on a day that was filled with hoopla. This turn of events is beyond frustrating for the Islander faithful. It was so frustrating that I couldn’t even bring myself to head into the locker room for the post game interviews. I had ventured in after Saturday’s game and noticed the air was thicker than normal. It almost knocked me over and it took until I hit the Seaford Oyster Bay Expressway before the scent left my nostrils. (Mind you, this has never bothered me before.) Considering yesterday’s loss, I was afraid that same air quality would have sent me into a coma. It’s not necessarily “flop sweat” because the effort was definitely there, but the scent of sheer desperation and unfulfilled potential and it literally “stinks.”
Wait… I wasn’t supposed to start with the “bad,” was I? Two days of more than 50 shots on goal and no points in the playoff push. It can’t get any worse. “It’s frustrating when you feel your team gives what they have to give…” said Ted in the post game. But it’s just not enough. “It’s just one of those things… You can be disappointed with the result, but not the process.” He continued.
I know quite a few Islander fans that play the game that might beg to differ. Some of their processes seem to be beyond ineffective, such as the Power(less) Play and passes to no where. I couldn’t even write last night, what could I possibly say that wasn’t already filling pages and pages and pages on the web? Nothing. I opted for watching a documentary on Jimi Hendrix my husband bought on E-bay and cried my eyes out. And because I am the Queen of Multi-tasking, I web streamed Rob Kowal’s NY Hockey Talk on WGBB because Tiger Track Tom Liodice was one of the guests. It was a great show with Newsday’s Mark Herrmann too, so pod cast it when you get the chance.
This morning was a new day, and the sun was shining once again. A new day brings new hope. I started to think of the “good” from yesterday’s game. There are a few, but not many have anything to do with what happened on the ice.
Davison is turning into a very good acquisition. I like the way he plays, and Colliton certainly makes his presence known in his limited ice time. Dubie showed no rust from sitting on the bench for so many games. Bergy and Hilbert were the two that skated as if they were determined to win. But they were having a hard time getting anyone else to jump on that bandwagon. I gasped when I saw Bruno take a crushing hit and then leave the ice. I gasped again when Ted said he suffered a “slight concussion and contusion of the leg…” But I felt better when I received a PM from someone who was down in the locker room after I left who said he saw Bruno walking “just fine.” Still, he will be evaluated today.
In continuing the Islanders charity work, their corporate partner Allstate Insurance donated $5,000 to the Islanders Children Charities for Bob Bourne’s five goals from the blue line. This must have been a great weekend for the charity since so many of the well staged alumni events all made donations from their proceeds. (And it seemed like there was an event every hour for four days straight.)
On the jumbotron the well produced ITV Dynasty Moments narrated by Steve Mears were fun to watch, but were a painful contrast to the game that was happening live. As Josh Bernstein and ITV have done such a fabulous job covering these Alumni events, it was announced there will be a DVD set of this 25th Anniversary Celebration available in the off season. I’m certain that will be a welcome gift for any Islander fan, young or old. (Thanks Josh. You were supposed to give me a head’s up when I could spill that little secret!)
The new bonus of allowing the kids to shoot the puck into the net after the game on the Coliseum ice is a feature that everyone loves. The line stretches beyond your sight line downstairs in the lower lobby. I asked someone how long it takes to get through all the kids and families and he told me it is usually about 25 - 30 minutes. It’s very well run, and the kids just love it. It’s a good thing. It takes the sting out of the loss for them. And every parent feels better when their kids leave the place smiling!
So that’s the Good and the Bad. That leaves only the Alumni, and they are always a treat to see. They have great stories, great memories and warm smiles for the fans. They ARE All Islanders and a nice reminder of how good it CAN be, how good it WAS, and what we all hope for one day:
A STANLEY CUP WINNING TEAM.
But a team that loses to the likes of Florida makes that dream nothing but a candle flicker in the night.
PS: Happy Birthday to the hardest working gentleman in the press core, our own beat writer, Greg Logan. Take the day off Greg. You deserve it.
Wait… I wasn’t supposed to start with the “bad,” was I? Two days of more than 50 shots on goal and no points in the playoff push. It can’t get any worse. “It’s frustrating when you feel your team gives what they have to give…” said Ted in the post game. But it’s just not enough. “It’s just one of those things… You can be disappointed with the result, but not the process.” He continued.
I know quite a few Islander fans that play the game that might beg to differ. Some of their processes seem to be beyond ineffective, such as the Power(less) Play and passes to no where. I couldn’t even write last night, what could I possibly say that wasn’t already filling pages and pages and pages on the web? Nothing. I opted for watching a documentary on Jimi Hendrix my husband bought on E-bay and cried my eyes out. And because I am the Queen of Multi-tasking, I web streamed Rob Kowal’s NY Hockey Talk on WGBB because Tiger Track Tom Liodice was one of the guests. It was a great show with Newsday’s Mark Herrmann too, so pod cast it when you get the chance.
This morning was a new day, and the sun was shining once again. A new day brings new hope. I started to think of the “good” from yesterday’s game. There are a few, but not many have anything to do with what happened on the ice.
Davison is turning into a very good acquisition. I like the way he plays, and Colliton certainly makes his presence known in his limited ice time. Dubie showed no rust from sitting on the bench for so many games. Bergy and Hilbert were the two that skated as if they were determined to win. But they were having a hard time getting anyone else to jump on that bandwagon. I gasped when I saw Bruno take a crushing hit and then leave the ice. I gasped again when Ted said he suffered a “slight concussion and contusion of the leg…” But I felt better when I received a PM from someone who was down in the locker room after I left who said he saw Bruno walking “just fine.” Still, he will be evaluated today.
In continuing the Islanders charity work, their corporate partner Allstate Insurance donated $5,000 to the Islanders Children Charities for Bob Bourne’s five goals from the blue line. This must have been a great weekend for the charity since so many of the well staged alumni events all made donations from their proceeds. (And it seemed like there was an event every hour for four days straight.)
On the jumbotron the well produced ITV Dynasty Moments narrated by Steve Mears were fun to watch, but were a painful contrast to the game that was happening live. As Josh Bernstein and ITV have done such a fabulous job covering these Alumni events, it was announced there will be a DVD set of this 25th Anniversary Celebration available in the off season. I’m certain that will be a welcome gift for any Islander fan, young or old. (Thanks Josh. You were supposed to give me a head’s up when I could spill that little secret!)
The new bonus of allowing the kids to shoot the puck into the net after the game on the Coliseum ice is a feature that everyone loves. The line stretches beyond your sight line downstairs in the lower lobby. I asked someone how long it takes to get through all the kids and families and he told me it is usually about 25 - 30 minutes. It’s very well run, and the kids just love it. It’s a good thing. It takes the sting out of the loss for them. And every parent feels better when their kids leave the place smiling!
So that’s the Good and the Bad. That leaves only the Alumni, and they are always a treat to see. They have great stories, great memories and warm smiles for the fans. They ARE All Islanders and a nice reminder of how good it CAN be, how good it WAS, and what we all hope for one day:
A STANLEY CUP WINNING TEAM.
But a team that loses to the likes of Florida makes that dream nothing but a candle flicker in the night.
PS: Happy Birthday to the hardest working gentleman in the press core, our own beat writer, Greg Logan. Take the day off Greg. You deserve it.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
3-1-08 Fan Appreciation Day
This is a weekend that people have looked forward to since the season started. There is so much going on to celebrate the “Core of Four” that I can’t even keep up. Every day there was a new email about another event all surrounding this celebration of the Stanley cup dynasty and it’s players. Many of the events have been staged for charity, but most are to give the dynasty die-hards a chance to relieve the magic and get close to their fabled heroes. I can’t even imagine how hard the Islander staff has had to work to put all of this together. It’s been a whirlwind so far, and there’s another whole day of it. It’s a shame the team on the ice couldn’t show their appreciation by finding a way to win Saturday’s game. I hope they can find a way to beat the Panthers on Sunday.
Game day started out a little tense for me because I was running so late, so by the time I reached the Coliseum, the team was just about on the ice for warm ups. I met up with some of the NYIC crew to watch and take photos by the glass, and noticed something I didn’t expect. Out on the ice was a number I didn’t recognize, #72. And then I read the back of the jersey. “HEY! There’s Colliton!” The Islanders brought him up from Bridgeport just a few hours before as Nielsen will be out a few weeks with a shoulder injury. I was surprised because we were just talking about him at a lovely soiree at Blogger extraordinaire B.D.’s house on Friday evening. So, maybe I’m not as foolish as I think I am when it comes to this team. So there he was out on the ice with the other Bridgeport kids. Also out on the ice for the first time in weeks was Brendon Witt. I did notice he was a little slower than usual, but it was good to see him non-the-less.
As they sang the Star Spangled Banner, I couldn’t help but think about DannyBInAfganistan from the NYIC board. I haven’t heard from him in weeks so I said a silent prayer for his safety.
It would have been rich if I could have taken a photo of the ceremonial puck drop, but as usual, there was a bunch of people milling around in the seats in front of our table. Let me give you some advice people… If your tickets are NOT for the seats you are trying to sit in, don’t look at the usher as if he has two heads. Just shut up and move!
I will say that I was very happy with Bergie’s play today, in a game that was lack-luster to say the least. He is working very well with Satan and Park. He had some beautiful chances, none of which went in. There were also some fierce optical illusions that kept me jumping out of me seat thinking goals were being scored, but all but Billy Guerin’s power play goal belonged to their opponent this afternoon.
I did enjoy watching Ricky poke at Daniel Briere for getting in his crease. I didn’t enjoy the two bus loads of Flyer fans in section 337. Ok, so I was just jealous that they managed to out chant the Islander fans over and over again.
Additionally notable was Davison who mixed it up a little with Cote against the boards, for which they both received five for fighting, but didn’t break into song. He also wasn’t afraid to help his team mates when ever they needed it.
Comeau had some beautiful shots on goal, but each one was gloved down by Biron. One of those shots knocked him on his butt.
Awesome Andy did everything he could today. He had some pretty amazing shifts, and I’m sure he came away with some pretty amazing bruises today.
Added to these GOOD points for the day was Islesblogger.com was the winner of the 50/50 raffle.
These WERE the only good points today. The rest of the game was basically HORRIBLE. Ricky made me hold my breath more than once during today’s game. Most notably when he came out to play the puck when Davison was right there . They ended up just inches apart from each other, and Davison wasn’t quite sure what he should do. Rick also skated toward the bench with the puck at the 2 minute mark of the 3rd trying to get off the ice for an extra skater. Every Islander fan in the arena screeched wondering what he was doing playing the puck so far from the net. He finally passed the puck and jumped up into the bench.
But the final score was a disappointing 4 -1 in the Flyers favor. Their two busloads of fans could go home happy. The Islander faithful existed shaking their heads. So for all the fan appreciation give-aways today, and all the good will bestowed on the crowd by the Islanders Alumni, and the presence of the cup in the building, it couldn’t change the fact that the game itself was less than desirable.
I have always repeated Barry Melrose’s saying of “Sometimes WILL beats SKILL.” Once down in the press room, Ted mentioned the Islanders WILL, which was non-existent. The power play is just awful and needs to be revamped immediately, and everyone knows it. Especially the team.
It’s late, I’m tired. I’ll go through the press conference tomorrow.
Game day started out a little tense for me because I was running so late, so by the time I reached the Coliseum, the team was just about on the ice for warm ups. I met up with some of the NYIC crew to watch and take photos by the glass, and noticed something I didn’t expect. Out on the ice was a number I didn’t recognize, #72. And then I read the back of the jersey. “HEY! There’s Colliton!” The Islanders brought him up from Bridgeport just a few hours before as Nielsen will be out a few weeks with a shoulder injury. I was surprised because we were just talking about him at a lovely soiree at Blogger extraordinaire B.D.’s house on Friday evening. So, maybe I’m not as foolish as I think I am when it comes to this team. So there he was out on the ice with the other Bridgeport kids. Also out on the ice for the first time in weeks was Brendon Witt. I did notice he was a little slower than usual, but it was good to see him non-the-less.
As they sang the Star Spangled Banner, I couldn’t help but think about DannyBInAfganistan from the NYIC board. I haven’t heard from him in weeks so I said a silent prayer for his safety.
It would have been rich if I could have taken a photo of the ceremonial puck drop, but as usual, there was a bunch of people milling around in the seats in front of our table. Let me give you some advice people… If your tickets are NOT for the seats you are trying to sit in, don’t look at the usher as if he has two heads. Just shut up and move!
I will say that I was very happy with Bergie’s play today, in a game that was lack-luster to say the least. He is working very well with Satan and Park. He had some beautiful chances, none of which went in. There were also some fierce optical illusions that kept me jumping out of me seat thinking goals were being scored, but all but Billy Guerin’s power play goal belonged to their opponent this afternoon.
I did enjoy watching Ricky poke at Daniel Briere for getting in his crease. I didn’t enjoy the two bus loads of Flyer fans in section 337. Ok, so I was just jealous that they managed to out chant the Islander fans over and over again.
Additionally notable was Davison who mixed it up a little with Cote against the boards, for which they both received five for fighting, but didn’t break into song. He also wasn’t afraid to help his team mates when ever they needed it.
Comeau had some beautiful shots on goal, but each one was gloved down by Biron. One of those shots knocked him on his butt.
Awesome Andy did everything he could today. He had some pretty amazing shifts, and I’m sure he came away with some pretty amazing bruises today.
Added to these GOOD points for the day was Islesblogger.com was the winner of the 50/50 raffle.
These WERE the only good points today. The rest of the game was basically HORRIBLE. Ricky made me hold my breath more than once during today’s game. Most notably when he came out to play the puck when Davison was right there . They ended up just inches apart from each other, and Davison wasn’t quite sure what he should do. Rick also skated toward the bench with the puck at the 2 minute mark of the 3rd trying to get off the ice for an extra skater. Every Islander fan in the arena screeched wondering what he was doing playing the puck so far from the net. He finally passed the puck and jumped up into the bench.
But the final score was a disappointing 4 -1 in the Flyers favor. Their two busloads of fans could go home happy. The Islander faithful existed shaking their heads. So for all the fan appreciation give-aways today, and all the good will bestowed on the crowd by the Islanders Alumni, and the presence of the cup in the building, it couldn’t change the fact that the game itself was less than desirable.
I have always repeated Barry Melrose’s saying of “Sometimes WILL beats SKILL.” Once down in the press room, Ted mentioned the Islanders WILL, which was non-existent. The power play is just awful and needs to be revamped immediately, and everyone knows it. Especially the team.
It’s late, I’m tired. I’ll go through the press conference tomorrow.
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