Streak KO'd at 6!*

Or maybe that should be “666” since a team filled out by Bridgeport call-ups beat the NJ Devils and the all-mighty Marty Brodeur. How special is it for KO to have his first NHL goal be one against future Hall of Famer Brodeur. I wish I could have heard what was going on in both their heads. It must have been priceless.

I’m pretty sure I know what was going on in his mother’s head as she watched her 19 year-old-son tally his first NHL goal. Nothing but pride, excitement and a sigh of relief. Considering the hype that Kyle has received this week, it would have been painful if his brief NHL stint wasn’t as spectacular as we were all hoping. But you can’t get any more spectacular than a game winning goal scored from one knee and helmet-less so the crowd, and the men on the ice, could get a real good look at the future.

My only real disappointment was that the camera didn’t pan over to get Ted’s reaction. I’m sure he was smiling from ear to ear as the father in him can’t help but come to the surface. But they did have to focus on the utter joy that Kyle and line mates Richard Park and Blake Comeau displayed. Could I say it was Ovechkin-esque? Maybe.

I pulled this quote off our NYIslanders Country message board which is credited to the Daily News:
"It's one of the most disappointing losses all year," said Brodeur. "We didn't get the lead the whole game and against a team like that, they're just, to a certain extent, waiting to get beat."

Sorry Marty. You just don’t like playing the Islanders. Actually, I don’t believe you ever did. Originally I thought it was because Ricky would get into your head staring at you from the opposite goal posts, but now I know it’s just the jersey you don’t like.

While Dubie did a great job last night, there’s no Easter Epic in our future for Sunday the way there was in ‘07. Sorry to Islesblogger.com, Mike S. whose plates will remind him of the unexpected joy Islander fans were feeling last Easter.

History may not repeat itself, but at least, maybe we can salvage the balance of the season, retain some dignity and restore hope for the future. After all… isn’t that what EASTER is all about? A clean slate? A rebirth and a new beginning? Take a good look; the new beginning for the Islanders is on the ice now.

Have a Blessed and Happy Easter everyone.
*Thank you to NYIC member ACARDS for the use of the blog title.

Blogging on the NHL

While I am having the time of my life as an inaugural member of the NY Islanders Blog Box (sponsored by Hockeybuzz) it greatly concerned me yesterday when I heard Mr. Bettman say on his NHL Hour XM radio show that the NHL would set guidelines for Team sponsored Bloggers next season. GASP!! I almost spit my tea at my keyboard at work when those words came through the headset I use to listen to all things Hockey during work hours.

GUIDELINES? What SORT of GUIDELINES? Will I, and my “unique perspectives,” fit the bill? “All Bloggers are NOT created equal.” Mr. Bettman went on to say with the complete realization that the Blogosphere is an important part of the NHL marketing plan. While the “real” media coverage may be waning, the internet is clogged with blogs and many of them on the NHL. Perhaps born of necessity, blogs are now seamlessly integrated into the fabric of information dissemination.

So what sort of guidelines might the NHL propose? I’d suggest that the league speak with NY Islanders VP of Media, Chris Botta as he should be applauded for what he has been able to accomplish this season with the Blog Box experiment. Maybe it was the criteria the Islanders used to chose the panel they have. Maybe it’s the ground rules they laid at the beginning of the season regarding our conduct. But I can tell you six months into what could have been a media disaster it is actually a well tuned media machine. There is great respect and actual friendships in a group of diverse individuals whose only common thread is spreading the word about the NY Islanders. We are never dictated to as to what that word should be, but given the leeway to express our own opinions and observations.

Certainly the first few weeks, the PR staff kept a careful eye on our group making sure that our behavior was appropriate. But once they realized we were happy to play by the rules, we just became part of crew. Just so you know, as this seems to be a sticky point in many articles I read about “team” bloggers, one of the RULES was NEVER that we couldn’t wear jerseys in the press room. So to all of the NON-sanctioned bloggers and “real” media people out there who like to point out that event as if it were a dirty diaper, GET OVER IT! If I want to wear my Islander jersey in the Blog Box or even in the press room, I’m going to. No one is paying me to do this, I do not have to be a neutral observer; I’m there for my team.

Ok, that said, I can only hope that the guidelines are strictly that: GUIDES and not mandates that will limit our access or functionality. But knowing that Mr. Bettman has a clear cut understanding of how important the bloggers are to this business, I’m almost certain they should only make the experience better. As long as the NHLPA isn’t asked to give their opinion because then I’m sure we’ll be stationed in the parking lot and not the press room.

Chasing Jason - continued.

I haven't posted anything about the rest of my evening on Tuesday the 18th, because I didn't want to say anything until I had time to digest it... and tell Big Angry Man so he knew what in heaven's name I was doing outside the house. Oddly, by speaking to him tonight, with the benefit of a good Cajun dinner and a few cocktails, it seems I'm the jerk.

I forget that while I live in a Man's World, and run in odd circles in a Man's sport, no matter how much I believe I can THINK like one, I actually can't. Certainly I basically have a male ego, because it's as big as all outdoors, but my wiring is still female, motherly, and just not conducive to my environment. So while I truly felt hurt, dissed, and basically disowned by the one person I spent six years promoting, protecting and prophesizing about, I may actually be mistaken.

It was a simple question across the dinner table. "Did you say ANYTHING to him? Did you tell him you wanted to interview him?"

I blinked hard. "No." Of course this didn't occur to me, because I have been waiting for Jason to simply acknowledge me with a nod or blink or something while he was on the ice, so he wouldn't think I am too forward or GOD FORBID frightening.

Dan just stared at me. I was worried about his response. "Well.... Maybe if you just TOLD him you wanted to INTERVIEW him he would have SAID something to you. But instead you just sat there and he had no idea what the hell you wanted. Did you THINK of that?"

Crap. The male mind at work.

Why didn't I say something? Because I know how Virgos work. They are quiet, shy and angry all the damn time. I know. I gave birth to one and she's a horror. You have to walk on eggshells 90% of the time. Ten percent, you just sit back and listen. They will not talk when they don't want to, and you can't shut them up when they are in a good mood. You just deal with them.

All that said the misadventures of the day boil down to… It's my fault I didn't get the story I wanted, or the end to the book in my head. It IS MY fault for not speaking up, confronting, being assertive and getting what I wanted. The answer to five questions to put an end to the saga and a final chapter to the book I dream of.

Instead, when confronted in the locker room hallway completely off guard by a freshly showered, well dressed Toronto Maple Leaf, ex-Islander Jason Blake, all I could do was ... gasp, pale visibly and grab onto my blog box buddies. I could have knocked him down in the narrow, very crowded hallway. But I didn't. Security was never required as is always the joke.

As completely jaded as I am in the locker room, I made the mistake of turning into a puddle at that moment. I'm a jerk. Put Chris Campoli in front of me in a gorgeous suit, or my other boy, Sean Bergenheim, wrapped in a towel and I don't even blink. Six years later, put Jason Blake within 50 feet of me without the benefit of Plexiglas boards and I'm a 12 year-old and I don't know why. Reporter? Journalist? Blogger? Nope. Stuttering, blushing moron. There ya go.

Maybe it’s because I know everything I’m doing now in this business is because of the interest I took in him way-back-when. The energy he brought to the game was the spark that lit a match that has turned into the controlled burn that is my passion for the NHL.So while he may have been waiting for me to actually SAY something, and I waiting for a form of acceptance from HIM to cross that bridge to actual conversation, we both failed. Damn it.

Thank you to my BB buddies for always being gentlemen and friends and always surrounding and protecting me, even when it’s from me.

Thank you to Chris Dey for bumping into me in the hall and being genuinely concerned because I was over burdened with hardware and teetering in heels.

So, when does the next season schedule come out? I may be dead by then. Missed opportunity, and my own fault. Maybe next time.

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.

Kyle "O", St. Patrick's Day & Irish Coffee

Having been “almost” Irish for at least six years of my adult life, I’ve come to really enjoy St. Patrick’s Day. Usually starting at lunch with Irish coffee and heading into dinner hour with pseudo Irish cuisine, red wine and … more Irish coffee.

Somehow, things have changed, and now it’s hard to find people to play with that won’t get me in incredible trouble. But that’s another story for another day.
Decked out in green for the holiday, and with no one to have lunch with, I decided to go have lunch with newbie Kyle Okposo. This basically meant I went to IceWorks to see what the new kid has to offer. Not as intoxicating as a lunch hour with really good Irish coffee, but interesting non-the-less.

He’s fast, he’s learning, he’s got a great smile, and everyone seemed to be taking him under their wing. There were more media people there than visitors. But I did manage to sit with some friends from the boards and my blog box buddy OkposoNet Ken. Of course Ken was there for Kyle’s debut. And I promised him I wouldn’t try to get some sort of interview, as that would basically be “mowing his lawn.” No. I was just an observer for the moment.

So what did I see…?
Jon Sim looking good for a change. He’s much happier on the ice for sure. And when I said he did his best impression of Apollo Ono, it was because the last drill was speed skating around the nets, and he did great.

No Rick DiPietro, but there was a practice goalie named Lenny. (Or so Steve Mears told me.)
Freddy Meyer is even smaller than Mike Comrie. Who knew?

The power play still looks pitiful, even in practice (there wasn’t a shot on goal.)
Ted was smiling when he was talking to Kyle on the ice, which was very nice to see.

I went back to work after about an hour and 15 minutes. Knowing that this was probably one of the last practices I’ll witness for the season. Drat…

So I came home, made my pseudo Irish dinner of roast chicken, caramelized leeks, mashed potatoes and gravy, pillsbury biscuits shaped like clovers and of course…. Just a few Irish Coffees.

Tomorrow, the battle of the “we ain't in the playoffs” and my boy Jason. Or as I may end up calling it... Me against Frank.