And that's THREE

This is not Islander fan gloating over a Ranger loss. This is Sauvignon Blanc induced revelry directed at the same Ranger fan friends and co-workers that have poked fun at me since the first week of April.

Certainly, the Rangers beat the Devils in the first round. Not much of a contest considering how they beat the Devils the entire season. But there was that arrogance in the fans and the media calling for the NHL to just hand the Rangers the cup now because obviously THIS team had what it takes to win the prize.

Um. Not so fast. It takes 16 wins to bring home the Holy Grail. So far, the Rangers only have four wins and the Penguins, well... they now have seven. That would be THREE more, now wouldn't it? Coming back from a 3 game deficit has only happened twice before in NHL history. So, indeed, it is POSSIBLE. However, it is not probable.

Game three was a pivotal MUST WIN game for the Rangers tonight, but they fell short. Even with an extended five on 3 opportunity, they could not capitalize on, they couldn't push their way past the Pens. Their three goals came while on even strength. They outshot the Pens in each period. There were the expected roughing calls on both sides of the ice. Even super pest Avery didn't seem to be much of a factor with his 14:34 of ice time and single assist. Jagr was the factor tonight. If anyone could have won the game for the Rangers, it would have been him.

I wasn't happy with the Straka goal they allowed to tie the game in the first period. I wanted to throw a shoe at the TV if I had to listen to Micheletti say "Oh! that's a goal!" one more time. It may have been by the rule book, but it was certainly ugly. I knew the Pens would just be angered by it, and come right back with a goal of their own. They did -- less than 2 minutes later.

I won't belabor this post. But the Penguins are one hell of a team. And as good as the Ranger's record was this season, and as much as the Dolan empire is making off these playoff rounds, it's my personal opinion.... the end is near and they can join my Islanders on the links for some charity golf events real soon.

With that being said, I will go poke at my Ranger fan friends and rub salt in their wounds for tonight. Certainly the Rangers can grab a game in the garden before they have to go back to Pittsburgh. Right? Sure they can. But to take FOUR games from Sydney and Company? I think it's time to start making vacation plans.

And ..... If the Penguins win the Cup this year... I swear... I AM getting that Crosby jersey no matter WHAT Big Angry Man says!!!

Charity Begins at Home, but knows no Boundaries

Pat LaFontaine is a genuinely busy man. He was even busier last week as he unveiled the latest initiative of his Companions in Courage foundation with the help of the NHL media outlets. The announcement of new technology Microsoft XBOX 360 portable kiosks came on Wednesday of last week. On Thursday LaFontaine was a guest on just about every show NHL.com had to offer. This man does not tire when he is trying to get his message out. What he has done for ill children since 1997 is just beyond admirable, it’s remarkable.

Having personally dealt with the death of a young sibling long before the video game era, I can relate to how much these Lion’s Den rooms mean to desperately ill children and their families. There is hardly anything you can do to get a young child’s mind off what is happening to them in a hospital. But with the power of the internet and the new technology that abounds, they can at least have a few hours when they don’t have to think about it.

My stepbrother was confined to a hospital bed for the last months of his life, just waiting -- waiting for a miracle cure or his last breath. There was not much he or anyone could do to take his mind away from the moment. If there had been something like these new game kiosks that could have been brought into his room, perhaps his last weeks would have been a little easier. They cannot take away the pain, but they can take a mind to another place. Check the NHL.com article for all the details of this new technology and how LaFontaine is bringing a little comfort to so many families. http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=361564

Also notice that both Rick DiPietro and Ted Nolan spent a little time last week on this project too. I haven’t been able to get any details on their experiences, but I’ll keep trying. This seemed like a no-brainer for Rick to be involved since he has always been great with the kids. But I thought Ted Nolan more as the Charity GOLF type than the Video Game type. But I think that’s just because he’s closer to my age than to Ricky’s.

Ted is no stranger to charity foundations, as he has his own Ted Nolan Foundation to benefit Canadian aboriginal youth and will be busy this off season with various Canadian community charities as a keynote speaker on May 29th and manager of his own annual charity golf event.
Meanwhile, Mike Sillinger, and his new hip back home in Regina, with his partner Jamie Heward have their Shooting Stars Foundation and are getting ready for their June 12th and 13th events.
Check their website at http://www.shootingstarsfoundation.ca

In February, Bruno Gervais teamed up with the Red Cross in Nassau County as a celebrity spokesman, and he also heads up another Red Cross based charity in Canada. Also, we all know how much work Mr. & Mrs. Brendan Witt have put into their Witters Hitters, also a children’s based charity to bring children with cancer, and their families, to enjoy a hockey game they wouldn’t normally get to see.

There are currently 904 players in the NHL, I’m sure there must be about 500 NHL based charity foundations too. It’s endless. Maybe over the summer, when I’m bored out of my mind without hockey, I’ll go looking for all of them on the net. But it is nice to know that the guys, who put so much of themselves out on the ice, put so much of themselves off it as well.

For something the nay sayers tell us is such a violent sport, it’s got some of the greatest guys on the planet.