Land of Misfit Hockey Players

During this time of year, I start hearing songs from the more famous Christmas cartoons that we all grew up with. Tonight was no exception. But it did make me laugh.

"Why am I such a nitwit, I can't score goals worth a s**t."

Ninth straight loss. They couldn't score a goal. Not one! And the only stat we've been keeping track of; Doug Weight's race to 1000 pts has now been sidetracked by a groin strain. Just what we needed.

As Jaffe said, the Islanders are already offensively challenged. "Oy Vey." Now the top offensive player is out of the lineup. The top D men are out of the line up; what's next? Can it get any worse?

I shouldn't say that. Every time you say that... it does get worse.

It will be a quiet plane ride home, I'm sure. December can't end fast enough. Let's just turn the calendar's page over and start fresh, shall we?

And the Sun rises in Minnesota

This was one of my favorite photos from my brief stay in St. Paul in 2004. This was my view of the Mississippi River from my hotel room, 2 blocks away from the Excel Center. It may have been what the Islanders saw yesterday morning as they awoke to start a new day.

Yesterday was rife with controversy as the much reported Newsday headline announced "Witt blames Gordon for defensive woes." Story on A80.

I'm certain that's not the way Scott Gordon wanted the day to begin. There were already difficult decisions made on roster moves to accommodate Mike Comrie and Kyle Okposo returning from IR. To add responding to comments by Brendan Witt regarding his system just had to put more pressure on an already stressed rookie NHL coach. But he did handle it as best he could. He agreed, to some extent, and then said there was nothing more to say about it.

More over I enjoyed Doug Weight's comments about the system in this morning's article by Greg Logan. I did not, however, enjoy the back cover photo and the headline "System Failure." I understand it, but I don't have to like it.

"Our system is fine for what we have to do," Weight said. "It's a good system. We have to do it. That's just our fault of not doing a good job of back checking or being in position. We have to be more consistent as a team, do a lot of talking and be confident in where we're supposed to be."

In other words: DO YOUR JOB, AND DO IT RIGHT.

I watched the game in the comfort of my living room while wrapping presents last night. My husband watched the last seven minutes of it at the Fire Dept. with some of his buddies. I was greeted this morning by the following Islander fan quotes.

1) "We have HOPE not talent."
2) "We keep the guys with the 'smarts' but not the talent."
3) "We can't keep pace with the other teams for 60 minutes."
4) "We have NO pure goal scorers."
5) "Our lack of speed is keeping us in our own end, and our goaltender is constantly under siege."
6) "Our lack of skill is keeping us from scoring."
7) "Bailey and Okposo should not be playing with Mike Comrie. They should have been playing with Satan."

I wanted to put Bailey's in my coffee this morning after hearing all this. But they are not wrong. They are just the disgruntled fan base watching the eighth loss in a row and waiting for our prospects to give them something to cling to.

On the other side of the coin, I'm sure the Wild would like to thank the NY Islanders for helping to break their losing streak last night. What team will break the Islanders own slump? Will it be Nashville? How about Atlanta on Tuesday? Will it be the Leafs on Friday the 26th? Or will this be the longest slump in Islanders history?

How do they solve the defense problem now that Sutton is out with a broken foot from a blocked shot in the first period of last night's game? He was the only big body that could actually play. Yes, everyone complained that Fritz was a spectator last night with the best seat in the house, but seriously, Fritz only has one purpose and it wasn't needed last night.

Sim was playing hard but also as if he were deaf and desperate and couldn't hear the whistle as he tried to stuff the puck under Backstrom.

A Gillies got his first NHL goal. A Bailey is still waiting for his own.

As if Karma was playing a little game with him, Witt was knocked around and little by Cal Clutterbuck on more than one occasion. And a bratty kid with a Wild tattoo on his face gave Gordon raspberries behind the bench. This made the broadcast. Like he really needed to be taunted by an eight-year-old when he has the press to do that for him.

"Turnovers and decisions not to shoot the puck." That was Gordon's only answer to the loss. "The one thing they (the Wild) don't do is beat themselves." Gordon is losing his patience, as we all are. December is never a good month for the New York Islanders. But this December has been exceptionally brutal.

But as the sun rises once again, it's a new day. And with a new day comes a new opportunity. I wonder what the sunrise looks like in Nashville.

Enjoy your Saturday people.

Sorry Mike - There's No Room at the Inn

So that's a crappy Christmas reference, but it's the best I can do under the circumstances. I'm terribly behind schedule on my Christmas "To Do" list and work problems are draining my energies. (Also, if my husband sees me continuing to write instead of wrap, bake, clean and cook, he will probably throw my laptop out the window and run over it with his truck.)

The item that struck me this morning in Greg Logan's brief article is what Gordon said about Mike Comrie. I understand that the facts about rosters and cap restraints are real and daunting. That is business and the guidelines must be adhered to and unpopular decisions made. But in the quotes that Greg offered up, for some reason "He fit in well." regarding call up Ben Walter just struck me funny.

No where in this article did Gordon seem to give the impression that he was eager to get Mike Comrie back into his line-up. "Right now, there's a lot of things that have to be juggled, just a lot to toss around."

Am I reading into this statement? Perhaps. But maybe Scott Gordon is just as tired of watching Comrie's play as some of us in the stands are. Maybe the written statements I have seen that Comrie doesn't fit Gordon's system are actually accurate.

We will see in the next few games how the line-up shuffle plays out. Break out that Steve Stirling Line Combo Yahtzee game Scotto. I know he left it under the bench for you!

The Morning After the Caps win

I'm not really awake yet. The alarm clock went off at 5:50 am, and I hit the snooze button twice. I was dreaming about trying to find the address of my daughter's Karate school for someone and was tearing through my purse. I didn't find it. And oddly, my daughter hasn't gone to Karate school in six years.

Is my subconscious mind searching for something I can't locate, but still seek, to no avail? Probably. And that search is for TWO regulation points, not ZERO or ONE. (Granted, I agree with Scott Gordon who said "One is better than none.") But the search is becoming daunting.

The glimmers of hope the Islanders offered up last night during the game made IslesOffical Doug wonder if he needed to perform CPR on IslesNation Stephen. I didn't think they would be able to come back, but Stephen told me "Don't give up!"

He was right as Sutton brought the deficit to one goal at 11:19 of the third, and then miraculously Jon Sim tied the game at 17:47. Those in attendance became loud and excited. There was hope again. Loudville, which had been somewhat sparse, became a magnet and those in other seats joined them. The IceBreakers (AFL unemployed dance squad) joined them to get the rally going.

As the clock wound down, and the buzzer sounded, we knew it wouldn't be a pointless night. But as overtime started, we all said the same thing. "Watch Ovechkin! Don't leave him alone." And with 10.7 seconds left, the threat we had preached became a reality. The Caps celebrated in a wild huddle as Scott Gordon walked past them after his team had left the ice.

Some of the Blog Boxers opted not to go to the post game. Doug and I opted to hear Gordon out and then leave after that. The weather along with the loss made that choice for us.

The truth is, there are no more questions to be asked of Scott. They have all been asked, and answered. I found it interesting that as the four minute mark of the press session drew close, "Two more questions." the media was told. And the media fell silent. There was nothing left to say. Scott walked away from the podium and we all packed up.

As the press room is next to the shower room, it is normally loud and raucous and difficult to hear Gordon speak over the music and player chat in the next room. Last night there was only the sound of running water.

"Everything is desperate at this point." Gordon answered as Logan asked if the rally in the third period was a product of desperation. It's December, this was the seventh straight loss, and the are new injuries daily. I don't believe you can get more desperate than this.

The only thing to take away from the game is that Doug Weight is that much closer to his 1000th career NHL point. When it comes, we will all celebrate for him -- or about a nano-second if it is not during an Islanders regulation win.

On personal notes, my evening was wonderful because I was able to send a little time with IslanderQueen (which I hardly have time to do any more) and with Dina, who stopped by with that great basket of home baked goodies. She stopped to jump online and check out what was going on in the Live Chat. She would have stayed to blog awhile, but she WAS working, always monitoring the instructions in her ear from the crew.

I was so hoping that Bergeheim or Bailey would have scored. That would be a wonderful Christmas gift for Bailey. I hope he gets it.

The drive back home in the falling snow was tedious. I didn't expect this weather. But looking at the lights on the houses in the glistening snow always makes you feel good. My husband always calls me Mrs. Grinch at this time of year. He says I have lost the "Spirit of Christmas." He's probably right.

Recently I've been carrying the bell from the Polar Express in my pocket trying to regain the magic. You never know, there may be one or two Christmas Miracles out there, for each of us on a personal level and perhaps for the team we follow. We just need to believe

Caps 5 - Isles 4 Final. Oh well

First of all, I am so very sorry to everyone that I inadvertently ended the Live Chat. I really didn't mean to do that. I thought I was just backing out myself. I told you I was a techno-idiot. I wasn't kidding.

I don't have the time or the energy to continue this tonight. But I do have a few really cute photos of Dina to post and some thoughts and comments about tonight.

I'll add these two items so they won't interfere tomorrow morning.

1) Rest In Peace Al Giordano who passed away Sunday after working back to back shifts on Friday and Saturday. Al was a security guard at the Coliseum for years. He was a great guy with a warm smile. He will be sorely missed. His untimely, and unexpected passing has hit more people than he could ever imagine.

2) Congratulations Jason Blake on a highlight reel shoot out winner tonight over the NJ Devils. Even Big Angry Man was impressed and had to tell me when I walked in, "Your boy won the shoot out for the Leafs with a move that even I have to give him credit for." I guess the prayers I've been saying for him are working.

Now make sure you're not benched you little blond putz on 12/26 when I will be sitting in the stands and not in the blog box so they don't have to see me in my Blake jersey or taunt me relentlessly.

(Don't worry Seth, I'll take off the jersey if I go downstairs to the press conference.)

Photos and more tomorrow. I really need some sleep. Good night all.

Isles vs. Caps 12/16/08

I'm missing my office Christmas party for this. I know I"m going to get in trouble for it. But what the hell. I wanted to see Alexander the Gr8.

Jackman just fought Bradley, and everyone was excited.... for a minute or two. Okay, so I got side tracked with the cover it live.

Okay, second period, shows are 15 - 18 with 14:30 left and we're only down by one. Let's see how many points Doug Weight can get in just one night.

BTW... Dina is also an amazing Baker!!! She brought me a beautiful basket of home made cookies and chocolates, that I am NOT SHARING!!!

I... am bored.... I'm going to pack up now.
hmmmm. I missed a steak dinner and free wine for this.

Adding Insults to Injuries & tomorrow's game

Is Point Blank becoming the harbinger of all bad Islanders news? I received a press release today about the Islanders doing their annual holiday hospital tour. I didn't realize they were doing it because so many of them needed the hospital themselves.

Tonight we learned that Josh Bailey will be out of the line up once again this season with yet another injury and that Nate Thompson has a fractured ankle. If you add this to all the other injuries that the roster is still trying to recover from, the Islanders had better start looking at the front office staff for replacements.

Better yet, I know Steve Mears plays hockey and his shot is just as wide as Jon Sim's. Suite him up! What can it hurt.

But with all the injuries plaguing the Islanders people are starting to call out the training and conditioning staff. In all honesty, even though this could just be a run of the worst possible luck, there could be a case or two made for this vigilante movement.

It's not just our veterans going down with injuries but the cornerstones of our youth movement. It's not fair. Having one of the young guns out for one or two games is no big deal, losing them for weeks on end or the ever popular "day-to-day" is simply disheartening.

I'll repeat what I said last season: Get a priest, a rabbi, a shaman or whatever it takes to break the spell of the dark cloud that permeates the Coliseum. And do it quickly.

As tomorrow night will be one of the only times I will be in the coliseum this month, Islesofficial.com Doug has arranged for a live chat with members of the blog box, so join in. I can't say it will be fun, but misery certainly does love company!

I actually don't know if that link will work, but if it doesn't, check his blog for the right one!!!

Holiday Hat Trick Arrives

I just had to add a few things about the "Holiday Hat Trick" package, even though I've covered it before.

Mine arrived via fed ex on Friday in a die-cut folder that looks like a locker. I opened the envelopes and letter and found everything I was promised: Three sets of tickets, a voucher for a duffel bag and that $50 Visa Gift card.

Yesterday I decided to go pick up that duffel bag at the new store in Sunrise Mall. I handed over my voucher, an employee walked into the back room and brought out this large package.

"Can you just sign this for me?" he asked before handing over my gift. I signed the voucher and gave it back to him. All I could say when I saw this bag is "WOW! Are you SURE you gave me the right item? This comes with the package?" It is absolutely beautiful. I'll get a lot of good use out of this.

So if you haven't done so, and want a great ticket deal, pick one of these packages up. (Think of it, these are late December and January games; we should see some of our walking wounded back on the ice by then.)

Better yet, stop by the Team store in Massapequa and see Dani or Monica. They can sell you a Holiday Hat Trick package right there. Don't live close to Massapequa? No problem, head to Roosevelt Field or Broadway Mall. You can check out their 12 days of savings specials too.

And that $50 Visa card is going to come in handy at the games, 'cause I KNOW that Doolan's DOES take debit cards. ahem ahem...

Ride Into The Sunset Sean

Pardon me for not feeling bad for Sean Avery being shunned by the Dallas Stars. I, instead, give the Stars management credit for "sticking to their guns" if you will, and cutting ties with their mistake. It's time to pack your mess kit and saddle up Sean. You're not welcome in them there parts.

Maybe now he will finally realize that his actions have far reaching consequences. Perhaps now he'll realize that he is not bigger than the game and everyone else. Perhaps now he will realize that you can have it all, and lose it all in one breath.

Will there be other outlaws for him to hang his hat with? Of course there will be. Bad seeds somehow always find others. Now may be the perfect time for Avery to move to Hollywood. So head west young man, ride into the sunset, and fade to black.

And don't let the door hit you in the ass on your way out.

JUST FIX IT!

I really didn't want to wake up this morning to my husband giving me a 20 minute review of the two page article in this morning's Newsday by Arthur Staple and my good friend Greg Logan. He has his OWN ideas on how to "FIX" the Islanders. None of which I agree with which makes Sunday morning breakfast a very loud "point-counter-point" session.

"Can I read the article for myself, please??" I asked, and he grumbled.

With coffee, Newsday and pen I started with Arthur Staple's side of the page. Five points made, and only one of which I agree with.

1) Pipe down, Mr. Wang. Staple brings up Neil Smith, as countless others do, and the first thing I wrote on the paper was "WHO STILL DOESN'T HAVE A FREAKIN' JOB!" It reminds me of my favorite line from the old movie Prizzi's Honor; "If Marxie Heller so f-n' smart, how come he's so f-n' dead?" So I ask, If Neil Smith is so f-ing great, how come he's so f-ing unemployed? Also, I take it Mr. Staple didn't get the memo that the committee is dead.

2) Shut down DP: He is not currently being rushed. Maybe he was rushed the first time back, but have you tried to capture lightening in a bottle? You can't keep Rick from the ice, it's where he wants and needs to be.

3) Don't dump the veteran's until it's time: I'll half agree here. But Weight and Guerin have been our best tandem so far. I'd hate to lose either of them. Other vets are possible candidates.

4) Add more kids, any way possible: Okay, Arthur. I gave you that one.

5) Change your perception around the League: Mr. Staple says it's not the building that keeps free agents from signing here. I say BS, it has a huge impact and is sometimes a deal breaker.

On the other side of the page, on Logan's five points, my comments consisted of "Bingo!", "Yes, Yes, Yes!", "We'll have the draft picks.", "the vet question takes thought." and finally "Patience." on the Management timetable point.

Dan said I was playing favorites. I say I just agreed with more on the left side of the page.

Just like the sagging economy, fixing the Islanders is a long term plan. And I can only hope I live long enough to see it.

So... Just FIX IT!