If Milestones are Reached in Phoenix, Can I see them?

Negative.

The smell of firewood in the air. The cold on my face, the stars in the clear black sky. Where's Dee? Fighting with the XM radio antenna in a cottage in the woods so that she can hear the Isles vs. team Gretzky game.

My knight to the rescue, and Big Angry Man gets it to work and then snickers at me for being such a dolt. But I thank the Hockey Gods for XM broadcasts in far away places, even if I have to listen to the opposing teams radio broadcasters and miss out on Steve Mears and Chris King.

Last night, you could have called it the "Mike Comrie Love Fest" on that radio broadcast. But I had forgotten that Comrie had played for Phoenix. The announcers sounded like they could have been from a college station, but to be fair, they sounded very unbiased and gave out a lot of interesting information.

I see that Sean Bergenheim is continuing his run of scoring when I can't watch him. He scores when I'm in the ladies room at the Coliseum. He scores when I am at dinner dances and now he scores when all I have is a very scratchy Satellite signal. The kid must hate me. But I'm happy that he managed to step foot out of Gordon's dog house and garner a point on his stat sheet.

Shane Doan was making his presence known in his 14th career game against the Islanders as they said "I don't know how that snuck in," as he scored on DiPietro. And B.A.M. immediately explained "Between the legs of Rick DiPietro." Yep, didn't even have to see it to know.

As I said, the announcers were very gracious in their dealing with the Islanders, "This is impressive play by the New York Islanders." But then they followed it up with something I've never heard on ANY broadcast before, "(Insert Coyote player's name here) stepped on Campoli's jock strap."

Excuse me? Is that a hockey term? What the heck does that mean? This is radio! I can't figure that one out. It didn't matter. By the time the score was 4 - 1 Coyotes, Danno was asleep and I was still taking notes and watching the TV with the sound off.

Only a few seconds after a DiPietro rebound made it 4 -1 Josh Bailey scored his FIRST NHL goal to make it 4 - 2. There was no fanfare, no horns blaring, no screaming, cheering Islanders jersey wearing crowds for the kid's long awaited first goal as it came while they were still announcing the Phoenix goal.

I can't even email anyone to talk about it. I was very disappointed. Bill Guerin and Jeff Tambellini were the assists on the goal that Josh will undoubtedly never forget. Again, the announcers were giving the Islanders respect for never giving up on the plays.

I hear how Gervais is stripped of the puck (again). I hear how Okposo gets into a scrap with Shane Doan. "Don't ruffle the feathers of Big Shane Doan! He's a horse out there."

Hey guys... Horsefeathers? That's where I ate dinner.

With 6:27 left of the 3rd, Lindstrom scores on DiPietro as he was left all alone. This must have annoyed Richard Park as he and Doug Weight made it 5 - 3 with 3:05 left. And with that, Richard Park dove into the net to retrieve the puck for team mate Weight. Another Islanders milestone is reached in someonelse's building. I am glad to say that the crowd did indeed salute Doug and his family was in attendance. This was his 1167th game for the 37 year-old who will turn 38 on January 28th. Hopefully, he's celebrating his birthday on the Island.

In the final minute, Park scored again as they refused to give up until the final buzzer sounded. At least the team who has not had very good third periods is coming around, but the points aren't.

I suppose we will take our joy in the little things. Josh Bailey's first NHL goal as an Islander, and Doug Weight's 1000th and 1001 point. Congratulations to both.

Happy New Year All

Haven't had time to chat or post, and haven't had internet connection. I am sadly deprived, and my family is laughing!

I did get to watch the Winter Classic and take a few notes, but couldn't post from where I was.

That was a problem, but at least the game was on and people were watching it.

I will post when I return. Like you care.... but I do.

For now, everyone just have a Happy and Safe New Year!

5-4 Loss Is Nothing Compared --

To the sick feeling I had in my stomach watching Trent Hunter cling to the leg of a linesman looking for help. A clean hit had sent him into the boards, but a door opened unexpectedly and it looked like to me that it got him between the shoulder blades up high. Trent rolled over on his back and when the linesman came to his aid, the look on his face made me hold my breath. Gordon looked like he was going to just puke behind the bench.

The Islanders cannot afford to lose the likes of Trent Hunter -- EVER.

It must have rattled the Islanders as well, since the Rangers scored within seconds of Hunter leaving the ice.

Please give Jackman some iron supplements or check him out for clotting agents in his blood because I've never seen such a bleeder before in this game. It's always the same spot, right above his right eye. He has tissue paper skin that just opens up and bleeds.

Bergenheim and Sim sat out tonight's game. They were being scolded for poor play. Bad Boys! Bad Boys!!

Doug Weight returned to the ice and did make an impact. Though not on the score sheet. The number is still two.

Comrie.... should not fight. It just looks silly, but he did score.

Campoli didn't have any saving goals to make up for his give-aways.

And I can't even continue this tonight. Too much to do, too tired to think. Too numb for the night.

If we lose Trent, after losing Andy Hilbert and so many others, then I just don't know what we will do.

Oh... yeah... and the Rick Show continues. I was so upset over Trent that I forgot about Rick not being in net after we thought for sure he would be. I'm starting to wonder if he's made of glass.

2009 can't come soon enough.

Oh! And as an aside... Anyone else hear that Jiggs McDonald will be replacing Howie Rose during the West Coast portion of the upcoming Islanders schedule.

Maybe he can bring us some luck.

The DiPietro "Wait & See" game

So it seems the biggest thing Islanders fans have to think about this morning is whether or not Rick will be the Man in the Golden Mask tonight at the Garden.

War in Gaza, which they seems to happen every holiday season since I was six, is news that I can't control, nor wrap my head around 100%. "The ultimate objective is to change reality. Hamas needs to know the equation will be changed." So says an Israeli spokeswoman. I shudder to think.

When will Favre and Mangini be fired by the Jets seems to be the second news story of the day, and that one doesn't concern me either. So THEIR old man fumbled. He should have stayed in retirement.

No, this Monday before work, I am quizzical only on whether or not Rick will be Savior or Bench warmer in the Big Apple. There are those who have posted on Point Blank that Denis has been sent back to Bridgeport. So that is a hint, but not the final answer. So I guess we will have to wait for today's installment of PB after practice at the Garden to get the real info. ('cause ya KNOW it'll be there first.)

Rick in net doesn't guarantee us a win, but it gives us a glimmer of hope. For some reason I was calling for a 6 - 2 win last night in my conversations. I wasn't even drinking, so I don't know why those numbers stuck in my head. A little ridiculous considering I don't think this team could score six goals on the pee wee teams that are playing in Harbin China right now.

Well, Happy Monday Islanders Country. Let's just Wait & See.