Singing the Blues in St. Louis

Last night was the first night so far this season that I wasn't actually home or in the arena during game time. Nope, I had plans. But watching a game like that in a bar full of Ranger Fan friends and an ex-Montreal Canadiens Goalie was not easy for me. So.... I drank more.

I sat at the bar, and one by one, the men I know came up to me and asked "So... What's the score now, Dee?" Ranger fan arrogance pointed at the East End's Islanders Blogger Mom. The question was promptly answered with what all firemen understand: Expletives.

I couldn't hear any of the game, I could only see the goals. The Four very painful St. Louis goals. Dwayne Roloson looked more like Joey MacDonald last night (sorry Joey). I was having flashbacks. So I won't discuss it.

It was probably also one of the few games that goes against the theory that the team that scores first wins. Josh Bailey netted the only Islander goal early in the first. From there, it was downhill all the way. And that is what a disgruntled Islanders fan looks like when the game ended.

The only good thing that came out of last night was stories of old time hockey from Bobby Knight, drafted by Montreal, pushed through their system and ending up playing hockey with the Long Island Ducks. The stories of drinking beer on the sidelines in between periods was priceless. The quote "The owner once told me during a game 'Hey! I pay you $12,000 to keep the puck out of the net.' So I answered him, 'Yeah, but they pay him $14,000 to score." really told a tale of a different time of Hockey on Long Island.

These are precious stories of Long Island's hockey heritage that may end up being lost forever. I'll have to sit down with him another day when I can hear him, there isn't an Islander game on and I don't have Ranger fans poking at me for attention.

But even with missing the game, I enjoyed having fun with the friends I hardly see because I'm always out and about or trying to get things done.

But before I went out on Saturday night, I checked in with Anthony Curatolo to film installments #2 and #3 of Off the Rush. Our little Lightening Round look at the week in NY Islanders Hockey.



And then we decided since we wouldn't be together before Monday's Leafs match-up, we got into it there. So we'll have to see how good Anthony is at prognosticating.