"Schremp? Schremp? Are you Kidding Me?"

That's what Big Angry Man was yelling at the TV when the shoot out line-up was announced. He had already been yelling at me through most of the third period for various obvious Islander shortcomings. Again, like I can do something about them from my couch or as if I have the power to WILL them a win. (Okay, occasionally I CAN do that.)

With the Isles up by 1 in the first, there was a lot of hope for this last game of the year at the old coliseum. The goal should have been Okposo's, but Bailey was given credit for it. They'll work it out later as to who it really belonged to. But then the Blue Jackets began to seriously out shoot the Isles and Rolie had to work....hard.

As the Jackets doubled up on their shots on goal, (total SOG 42 - 25) that's when the yelling started in my den. Missed power play opportunities, fanned shots, passes that don't connect. Again, I'm starting to really get used to the quiet of the press box.

It was painfully obvious that the Blue Jackets were going to tie it up. You could see it a mile away as Umberger evened the score. And that's where it stayed. Even when the Isles were given a power play with less than 2 minutes of the third. Once again, nothing but missed opportunities for the Isles and breakaways for the opponents. That garnered a LOT of yelling at the TV.

They should have been able to put the game away. But no. Okposo was the only one to get a shot on goal in the penalty time before the period ended. They were heading to over time with a few seconds left of the penalty. They managed five shots on Mason, but nothing was getting by him.

SHOOT OUT! Okay, so I'm sitting here and now I'M yelling at the TV. "Come on Tambellini! Win this game!" The shoot-out specialist had to the be one to win it. The husband had his own idea of shoot-out line-up and was amazingly disappointed when Gordon had a different idea. "Schremp? Not Okposo? What?" When he became increasingly verbal in his discontent, I told him that Schremp was great at stick handling around goalies. He laughed at me. "No, really! That's his forte! I swear."

"If Robbie Schremp wins this one in the shoot-out then I will say Scott Gordon is a genius. If not, he's an idiot!" I just smiled at him.

Much to my surprise, Jeff Tambellini, who lives for this type of pressure missed on his famous wrist shot. The Blue Jackets Husileus was stopped by Roloson. The crowd chanted his name.

Nielsen's backhand shot was also lacking. Blue Jackets Captain Rick Nash was not only stopped by Dwayne Roloson, but I'd love to know what he said when he looked up and yapped at him in his crease.

The moment of truth (or consequences) came as Robbie Schremp, the spare part who spent so much time in the press box, stood center ice preparing his attack. He is a master at the dance. No, really, that's what he does. "I do a lot of country line dancing." He told Deb and Butchie.

"When I go in for a shoot out, I make my move and see how the goalie reacts...I waited him out and froze him."

Yes he did. And as the Islanders were celebrating when Roloson stopped the final Blue Jacket shooter, I looked at my husband and waited HIM out.

"Gordon's a genius." he said begrudgingly.

When Scott Gordon did his post game interview, he was asked about putting Robbie Schremp in the line-up for the shoot-out.

"It was a surprise, that's why I chose him. He's one of our more skilled players. His hands are second to none on our team. Not hard to pick him for the shoot out -- not even close."

However, the power play is still the thorn in every one's side.

"We've got to be patient and make smart plays. We're kinda shooting ourselves in the foot. You mishandle it or make a bad pass. We have to learn to be patient."
We need to pick it up and put pucks in the net. We gotta get on a roll and get going the right way."

Well, Robbie, this was CERTAINLY a step in the right direction. Congratulations on scoring the final goal of the decade in the Nassau Coliseum.