Trevor Gillies: Another Season with the Islanders

I stopped to talk to Trevor Gillies on the break-down day simply because he was in the hallway. Considering at the time I had no idea if we would ever see him again, I didn't exactly know what to ask him.

"Hey Ma'am. How you doing?" He's imposing but very friendly. Since Trevor spent most of this season with the Sound Tigers, I asked him about Jack's chances in the AHL playoffs against the Hersey Bears.

"I hope they do real well.If we can get by Hershey then I think we’ll have a legit shot at the Calder Cup.” Notice the “we” in his speech. Trevor is very much a “team” guy. “But they (the Bears) are definitely the favorites to win. I think what we have going for us is we have great goaltending and you’ll see with all these guys going back for defense, our defense is going to be stacked.”

continued here at HockeyBuzz.

Goo Goo Dolls Hampton Beach Casino 4-15-10

One of the most amazing venues to see a concert with one of the most energic, talented bands you can find.

A great big "THANK YOU!" not only to Johnny Reznick and the boys from The Goo Goo Dolls for a wonderful performance, but also to those other patrons around us that made the night very special.

To Hillary and Jennifer, the two beautiful women in front of us who have followed Johnny twice before. Hillary painstakingly made a sign for Reznick their prior meeting that he has in his studio. This time she spent hours with rhinestones, a gluegun and a toothpick designing a new "Johnny" sign with the newest Goo Goo Dolls logo on it.

As soon as Reznick saw it, he leaned over to grab it from her. He joked about turning it into the largest pair of eye-glasses since Elton John's. Hillary was all smiles and her friend Jennifer was happy she recieved the recognition she deserved. I hope the band invited her backstage after the show. She truly deserved it.

To Debra, Ken and their beautiful daughter and friend in matching hand-painted tee shirts, THANK YOU for watching out for Dan and I. They too enjoy shows at the Hampton Beach Casino, but they don't have to travel as far as we do to get there. But they were very good about maintaining order so close to the stage. When some rude patrons tried to muscle their way in front of us, Debra very nicely but sternly told them, NO WAY as we had been standing in the same spot since 7 pm and they had no right to get in front of us. She was right, they moved on and from there on in, it was the best show I have seen.

Even the group Rocket Summer that opened the show wasn't horrible. Deb's daughter and her friend spent a good amount of time (and a lot of Ken's money) up at the souvenier stand.

Drinks at Hampton beach are far cheaper than we from New York are used to, but getting to the bar and back when it's general admission is a little tough -- as Dan found out the hard way. Some young punk even stuck his foot out and made him spill a little of my (not bad for only $5.75) red wine on a woman's fleece. Dan apologized vehemently and then turned his attention to the culprit who was being a dick. No punches were thrown, but if looks could kill -- Dan would have won.

Again, thanks to everyone for a very special night.

**Note: Funniest line of the night for me? Dan leaning down to tell me "Robbie's in his socks." What? Yep. Robbie played the entire concert in his black socks. Also of note, the band was staying at the same hotel we did. When we arrived on Thursday, we spent a good hour stalking their tour bus from our window -- like 16 year olds. (No offense to my daughter -- the 16-year-old.)

Break Up Day: Josh Bailey

Josh's season didn't end the way he expected it to. He was put on the clear day roster for Bridgeport so that he could possibily participate in their playoff race. It was something he was looking forward to and something the coachs thought would be good for him. It wasn't meant to be.

On April 8th, Josh Bailey was taken hard into the boards by Ponikarovsky and left the ice with laceractions and a fracture. It will be a three inch souvenier of this season. Josh ended this season having played 73 games due to injury and one or two due to benching. He had 35 points with 16 goals and 19 assistas. He was a +5 with one short handed goal and two game winners. Not bad for a 20-year-old that was the surprise draft choice of 2008.

As Josh sat outside Scott Gordon's office with the bruise under his eye a little more purple and the stitches on his face a little tighter as they scabbed over, he didn't smile. I suppose the end of the season was setting in for him.

I asked him a few questions, as he is always easy to talk to.

I asked what he felt his greatest accomplishment was this season he sqwirmed in his seat and mumbled. "I don't know; the fact that I was playing." That incited a chuckle out of Matt Moulson. "Just to prove myself more this year and what I can do, I guess."

It didn't seem to be an overly confident answer, but he continued. "Last year I coudln't get sent down to the minors so it was kinda like I had to be here. This year, I had the option so I made it so I could stay."

In 2008 - 2009 Josh appeared in 68 Islander games and was a -14 with 7 goals and 18 assists for a total of 25 points. Josh was not only kept out of the minors, he was also kept out of participating in the World Juniors, but that time it wasn't due to injury but design.

He said he would work on getting stronger in the off-season, "...and faster. Those are the keys for me." Josh is an extremely intelligent player who has improved this season. When I first met him I asked why he didn't pursue the college route and he told me this is all he's ever wanted to do.

When I asked him if he would be following the playoffs, it seemed to sting a little. "Last year I was rooting for Pittsburgh because of Billy."

Yes, ex-captain Bill Guerin made an impression on Josh Bailey even in the short time they played together. He's not sure who he will root for this year. I am guessing that in a few years, Bailey won't have to worry about rooting for anyone but the team he's playing on.

Post Season: Tim Jackman

I had the opportunity to speak with so many of the players on Monday that I'll have to do this in pieces. The first of the group is on Tim Jackman and it can be found here at HockeyBuzz.

You don't realize how much you can get out of two to three minutes with each player until you try to go back and transcribe it all!

On another note I'd like to say Hi and Congrats to my friend, CJ Papa.

While waiting to see if a fire in Sayville yesterday made it to News12 I was pleasantly surprised to see CJ Papa doing the sports report for News12. You realize what this means, don't you? The Islanders may actually get some DECENT coverage over there. Now... if we can just infiltrate the other news outlets, maybe the team can get some on-air time!

Hey CJ! Nice job on the Yankee's World Series rings. Maybe someday you can do one on Islanders's Stanley Cup rings! Yeah... I'm a dreamer.

Well, Now We Know

Yep. Fifth, as expected. In this year of a deep draft, the NY Islanders are sure to come home with a very good player -- potentially of course.

Thoughts on the draft here.

Amazing they can make this day so important to so many fans. Did you see that Tweet-Up they were throwing in Edmonton? That's what this has come down to. The teams that don't get to dream of the Stanley Cup get to dream of finding the next franchise player to hang their hopes on.

Also on HB, a Congrats to Scott Gordon. I guess Kevin Allen of USA Today was right. Brian Burke WAS appointing Gordon to Team USA. He couldn't have picked a better candidate.

Saying Good-bye to the Season

I decided to break out the video camera and tripod before I left the coliseum. Sort of a last good-bye. Oh yeah, this is going to be a long off season. And a special shout out to my buddy Anthony.

A Note to the Isles Faithful from Rob Carlin of MSG

Today was the day the Islanders come back to the Coliseum for the the last time this season to pack up, sign rows of sticks and jerseys and have their last chat with Coach Gordon. While they were at it, they spoke with the media and were interviewed by Chris King for ITV. Oh, and I was there too for a little while.

But while I'm taking my time to transcribe all the interviews I did this afternoon, I've to a Thank You note from someone we've spent a little time with this year.

So here's a note from MSG's Rob Carlin.

I just wanted to thank all the passionate and dedicated Islanders fans I've met and got to know throughout my first season with MSG.

I grew up in Bellmore and lived and breathed the Islanders as a kid. I remember May 24, 1980, at 7:11 of overtime, when Bobby Nystrom made the Islanders Stanley Cup Champions for the first time. I was actually in the Coliseum, chanting "But-chie", when Butch Goring won the Conn Smythe Trophy as they went back to back. Watching in wide eyed amazement when Mike Bossy contorted his body in mid-air and squeezed the puck past "King" Richard Brodeur on their way to a 3rd straight Cup. And Bryan Trottier slamming his fists on top of the Cup after holding off Wayne Gretzky and the Oilers in 1984, sparking Sports Illustrated to brand the Islanders "the greatest team to ever lace on skates."

Now I get to work with Butch and call the Coliseum my office. John Tavares recently told Deb Placey that his rookie season has been "a wild ride." I know how he feels. My first year with the Islanders has had its share of ups and downs but I promise every minute has been a dream come true.

I hope to be back next year and be a part of an Islanders return to glory. If that works out, I'll see you all at the Coliseum. If not, let me say thank you again for letting me live out my dreams. And, as always, Let's Go Islanders!!

Rob Carlin
Pre & Post Game Host
New York Islanders Hockey
MSG Network

With the amount of interviews I did today, it will give me material for a week. But it will also take me awhile to write them. I'm only part-time you know!

**Note: Congrats to Scott Gordon on being chosen as the Coach for Team USA for the World Champiionships in May. I told him to start packing a few of those custom suits of his!

OT Loss to Pens: Isles 5th Seed

Scott Gordon was far more talkative in the post game than he had been any night prior. He spoke for over seven minutes about the past the present and the future. He may have said a lot of the same things to the men in the locker room.

It was an unusual situation tonight. The last game of the season is never easy when there is no post season. But tonight it seemed odd to walk into the locker room and see the entire team sitting in their stalls -- waiting. Bailey with his stitches, Comeau with his foot in a boot and the ones who had been on the ice in various stages of undress.

Matt Moulson scored his team leading 30th goal. "I should have had five more." It's a personal for him, but a disappointment for the team. "It showed a lot of character coming back. We fell a little bit short. It showed a lot of resilience coming back." The Islanders scored three goals in the third period to push the game to OT. "It's unfortunate to end on that note."

This is a man who knows he is without a contract. And while everyone would talk about the team being able to make the playoffs next season, from Kyle Okposo to Scott Gordon, Matt Moulson isn't 100% sure he's part of the plan.

Gordon talked about how Matt was the only one to take his advice to "play every game as if it's your last here" to heart. But on the last day of the regular season, no one has told him he's absolutely in the Islanders plans for next season.

It would seem a shame if he wasn't.

Sean Bergenheim said good-bye to Deb Placey from MSG. His arm was in a sling wrapped tight to his chest, much like Captain Doug Weight's. This could also be the last good-bye for Bergenheim.

There are decisions to be made and while the team showed they have grown together there are those that won't return and those who will be back in Bridgeport.

But on fan appreciation night, the Islanders gave the fans a game they won't forget and a taste for next season. They could have rolled over when it was 5 - 2, but they didn't. Losing in OT to the reigning Stanley Cup champions isn't so bad.

Ending the season as the fifth seed with the potential of grabbing another franchise player to play with John Tavares and Kyle Okposo isn't bad either.

Tuesday they will know exactly where they stand in the draft. Tomorrow -- the boys pack up for the golf course.

It's late for me, but I'll have more during the week regarding Scott Gordon's seven minutes in front of the camera. For now, I'm drained.

Start of the Third: The Last 20 minutes

An so the puck drops on the last 20 minutes of hockey at the Nassau Coliseum for the 2009-2010 season. Pascal Dupuis is in the box for the pens, but I don't really think it will matter in the end. Haley is back on the bench and took a shift and seems to be okay now. The Islanders have 26 SOG to the Pens 21. But the 3 goal deficit will be hard to make up against the reigning Stanley Cup champions.

I may just sit back and be a fan for the next 16:12.

Well, that didn't last long. Kyle Okposo makes it 3 - 5 with a goal early in the third. Then Jon Sim puts the Isles within one making it 4 - 5 only a few seconds later. The crowd, announced at 16,250, becomes energized and the Penguins become shocked. That ws two goals in 24 seconds for the Islanders. The crowd is chanting Rolie as he makes some brilliant saves on the Pens.

As soon as Bruno Gervais is out of the box, Jack Hillen heads to the box for goaltender interference as he took out the net and the goalie. The penalties in this game have been staggering. But at least the Islanders are making it really interesting.

Another broken stick for Kyle, another missed opportunity.

Freddy Meyer, looking for another contract, ties the game at 5 with under four to go of the third. How in heaven's name is this happening?

Start of Second

55 seconds into the period, with Letang out of the box, Malkin and Jackman get tangled up and Jackman attempts to rip the shielded helmet off his head so he can fight. Not for nothing, dumb move on his part. But I see that Jack Hillen is in the box as well as Dupuis and Crosby. Interesting. I'm not sure what the heck happend.

Matty hit the post and was denied his 30th but Mark Streit's blast at the blue line is indeed tipped in by Moulson at 1:55 of the 2nd and Matt DOES get his 30th. He can relax now and so can I!!! He can't say I jinxed him!!!

As if by design, Eric Godard and Joel Rechlichz square off. They go at if for quite awhile. They each get 5 but Joel left the ice with the additional 10 minute misconduct.

Malkin gets a 2 minute penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct before a face off and joins Godard in the box. Jackman is the box for the Isles and the teams skate 4 aside. Someone is going to get seriously hurt today for sure.

Jackman has certainly gotten under Malkin's skin as he takes ANOTHER penalty one for tripping and another unsportsmanlike conduct. That's a four minute power play for the Isles. Can Matty get 31 or can JT score another? How about one for Kyle while Ken Okposo net is here? How about that?

Also interesting that MSG did NOT show John Tortorella's post game interview on MSG. They went to the Knicks pregame. EvilDolanEmpire!!!

As an aside... my camera is giving me fits. Thank you.

With the assist on Malkin's 2nd period goal, Sidney Crosby has 5 points in this game. also proving why Jack Capuano didn't give up any of his Bridgeport squad too easily to replace Sean Bergenheim, Michael Haley is called for an interferrence penalty but had be be helped off the ice as he was in serious pain with what looked like a knee injury.

Start of Second

Game 82 of the 2009-2010 Season

The sun is shining, it's a beautiful day. And it's the last day of regular season for the NY Islanders and the Rangers and Flyers are playing for their lives.

Welcome back to Uniondale Joel The Wrecker" Rechlichz. If he's on a line with Haley AND Gillies, they can call it the "Just Beat Them" Line. But I'm sure it will be a matter of who can do the most damange in the fewest amount of shifts.

The last game is always very sad in a lot of ways. Not just because they didn't make the playoffs AGAIN, but because there will be a few here that will play their last game today as an Islander. And while next season will certainly be even better than this last, much improved season, knowing there are changes is always difficult.

Dwayne Roloson will be in net as I expected and the starting line-up is Streit, MacDonald, Moulson, Nielsen and Tim Jackman.

Marty Biron accepts the "Good Guy" award from the press. No one deserves it more than him especially after this season.

Congrats Marty. Maybe you can use it to hold pens in your foyer the way Mike Bossy uses his Lady Bing trophey.

And the puck drops and they're on their way. Personally, I want them to lose so we are in the bottom five for a draft pick.

Wrecker gets his first shift adn he's chasing down # 26, ex-Isalnder Fedotenko. And OH MY GOD! He is out their with Gillies. Park and Reese and Hillen. They both go off together. No damage. Amazing!!!

Damange done at 16:51 as Malkin gets one past Roloson from his knees. Craig Adams takes down Dwayne Roloson with a trip. Roli then has to stretch to make sure he's okay.

I know the Pens will destroy the Isles but canMatty please get his 30th. He's parked in front of Brent Johnson. I think he should park himself there fore the entire game.

And on Wreckers second shift, he fights Rupp but got upended to the ice after the refs got involved. Both in the box. And with that, the Pens are up by two on a weird play by Eric Godard. Yep, another tough guy. What is with today???

Penalties galore and SOG are now 5 - 10 in favor of the Penguins. An Islander shot rings off the post and pesky Jon Sim is there trying to swat it in but it didn't work. With 1:07 left on Streit's penalty the Pens are no on the Power Play and once again knock Roloson on his back with Freddy Meyer on top of Crosby.

with the Rangers and Flyers now in Overtime, even the NHL guys in front of me have turned one of the overhead TVs onto the Ranger game.

Joel Rechlichz takes advantage of Brent Johnson's decision to play the puck behind his crease and knocks into him as he loses his goalie stick. But that really didn't matter as the Pens went up ice on a rush and Sidney Crosby tallies his 50th goal of the season as he blows the 3rd goal of the game past Roloson.

And the Rangers and Flyers go to the Shootout. What a day in Hockey history.

John Tavares makes it 3 - 1 Isles with Letang in the box for the Pens. Okay, now, he could have been a real friend and passed it to Matty who was right there in front of Johnson so he could get his 30th, but he didn't.

And the Flyers beat the Rangers in the shoot out. Their season is over as well. C'ya on the golf course boys.