HIlbert: A Hisey Fit?

Okay, so they weren't the signings I was expecting. I am waiting (patiently) for the Doug Weight contract to be finalized which was (hopefully) to be done some time this week. Well, sometimes these things take longer than expected.

But I never expected to see (Amazing) Andy Hilbert back in an Isles jersey. Not that I have anything against him. I do remember a few games where I actually exclaimed "Wow. I actually NOTICED Andy Hilbert tonight." I am just surprised. But it is a one-year, 2-way deal so I'm sure this is a well thought out insurance policy for Gordon and Capuano with a seasoned vet who already is well acquainted with their system.

Also along with the Hilbert surprise is a relative rookie pro named Rob Hisey from the AHL & CHL. While Hisey may be short in statue (making Jason Blake look tall) he is supposedly tall on skills. We'll have to see. One quote I found yesterday said he makes Rob Schremp look like an amateur. That's a mighty TALL order if you ask me.

Two seconds on politics: I'm really annoyed with this whole deal with the Montaukett tribe trying to keep the Shinnecocks from gaining federal recognition. It's BS plain and simple. This is the CT owners group from Mohegan Sun trying to keep the Long Island tribe from building and taking away some of their revenue. It's a crock. This is not something I would have expected from a proud native people. This is a bunch of money hungry lawyers at work.

I'm a life long Long Islander and very proud of our Indian heritage for our little strip of land. When I was a braid-wearing youngster, I dreamed of finding out I actually had some native blood in me. Every Thanksgiving pageant in school I didn't want to be a pilgrim; I was an Indian and there was no getting around it.

GIVE OUR SHINNECOCK TRIBE THEIR FEDERAL RIGHTS!!!

Habs & Fans 5 - Isles 1

Where the hell do they all come from? It's a Thursday night! Don't any of these people work? I was told there were at least 13 busloads of Habs fans tonight at the Coliseum. It was a sea of Red. We all know how passionate the Canadians are about their hockey, but is this a roving band of gypsies that just follow the team from city to city? Do they pitch red tents in parks at night and dance around camp fires?

Okay then. We didn't expect much tonight, did we? We knew with the line up this game wasn't going to be easy. But it got down right ugly and then down right hard to watch.

Joel Rechlicz, who spent three seconds more in the box than he did actually on the ice, attempted to dance with big Georges Laraque. I think the veteran got a little bit of a kick out of watching the rookie try to have a go at him. I was happy young #40 wasn't a casualty.

But watching Doug Weight, out of sheer frustration, take on Glen Metropolit with a handful of minutes left in the third, just astounded me. Okay, it was a little interesting watching the look on Metropolit's face as he tried to hold Weight at bay. But it wasn't necessary for sure for anyone but maybe Doug.

Jeff Tambellini had the lone Islanders goal with a rocket shot. The type he is used to scoring in the AHL. Hopefully, he'll get used to scoring them in the NHL.

And as if that wasn't enough, Andy Hilbert left the ice with a rib injury. He did not return. The way it looks now, I don't think any of them are likely to return to close out the season.

It was just a bad day all around. I shall put an end to it now.

Good night.

Because I Can - Jason Blake Goal Watch

So yesterday's Valentine's Day Islanders/Flyers match-up didn't turn out the way we hoped. Actually, as I've been saying all along, the Islanders don't do well during day games. So I had no hope to begin with. I was hopeful only because many of my friends had made the trip and were there to cheer on the team.

Sadly, the goal explosion put a damper on their cheering section. And in all honesty, although I was listening to the game sitting in a high school hallway at one of those molded 60s classroom chairs, I actually nodded off for a few minutes during the second period. But the text messages kept coming from those in attendance, and they weren't happy.

Ex-Islander Aaron Asham had his way with Jackman. Campoli caused that penalty shot. And Sean couldn't find the back of the net. The only one who did was Andy Hilbert. It was just one of those days -- Again.

So while I'm all dressed in red and drinking champagne and eating heart shaped ravioli, I get a text from Islesblogger.com Mike. "Blake just scored 2 in 15 seconds."

I almost jumped out of my chair. I'm so happy for him. Almost the same way I was happy with the unexpected production of Mark Streit and Doug Weight. They weren't expected to do well, but they did. Of course, the party ended when both went down with injuries. But for Blake's dark days of last year and his less than stellar season, I'm sure no one expected to see the explosion in point production. No one .... but me.

I've said from the start that Jason Blake should be a 20 - 25 goal scorer consistently. But I also said he needed his contacts adjusted. Well, his point production seems to be coming less from an eagle eye from the point and more because he's taking his chances up close and personal to the goal net. (Although there's a photo of him at the Leafs Skills Competition in a ball cap and glasses, so maybe he did get his perscription changed!)

Barring unforeseen injury, Blake could indeed get close to his much heralded 40 goal season. Seriously, I wonder if every time that little bug scores Garth Snow turns off his blackberry because he's afraid there will be another email from me.

So for my detractors who like to leave those no-name nasty comments every time I put something out into the blogosphere about Jason, save your keystrokes. I don't approve them any way.

2-28-08 Game Notes from the Kitchen

I'm watching the game on the big screen in the living room, but I'm actually back and forth from the stove to the couch. Had to send this out for my friend Webb20...

2nd Period. 3 -0 Islanders... AWESOME ANDY!!! Ok, so it's only the 8th of the season for him, but it was certainly beautiful. I didn't see the first goal that trickled in under the goalie by Comrie. The rest of his shots so far tonight have been weak.

I did see Vasicek's beauty from Hunter that was just gorgeous. But HILBERT??? How fabulous was that? So yes Webby! Awesome Andy!

But while I'm writing this, I see Berard take down #11 and Ricky as well. A penalty shot is awarded and Perrin easily gets it past DiPietro who is probably still a little shaken from having to jump over Berard. So there we have it.

In the time it took to have a late dinner with my family, the game is now tied heading into the third. The message board that was so giddy with pleasure just a few minutes ago is now back to being on suicide watch.

Luckily, their goalie is having as difficult a night as ours. Mike Comrie with goal # 2 to make it 4 - 3 at 3:17 of the third. So even the soft shots sometimes go in Mikey boy.

Random thought: When the hell did Sean develop that eye twitch of his? This is totally new. I noticed it in the locker room on Tuesday, but didn't say anything. I figured maybe it was just sweat getting in his eyes since he spoke with us before he showered. But he was sitting there on the bench blinking away in the 2nd. Someone please take a look at his eyes, thank you.

They definitely didn't need Nielsen getting hurt now. Shoulder injury doesn't sound 'good', neither does "will be evaluated tomorrow."

Is Webby smiling from ear to ear at home? Hilbert is doing everything tonight, including making saves.

With 3 minutes left in the third, I'm starting to get nervous, as I usually do when it gets too close to 2 minutes left. If he's going to lose this for them, that will be the time he does.
And here we go... 2:01....

Sean brings in the puck but he shot it so wide, Lehtonen had to stretch to grab it. On the net Sean, please.
1:40 to go, and Bergie shoots wide.

And at 1:22 Bobby Holik ties it... because that's what happens. Just as Danno and I thought. But for some reason, Jaffe wants to make it Davison's fault for screening. Sure, blame the new guy!

One point is not enough at this time of year. But HUNTER saves the day because Vasicek makes it happen with that 15 foot stick of his!

In all seriousness, they probably didn't deserve to win and let DiPietro off the hook tonight. At least it will be a good flight home. Let this be the start of a nice winning streak. You know... Just enough to make us believe and bite our nails till the last possible day to see whether or not the Islander faithful will have a post season.... Go ahead... I dare you!

*Photo from the Town of Brookhaven Animal shelter.

Full Moon over Uniondale

Tiger Track Tom (www.thetigertrack.com) called it Bizarro World. It certainly was! Something had shifted in the space time continuum that caused a strange rift. Too bad it couldn’t also cause the Islanders leaving the Ice with both points.
As it was an afternoon game, I had to play hooky for hockey. Ok, I wanted to, and I wanted to take my daughter and her friends out for the day to enjoy themselves and try to suck a … um… develop a new Islander fan in the process. My daughter’s friend Kat had never been to a hockey game before, and she was glad to go along for the ride, asking technical questions all the while we were driving to pick up their other friend Amanda. As the eldest daughter of a dreaded Ranger fan, I knew that she would probably be wearing a Ranger jersey. She was and I let her in the car anyway.

Considering we were all warned about the increased security at the Coliseum today because of Colin Powell’s visit, I really didn’t see any more security than usual. I guess that means they were just stealth. Good job guys. Also a good job was the $26,000 the Islanders donated to local youth hockey from today’s game. You can’t say this club doesn’t do everything possible for the community.

The on ice ceremony to start the game was very nice. The Chinese national anthem, the kids from the Lighthouse cup teams gathered for the ceremonial puck drop, the unfurling of a giant American flag. Despite Chris Botta’s endless pacing in the tunnel, it was all orchestrated so well, and went off with only the slightest wrinkle. Powell tripped on the carpet on the ice. He made light of it, and went on with the rest of the presentation.

Kat said she wanted to see a fight, but when Jackman tangled with Gleason; she was on the concourse and didn’t see it. It was the only one of the game. Earlier I thought it was going to be Rod Brind’amour and Sutton. They were yapping and yapping at each other, but Brinda’mour has too much time in the NHL to be coaxed by the likes of Sutton. I swear, I think he’s a robot.
I audibly chided Sean, “Any game now sweetheart!” And he must have heard me. He took a shot that Ward grabbed out of the air as if it was a joke. The Event Summary on NHL.com doesn’t show any shots on goal for Sean. But I saw one. I swear.

Ok, let me get into what made the day “Bizarro World.” First, it was visitor day at the Blog Box. It started with an introduction of a co-workers family who are season ticket holders right above the Blog Box. Then it was camera men from Sinovision followed by Terry Goldstein, Director of Retail Operations. A little while later Frank Pasquale (who coached the Suffolk team to a victory in the final!) stopped by to say hello. I’ve known Frank for more than 15 years now. I’d like to say this to him…. Would you just AGE already! He hasn’t changed a bit in that entire time, and that is just VERY annoying! As soon as he left, Islesblogger.com, Michael S. brought his lovely fiancée around for introductions. During intermission, Gaspo (http://stilldrivin.blogspot.com/) stopped by with his son who was desperate to find Sparky. And finally, the last visitor to the Blog Box table didn’t say a word, but stood at the end of the table in his long black coat and black leather gloves, starring at the ice. He had a pass around his neck, but anyone that wears leather gloves INSIDE a building, no matter how cold, scares the death out of me. I’m glad he was on the other side of Okposo Net Ken (http://okposo.blogspot.com/) instead of me.

Then there was Andy Hilbert. First I’d like to tell you that I called Hilbert getting a goal today after about two minutes of the first period. He was just diving and swimming on the ice and doing everything and anything to keep the puck in play. It paid off for him and almost paid off more than once. He had six shots on goal and a lot of “ice” time, flat on his stomach. There was Blake Comeau who seemed to think he was Sidney Crosby for a day. The words that flew around the Blog Box were calm, confident, composed. He was just playing outside his head, and it was beautiful.

There was also an odd game of ice bowling that I think started the downward spiral toward the loss. With about 4:40 left of the second there was a flurry of activity with Bruno, Hilbert, Satan, Bergeron and I think Comrie on the ice. It all started with a whip by Bergeron toward the net and then Bruno was knocked down and his helmet came off. To keep action in the Carolina zone, he had to shoot, which he did, over and over and over. Every shot went off a Carolina leg and Andy was again swimming on the ice trying to direct the puck. It was just…. Odd.

Then there were the calls, the lack thereof, and the ones that just made you cringe. There was no consistency, and as Ted said in the press room, it was just “frustrating.” Well, every loss is, especially when you’re up 2 - 0 in the second and then don’t come home with the prize. “I think we played well enough to win.” Well, not quite Ted. But there’s always tomorrow.

While I was in the press room, I could feel my phone buzzing wildly in my purse. Just as I had told my daughter NOT to call me unless there was a real problem, there it went. I’m smart now, it’s only on vibrate and if it does go off in the room, you can’t hear the Goo Goo Dolls blaring from my pocket. I was worried about the girls waiting in the arena so I didn’t do the locker room post game, I bolted through the tunnel past Garth Snow. Security was now corralling everyone to the penalty box side of the arena in order to wait for the Lighhouse Cup finals which were to start at 5 pm. I found my daughter and her friends as we were three rows from the glass in section 105. I cannot believe how much spilled beer and garbage there was left in the 100s. We had to move twice because it was just too disgusting.

Tom and Michael joined me to watch some of the Nassau/Suffolk finals after they left the locker room. Steve Mears and Chris King were leaving the arena and I yelled out a Happy Birthday to our “radio guy.” Had I known Steve, I would have baked you cookies too!

So here we all were, waiting and waiting for a game that was supposed to start at 5 pm. It was now about 5:28 and the ceremony finally began. I completely understand the delay as the Islander game went into overtime, albeit BRIEF. But what I don’t understand is why in heaven’s name Colleen McGrath was trying to do an American Idol impersonation with her embellished, prolonged, PAINFUL rendition of the Star Spangled Banner! These are HIGH SCHOOL kids! They are itching to get on to that ice! You don’t need to take five full minutes to sing in modulation. I’m sorry, it may have been disrespectful to our anthem, but I couldn’t help but laugh, I tried to stifle them, but it was just horrible.

Woo hoo… there was also a Jon Sim sighting as he dropped the first puck and didn’t seem to be limping as much. He wasn’t smiling as much either. But I haven’t seen that man smile since September.

The turnout for the game was much better than I expected. The entire penalty box side of the coliseum was packed. This had to be a wonderful day for these young players. Who knows who may end up in the NHL draft one day.

As we left the barn at a little after 6 pm, there it was, the answer to the madness of the day: The full moon.
Congratulations Suffolk County All Stars on your win! Treasure it.