Isles vs. Blue Jackets

*Also tonight I got to meet a friend of a friend. Because the world is the size of a walnut. There is an Islander fan in Columbus who is close friends with Bob McElligett, one of the Blue Jackets broadcasters. We had a nice chit chat and I just had to get a photo. It's a little soft, which is good for me!

In an intimate setting with a few thousand of my closest friends, I am here along with some Blog Box buddies I haven't seen in awhile, like -- Voice of the Islanders, Frank Trovato!

Now, I was actually here tonight to see Filatov after hearing some interesting things about him this morning on Canadian radio. Guess who CBJ scratched? Filatov. Also scratched tonight (again) Doug Weight with continuing back spasms.

7:59 left of the first: With a miserable hit on John Tavares by Jared Boll, Trevor Gillies more than took offense and took it out on Boll's face. They both get five for fighting but Trevor Gillies gets an extra 2 for instigating and a 10 minute misconduct.

Trent Hunter sparked by the energy of Gillies remembers that he does know how to score and popped one over Garon's right shoulder.



Too bad Matt Martin was called for boarding on Andrew Murray (who was very shaken up, sorry to say) the Isles were down a man again. To make matters worse, Zenon Konopka was called for delay of game for closing his hand on the puck in the face off circle.

Rick DiPietro was seriously tested with the five on three power play and did exceptionally well -- until -- one goal by Antoine Vermette and then another when Dylan Reese looked the wrong way by Chris Clark.

Sadly 2 - 1 with SOG now 17 - 8 in favor of the Jackets. But there is plenty of hockey to be played.

Fifty-one seconds in and Michael Grabner scores a magical goal with Trent Hunter parked in front of Garon and it goes in a the smallest of spaces under Garon. Just a few seconds later, it's Free Wendy's Chili time! John Tavares gets one flukey goal past Garon on the left side of the net that seems to bounce like a baseball into the back of the net.

Well, that didn't last long, RJ Umberger (with cheese as my husband likes to call him) scores to tie it at three and Travis Hamonic, making his NHL debut, gets to sit in the box for cross checking, but at least he wasn't alone. The Jackets were down a man as well.

In honor of Thanksgiving, the lucky puck shuffle was under digital cranberry sauce. Very cute

Matt Martin is not having a very good game. At 16:50 of the third, Matt gets called for tripping and there is no whistle and Garon leaves the net for an extra skater. The Isles touch up and the Jackets who were 1 for 2 on the PP go on the attack.

Bruno Gervais who is playing like his life depends on it skated up ice with the puck with Blake Comeau on a short handed attempt. But Comeau slowed down and bruno went offsides. Comeau's fault. They end the second still tied at three with the Blue Jackets still leading in SOG at 26 - 18. Twenty minutes of hockey still to play and a chance to end with two points tonight. Still feasible. Still hoping


Start of third and Umberger gets called for tripping PA Parenteau at the blue line. This is only the Isles second PP and with only 12 seconds left of the penalty, they have one shot on goal.

An unfortunate tripping penalty by Robbie Schremp puts the Islanders PK back in business. The Jackets PP is a thing of beauty. The passing was picture perfect. Luckily, enough effort was put forth by the Isles to keep them from scoring. Rob Schremp out of the box takes the puck and holds it until he can pass it to Wiz at the point. Too bad Garon saw it all the way and flashed a glove save.

8:11 left of the third and they are still tied at 3. SOG are now 20 to 30 in teh Jackets favor. They need to get that go ahead goal. Hamonic almost had it for them as there was a scramble in the crease and Garon covered.

(PS: I really like the fact that the jackets goaltender's name is so short. I can teype it without looking.)

Trent Hunter seems to have hurt himself on his own check. Just great. He tried to get out for another shift, but left the ice and headed down the tunnel with 3:02 left of the third. The game has become a little more exciting in the final minutes and has me standing. Rick DiPietro has been excellent and I've only had to hold my breath twice when he went behind the net to play the puck.

Overtime was short and bitter. When the puck went behind Rick into the net, he stayed prone in his crease for a few seconds not believing how hard they tried and to not come away with the two was just heart breaking.

But there are good things to come from the game. Many good things. It's a matter of capitalizing on them and moving forward.

I have a lot of interview tape, but chose to go out tonight after the game instead of writing. Now that my eardrums are blown and I'm exhausted, transcription is not happening tonight.