HTM Agrees! Islanders Did the Right Thing!

As hindsight is always 20/20, I was very happy to hear the HTM guys on XM this morning saying that Garth Snow absolutely did the right thing by standing pat and not trading just to make trades.

If all the interest was in Dwayne Roloson, it was obvious that wasn't a deal he could make. If there was interest in our depth players, if he wasn't getting back equal or better value, then what would be the point. And if anyone was dumb enough to start asking for JT, Kyle, Josh or Matt Moulson, I would hope he would have just laughed and hung up the phone.

As the HTM guys said, we don't know what the conversations were. We have no idea what was being offered. Rumor has it that many GMs make offers that are routinely laughed at. Maybe this is their day of private jokes. Who knows.

I like the way Brian Burke looks at it. He said if you're having to make major changes in March then you didn't do a very good job putting the team together and you should probably be fired. He also said no one gets fired for NOT making deals. The Pope of Hockey has spoken.

So 19 games on the schedule remain. Our team is what it is and we know what we have. With the exception of Dylan Reese who has been called up from Bridgeport. This guy has been on three teams in FOUR days. Someone please remind him which net he should defend.

Isles vs. Thrashers tonight with our MVP, Dwayne Roloson in net and the guy I really LOVE talking to backing him up.

I'm wearing my Blue, White & Orange today and will probably wear a jersey on the couch when covering the game -- and no one can tell me Boo!

Now go out there and win some games!

Oh! And don't forget to vote for this year's Bob Nystrom Award!

Trade Deadline: The Short List

Yep, we are fast approaching March 3rd, and while I don't expect anything earth shattering to happen here on Long Island, it still is a time to ponder. So, "WWGSD" is upon us. Here is my very short list of things I would like to see happen.

Funny thing though. Friday I was reading around the net as I took a "Snow day" of the percipitation type and found an article written by a BlackHawks writer with comments from their fans. They were talking about Garth dealing for Huet. That was a big "huh?" moment for me. Why the hell would they be talking about us trading for yet ANOTHER goalie? Don't we have enough? Are they smoking something in Chicago?

And then I asked around to see if there was something I was missing. The answer I got was "Don't believe everything you read." Right... wait...I write stuff too.

HEY!!!

Best Brian Burke quote of the day from NHL.com: "Losing a hockey game is like getting kicked in the groin." And losing that one was even worse.

Happy Monday people.

The Final Showdown - USA vs CAN

*(This was Arena Hostess Dina's view when she attended one of the Team USA Olympic games.)

While the Islanders are on the ice this morning for practice, they are still without their coach. He is otherwise occupied preparing for today's Gold Medal game with Team Canada. I'm sure that assistant coaches Scott Allen and Dean (can I buy a vowel) Chynoweth don't really mind. As long as he's back in time for Tuesday's first game back at the Coliseum, everything will be fine.

Some thoughts on the very fuzzy hockey border here at HB.

Good Luck Team USA, but no matter what, you've made us proud.

(*And this is the power of the big cookie. That one was peanut butter. Today's will be chocolate chip. So far, they've worked.)

Maybe Less "Miracle" & More "Divine Intervention"

It happens every Winter Olympics since 1980; remembering the Miracle On Ice; Sports Illustrated's single greatest sports moment. NBC Olympic coverage dedicated 30 minutes or more to a special segment reflecting on the game against the Russians that coined the best call in sports history. "Do you believe in Miracles?"

The day may come when reflecting on 1980's Team USA and their driving force, Herb Brooks, won't make me cry. Maybe. But for now, I still sit and sob watching the old videos, hearing Brooks speeches, listening to those "college students" reminisce about the importance of that game for the sport and the country.

Brian Burke's Team USA, wearing their 1960 throwback jerseys, may not be as "miraculous," but it achieved a well needed upset over the Canadian Nationals. Burke, as GM of Team USA, has taken criticism over his roster choices for this year's Team USA. As GM of the Canada's most visible NHL Team, he is criticized daily for their failure. But Brian Burke has more successes to his credit that overshadow any talk of failure.

CCTV produced a commercial with Michael J. Fox promoting hockey as "Canada's game." Considering Fox's battle with Parkinson's, it was a well done tear-jerker. But the message was stinging for those of us SOUTH of Canada's border. They still believe the game belongs to them. It may have been born in Canada, but it is loved by many. Maybe it's time they get over it.

Maybe it was 'divine intervention' that brought the young USA team and their few veterans to that 5 - 3 victory over Canada's best. (Seriously, that stick bending shot of Rafalski's that pinballed off Langenbrunner and under Brodeur seemed "other worldly.") Maybe, just maybe, it's time for the Hockey community to realize that hockey belongs to US too and pretty soon, there will be no "non-traditional hockey markets" in North America.

Maybe Brian Burke truly IS the Pope Of Hockey. Maybe the Pope can manifest a Miracle and bring home to the US the Gold from the Vancouver games. Maybe it would be the Hockey God's reward for hard work, dedication and sacrifice that has spanned decades.

To Brian Burke, Ron Wilson, Scott Gordon and even John Tortorella -- Congratulations and Thank You for a job well done. Now, go show the rest of the world that Hockey grows in the United States.

Jason Blake Gets the Toronto Treatment

I still have a Google search on my favorite hockey player, no matter what team he plays for. There is always something coming up in my email in the morning. Sometimes they are just a reference of his name, but recently, there have been full feature articles on the ex-Islander with the highly controversial $20 million deal with the Leafs.

While many articles have been exceptionally critical and some downright rude, the last two items Google presented me have softened their stance considerably.

With his birthday looming large on September 2nd, Jason Blake still has something in the tank. Even at 35, he's still the little-hockey-player-that-could. He's one of the interesting hockey stories of today and the driving force behind that book in my head that I insist will have it's final chapter written this season.

First there is this entry and video from Leafs TV. It discusses his inconsistency and questions his production this coming season without line mate Dominic Moore. It also makes note of the unexpected benching Ron Wilson imposed on him last October and November. (Yes, I've watched the video more than once and yes again, that was the game I travelled all the way to Boston to see! Ron Wilson, I'd like to have a chat with you about that.)

Then there was this article appropriately titled "Don't Give Up On Blake Yet" on Leafs Hot Stove. I should have written back, "I never have. I never will."

For all those who know me well, you know I've never taken my eye off the Energizer Bunny of hockey. He was the reason I started actually ENJOYING Islanders games again and the reason I started writing. (So for many of you, that's just two more reasons to hate the guy.) An Islanders buddy of mine was even so generous as to buy me a signed Leafs Blake jersey from a Charity auction. (I'm not allowed to wear it out, but I DO wear it when I'm home watching Leafs games!)

The Toronto media and many of their fans have been relentless in their coverage, especially his first disappointing season with them. But I have a feeling that Jason Blake will not disappoint Brian Burke this upcoming season. I'll bet on it.

*Oh, and I wouldn't count him out of the Olympics either. As Brian Burke said, there's still a chance he'll make the squad. It all depends on him.

Just a Thought....

Congratulations to all the TWEETS that made the 1st NHLTWEETUP a success across North America last night.

The NY Tweet Up took place at the NHL store itself with none other than the Stanley Cup in attendance. Social networking has been taken to new heights and I'm sure the NHL is hoping it can help increase their fan base as well.

Brian Burke still scares the crap out of me. I've had conversations for 24 hours regarding Burke's grand statement that he'll do whatever it takes to move up in the draft. Everyone assures me that he doesn't have the assets on "The Islanders North" (or you may know them as the Maple Leafs) to do so. I say, he's a shrewd man that can find a way to pull a rabbit out of a hat or just make an offer you can't refuse. It's going to be a nervous time before June 27th when it's all decided.

Jason Blake will be the oldest skater on the Team USA roster for the IIHF World Championship. At 35 he's still younger than the last time Chris Chelios skated for the Team. It's an honor and a privilege and I'm happy for him. I'm happy for me too since it makes that $185 investment in that Team USA jersey still a sound one.

Opening Day for the House that George Built: WTF? Why is the game at 1:05 pm and the opening ceremony at Noon? It's a work day, it's a school day! They couldn't time this any better?

Oh, and my Yankee fan husband would like the media to know that he is angry with all of you for doing nothing but promoting the increased cost of tickets and how they are "squeezing the average fan out." Please be advised that those on the Yankees email list received notice of THIRTY games offering tickets at $5 each. Yes, that's FIVE dollars each. Half the price of one of those Martinis you can now get at Yankee Stadium.

Sound Tiger Playoffs at the Coliseum: Great news yesterday as our own Tiger Track Tom Liodice will have a LIVE BLOG for the Sound Tiger playoffs running on the Islanders main website! I love Live Blogs because it's faster than message boards with quicker interaction. They make you feel like you're watching a game with ALL your friends. Don't forget to check it out on both Friday night at 7:30 pm and Saturday night at 7 pm.

Good Luck Jack Capuano and all the Islanders, uh, Sound Tigers!