Total Blogger Fail - Along with an Isles loss

I had been at the Coliseum since 3 pm yesterday. First to watch the Sayville Fire Department do their turn in the Fire & EMS show extrication challenge. They were given the most bizarre, unusual scenario of one car on top of another, roof to roof. I personally think they were given this highly difficult scenario on purpose. They did what they had to and came away with the highest score they have in the years they have been competing, but not high enough to win another trophy.


In other words -- I was pissed. (The Big Angry Man didn't seem to be.)

Social media night at the Coliseum was a huge success and while you couldn't really see all the white Tee-Shirts in the stands on TV, there were plenty of them. It was great to meet so many of my Twitter followers before the game and in between periods. It's always nice to put faces to the names.

And then there was the game -- a game they could have won, but fell short.

Post game report here at hockeybuzz.com.


As we head into the trade deadline, the rumor of the Islanders looking at Atlanta Thrasher Bogosian is swirling around the net. Eklund and I are at odds on this one. I say it's not happening. We'll see.

After seeing Radek Martinek walking around last night with fellow injured D man Milan Jurcina, there could still be truth to the rumor that Martinek could be off the Island by Monday for a draft pick. Katie Strang tweeted that both eastern and western conference teams are kicking his tires.

I also saw goalie Kevin Poulin last night in the hallway. My Blog Box buddies @Islesblogger Mike and @islesRM Rob didn't recognize him. I almost didn't either. In a dark suit, glasses and a beard and his leg in a soft cast up to his theigh, @KevinPoulin60 looked like an accountant, not a hockey player.

Too bad I can't take photos in the tunnel.

Also, if you are tired of the Oscars by 10 pm tonight, you can webstream NYHockeyTalk on WGBB AM radio with Brad Kurtzberg and Rob Kowal as they have a discussion about fighting in the NHL with hockey legends Paul Stewart and Steve Carlson. Give them a listen or podcast the show tomorrow. Always good stuff!

Isles Fall to Leafs 2 - 1

Al Montoya gave up only 2 goals on 25 shots, but Reimer only gave up one on 29. Leafs won on a goal by Phil Kessel. But the Isles lost more than the game. They lost Milan Jurcina to a groin strain after already having to put Radek Martinek on the shelf due to a "lower body injury."

The high the Islanders were riding on their winning streak may take another nose dive if Milan is out for any extended period of time.


Post game report at HockeyBuzz.com

The Highs & Lows of being An Isles Fan

12:08 pm: Ah crap, just when I think I have it all figured out, I get a phone call from someone who has a different opinion. Someone who sees the ice and the game a hell of a lot differently than I do.

Steve Carlson gave me a call to explain a DIFFERENT view of the "incident."

"He had to go, Dee. He had no choice. Did you REALLY see what happened?"

Uh.... I saw what was on TV. Was there something else? Yes, it seems there was. The underlying fact that there is that "code of the game" thing. According to Mr. Carlson, it wasn't Rick's invite at all, it was Brent's. Seems Brent had enough with what was going on at the other end of the ice and he had already left his crease. Steve said Rick had no choice (as dumb of a move as it was) but to defend himself and fight.

Problem was, he didn't realize it would end the way it did. Johnson is a lefty and 6" taller than Rick. He never expected it.

So, while it wasn't the smartest thing to do, it seems it was the ONLY thing he could do.

"Hey Dee, tell Ricky next time -- put on the foil." ;o)

Thanks Steve.




I didn't realize I had been so remiss as to not post on my main site in the last two days. But between the weather, work and a general malaise, the HockeyBuzz.com site took precedence. That isn't a problem, but I do use this site to speak my mind a little more freely than I do there. And about now, I have a lot to say.

So, if you're looking for a game recap from last night, here is the post game report at 11:30 pm. But here are additional thoughts.

The win in Atlanta was uplifting. It made us feel good. Riding the high of Matt Moulson being signed for three years and wanting to be here along with Michael Grabner being named the NHL 3rd star of the week prior to the All Star break began to put the Islanders back on the NHL media map on the positive side.

While they may not be able to make the playoffs this season, they were beginning to get respect and some analysts were beginning to worry that they could play the role of spoiler for many teams they yet to face during these final games of the regular season.

Ty Wishart traveled with the team on the two-day road trip to Atlanta and Pittsburgh. Looking up some previous information about the youngster, it was clear that he was thought to have excellent potential and size. This is a good thing. So is the idea that Milan Jurcina also took part in a full team practice during the trip and should return soon.

Poulin faced Atlanta and put up a stellar performance with confidence and poise and a bit of an edge in his post-game.

Highs. We had highs, smiles and feel good moments.

Then we had that game in Pittsburgh. With both Crosby and Malkin out of the line-up, the scoring threats seemed to be removed. But what the Pens have is muscle to protect those star players. Rupp, Godard and Asham make a pretty tough crew. Throw in the nasty attitude that Jordan Staal brought after his game with the Rangers and his gloved punch to Prust's face that he got away with, and I was a little worried.

I wanted Trevor Gillies on the bench. I don't care what anyone says, that man will go through walls for his team mates and he lets the opposing bench know it. You just DON'T mess with Trevor Gillies.

This is not to say I do not believe in the toughness of Zenon Konopka. The man with the most penalty minutes in the NHL has them just as much for his mouth as his fists. But watching Z get shaken like a rag doll last night by Rupp just didn't sit well with me. Nor did seeing Blake Comeau laid out on the ice awaiting help or watching Dylan Reese's head hit the glass after a whistle on an icing call or seeing Matt Martin take another glove to the face where his fresh stitches are.

Now, the debate I received on Twitter after I made my displeasure with Capuano's decision known was that Trevor is an excellent team mate and enforcer, but his judgement on timing is questionable. In all honesty, I think last night any time would have been the right time.

But let's get to the real story of the night. The one that was replayed 1,000 times within a millisecond of when it happened. Rick DiPietro's decision to take matters into his own hands and fight the goalie that had shut out his team.

In all honesty, Rick really only gave up two goals. He had some moments where he looked like the Rick DiPietro of old and a few moments of positional problems and open nets leaving the defense to do the job. There was one play where A-Mac actually had to waive him off the puck as Rick skated out to play it.

Rick, I love ya, but you're not a forward. Your job is to STAY IN THE NET. You see that painted half circle. That's yours. Stay there.

But with a frustration level at fever pitch as the clock ticked down to the final buzzer, Rick sent an invite across ice to Johnson who had no problem accepting it. Granted, RDP is in very good shape and does not back away from a fight. "Hey, it only hurts for a second, right?" Right.

And that's about what it took -- a second as Johnson's punch landed along with his elbow to the side of Rick's head. The head that has already been kicked with a skate into concussion.

It was dumb. It was beyond dumb. It was dangerous and now it is also embarrassing. Not just for Rick, but for us long suffering fans who will have to endure watching it over and over again and hearing about it just about everywhere.

So -- um. Thanks.

Inuries, Call-ups & A Signing

This shouldn't be a busy day of news, and it really wasn't until about 8 pm.

First off, there has been no news about the status of Frans Nielsen and his groin strain. However, he did manage to get in a little curling with the boys. Hopefully, he's okay.

Kevin Poulin has arrived in Canada to join the Islanders and was on the ice along with Nate (the great) Lawson this morning for a practice. Mark Eaton, however, has been sent home with a hip injury and will not continue on with the team. This is a devastating blow to the defense. This is why Dylan Reese made the trip, but he is certainly no replacement for Mark Eaton.

As no forward has been recalled from Bridgeport, it is assumed that Blake Comeau will be available to play tomorrow.

While Rick DiPietro's adductor tweak doesn't seem to be serious, I posted a question this morning to my HB crowd about whether or not we should see Kevin Poulin in a game during this trip. Like say... TOMORROW in Edmonton. Personally, I would love to see the kid play just to see what he can do.

Some say that would be rushing him and others feel the way I do and want to see what the future of the Islanders will look like. For a Goalie prospect post, check out Matt Clausen's look at the Isles Goalies and see what he has to say about Nate the Great and Poulin.

Speaking of the future of the Islanders, a little piece of next season has been locked up with the signing of Milan Jurcina to a one year extension. Nice going! Now, stay off the IR, thank you.

So check out Islandersprospects.blogspot.com and let's see who ends up in net tomorrow

Isles Hold On To Win 3 - 2 Over Ducks

Jack Capuano did something I haven't seen before. He walked into the locker room and shook hands with his youngsters and tough guys: Travis Hamonic, Matt Martin, Trevor Gillies. He then walked across the room past the reporters and shook his winning goaltender's hand. Rick DiPietro has doubled Jack Capuano's win record tonight to -- two.

It was an interesting game that saw the Islanders finally produce on the Power Play and actually score three goals in 95 seconds. If anyone can remember the last time that happened to the NY Islanders I'd be surprised.



The Moulson, Tavares, Parenteau line was the most productive tonight. Each had a point. Moulson attributes that to some chemistry that has been established. He told everyone that PA and JT make some excellent passes that make it easier for the likes of him. But Matt Moulson also told us that he knows they have to learn how to win. "It's putting the foot on the pedal the whole game instead of two periods. The third period, I don't think we played our smartest period of the game. Sometimes the goalie plays great and you come up with the win."

He admits there are nerves out there, especially in the hole they are in. "We weren't very smart with the puck at important times of the game." This seemed to be backed up by Jack Capuano in his post game report when asked about the play of Rob Schremp. As talented and creative as he is, Jack said it's his decisions and turnovers they have to work on.


Matt Martin was finally smiling. Considering the big hits he was throwing as well as his fight with Parros late in the second period, I didn't think he'd be able to smile. But he was. When I asked him why there were so many bouts of fisticuffs tonight he told me "We have to form an identity in here. We're going to start pushing teams around. We have a lot of tough guys in here, a lot of big guys that are willing to do it. We have to start using that to our advantage. We did that tonight and jumped out to an early lead."

Having Milan Jurcina back on the ice was a "big" help. "He's a really big body. He's one of the biggest men I've ever played with. When a guy that big is on the ice, it's tough for the other team to get around. He throws his body around a little bit which I'm sure is pretty painful as well."


While Rick DiPietro may have been the winning goaltender tonight, you would never have known by the way he spoke to the press. Rick is well aware that this win was a drop in an empty bucket. "Sometimes we were holding on for dear life, but our D stepped up. Mac played great. It was nice having Juice back, a lot of good blocked shots, a couple of great plays in front of the net, we were scrambling around, and you know -- a big win."

You would think when he said "big win" it would have been with more excitement. It wasn't. There is still plenty of confidence building to be done. But at least this is a step.

It would have been better if they were able to maintain that three goal lead all the way to the final buzzer, but they couldn't. It's still a step. A much needed step in a direction towards winning.

Note: From my Twitter buddy in CA @Smplefy646 a little wake-up call:
Overlooked in this game is Hiller's performance off the bench the night after playing last night. Isles didn't score on their 17 shots against Hiller and if he had been in there from the start, might not have won this game. That being said, I told you they would win