How a 23 win team that is in the midst of a 5 game losing streak can still be in great playoff positioning on February 3rd is beyond my realm of belief.  So it goes in the “New NHL.”  I’ve always been against “loser points” that award a team that loses in overtime a point in the standings, as well as losing in a shoot-out (skills-competition).  I’m sorry, this isn’t kindergarten . . . you shouldn’t get anything for losing in a professional sport (except an earful from the coaching staff).  However, as an Islander fan, it is the loser point that has actually given this team some hope early on in their rebuild process (for those that think Tavares was anything close to the final piece, get real – the rebuilding is far from done).  Besides the loser point, however, and maybe more importantly, is that the teams directly around the Islanders in the Eastern Conference standings simply aren’t that good (that’s right, I’m talking about YOU New York Rangers!  YOU SUCK!).

Read more »

The NHL has decided to simply fine Colorodo Avalanche goon David Koci for a hit from behind, and Ottawa Senators waste of skates Jarkko Ruutu for headhunting, rather than suspend them. Well, there goes my theory that the stars of the game are treated differently by the NHL big-wigs – or is my theory still intact?  I mean, Colin Campbell and Gary Bettman are probably so tired of hearing how they favor the star players of the league by allowing them to do “illegal” things during the games and get away with it, that maybe they let David Koci and Jarkko Ruutu (two “nobody’s”, really – Koci averages 3 minutes a game – it’s a 60 minute game people!  And Ruutu is well KNOWN for being a dirty player, and nothing more) off with a slap on the wrist just to prove a point.  Maybe they wanted to prove themselves lenient on “the little guys” too.  Now, that might be a ridiculous notion, but I wouldn’t put anything past the idiots that run and discipline the great sport of hockey.

Read more »