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!).
The Calgary Flames blew a monumental 5-0 lead last night to the Chicago Blackhawks and ended up losing the game 6-5 in overtime. Hey. At least they got a point, right!? (stupid system) – Now I’m waiting for the Islanders to better that Calgary effort!
The Los Angeles Kings’ goalie, Jonathan Quick, has what could be the best last name ever for a goalie. (He also has a 4 game winning streak under his belt!)
The New York Islanders could possibly end the season without a regulation win. (My personal and angry prediction! lol)
When Martin Brodeur retires, do the New Jersey Devils cease to exist? What happens “Post-Marty” ??
I didn’t want to believe in most of the “Hockey-experts” predictions saying the Flyers will be in the Cup Final this year (I still have no faith in Ray Emery), but other than in goal, the Flyers look for real.
I understand the NY Islanders situation, and why they don’t compete for much, but what’s the Toronto Maple Leafs excuse? What’s is the Montreal Canadiens excuse? These teams play in the “Vatican Cities” of hockey, yet find ways to either miss the playoffs, or fail miserably in the playoffs. At least Brian Burke appears to have some semblance of a plan (usually to build up on muscle and beat everyone else up), but what the hell kind of plan does Bob Gainey have in Montreal? To me, it seems there isn’t much of a plan, and that shocks me when it comes to teams with money and support. Maybe the Leafs and Habs still think teams are built on free agency? Who the hell knows!?
If Alexander Ovechkin is GOD, what does that make Alexander Semin?
Bottom (red) line: Even though the Islanders haven’t won a game yet, I’m very impressed with them (do people forget that this team was DEAD LAST last season!?) – Josh Bailey needs some more muscle (or maybe a few more years to simply “grow up”), and there are other things that clearly need to fall in place, but looking at the league as a whole – It’s good to see the Kings “figure it out” and build from within and put together a team that can compete night in and night out. I think that team will surprise many. If they don’t make it to the playoffs this year (which I think they will) they will definitely make some noise in the next couple of seasons. Good for Phoenix to come out swinging and remind people that an actual hockey team DOES EXIST in the desert, and that it’s not just some piece of property divorced parents are fighting over. They are allowing their off-ice issues to remain off-ice, and might surprise some teams in the west (but not enough to make the playoffs). For some reason, I couldn’t care less about the Dallas Stars – they bore me. The St. Louis Blues are another team (much like L.A.) who are adapting to “The New NHL” very well, and have already proven that you don’t need to overpay for free agents to be a force in the NHL. Finally, I’m convinced the Detroit Red Wings will be in every Cup Final for the rest of time. The End!
I attended the Kings/Isles game last night in Kansas City and had a good view of Sean O’Donnell’s “mugging” of Matt Martin. It’s funny to see people respond to this story on TSN.ca/nhl when they couldn’t have seen what happened since the game was not televised. They just assumed that it was “OK” because O’Donnell was presumed to be sticking up for the Kings’ talented young defenseman Drew Doughty. Is it going out on a limb to say that cross-checking someone from behind into the boards and then pummeling them when they are in a vulnerable position is a – dare I say – BAD thing!? O’Donnell received a match penalty for good reason – the refs knew right away that it was as bad as it looked. I’m glad at least one situation was taken care of correctly. Good job NHL (don’t hear that often! From anyone!), but that was an “easy one” that you had handed to you.
It finally happened! Sept. 22nd came and went and even though I was bummed by all the uncertainty that surrounds the Islanders, last night’s game turned out to be a lot of fun for me. Technically, it was a Kings home game, but the potential for the Islanders to one day move to Kansas City made it feel like it “might as well be” an Islanders’ home game. At least that’s how I looked at it, and it was interesting to walk through the massive (and quite nice) concourse of the Sprint Center as if it were an Islanders’ home game. Let’s just say, I hope this was a one time affair, and if the Islanders are ever back in this building, it will once again be nothing more than just a pre-season game.
The fun part of yesterday began even before I went to the game. I put on my Islander jersey early in the day, and went out for lunch and drinks with my girlfriend and one of my friends (who were also donning Islander shirts) – it was funny to see the funny looks we would get, as well as the funny comments. One girl asked us if there was a hockey game in town – I thought it was pretty obvious, but we explained to her that yes, we don’t simply just walk around dressed like a blue and orange gang. It was innocent enough, but I was just happy that someone was willing to talk about it. I was also happy that she knew it was hockey! At another bar a guy came over to us and asked, “what’s with the matching clothes?!” My girlfriend explained about the Islanders’ game in town, and he said, “oh – hockey? I thought you were Denver Bronco fans!” I didn’t know what to say to that last night, and I still don’t know what to say – Denver Broncos!? NFL football!? Are they really ready for NHL hockey out here!?
The game itself was okay. It’s still preseason, so I never did expect great game play. There were a few good fights and some young guys trying to make a name for themselves, but nothing spectacular to write home about. For me, however, it was just fun to sit in awesome lower level seats, have a few beers and yell, cheer, boo, and laugh throughout the game. The overall experience was fun, but the big black drapes they put up to hide the empty upper-bowl seats stood as a constant reminder that many people either didn’t realize, or care, that there was a hockey game in town. And to those who say, “Oh it was half empty, so Islander fans should feel at home . . . .” I must say this: Yes, last night at the Sprint Center the building was half-empty, but at least the Coliseum is usually half-FULL with Islander fans! Last night was a totally different experience that should not be compared to a regular season game in Uniondale. When the Islanders begin showing some promise (as well as putting up some “W’s”) then attendance numbers will go up. Don’t question the love of hockey on Long Island. Considering what we’ve been through as fans, and how most of us still care. Remember the Peca/Osgood/Laviolette days? When the Isles went on a sick run to open the season and actually kept it up for most of the season? The energy was back in that building, and people returned. Give the fans good reason to spend their hard-earned money and they will attend.
The Sprint Center's "Ice Girls" are manly!
Back to last night: Our seats were in the 1st row of the lower level right above the zamboni entrance – so I got to see a lot of the ice crew and all the maintenance guys at work. I’m well aware that there is no main hockey team tenant in the Sprint Center so there is no use for “ice girls” – anyway – not a big deal – but I must say my girlfriend was happy it was men with big buckets doing the job after I told her that both the Kings and Islanders, as well as many other NHL teams, use 20 year old girls in skimpy outfits to do the job! The funny thing was, these guys had trouble opening the door to the ice each time they had to go out there. It was quite funny to watch them struggle and fight with the latch on the door. Plus – they kept trying to get on the ice at the wrong time – the referee reprimanded them on numerous occasions – it was quite entertaining!
Bottom Line: It was just a fun experience for me go to hockey game again – period. Add the fact that it was my hometown team playing in my new adopted city, and the event was a little sweeter. I didn’t allow the nonsense that surrounds the Islanders to taint my night. Hopefully, one day, I can enjoy walking through a beautiful large concourse, or ordering a beer in a bar that overlooks the ice so I don’t miss any action, in a new arena on Long Island. I can’t do anything else than be optimistic about the Islanders’ situation. I don’t think Kansas City is a legitimate option for them. I also think that the franchise has somehow been able to survive many crazy situations for a long time now, and I can only believe they will survive their current situation. One day, I’d like to take my children to a New York Islanders game IN New York. As for yesterday, the Islanders in Kansas City proved to be fun and entertaining, but hopefully only for one night and never again!
Have you heard?! Hockey’s back! Okay, don’t wet yourself just yet, because it’s not QUITE back, but it’s close enough for my excitement level to skyrocket! I enjoy the final weeks of baseball as much as the next guy, and I shall be watching because often times miraculous things can happen (remember when the Rockies won 22 out of 23 games to end the ’07 season?! Or when the Met’s . . . umm . . . well let’s just say it hasn’t ended well for the Met’s in the past few years. Yeah. That was a nice way to put it), but after my prediction of a Royals Mets World Series was laid to rest (laid to rest the minute after I jokingly made the prediction) it has become far too easy for me to look elsewhere for excitement. So where do I turn for excitement you ask? Hockey baby! NHL hockey is just around the corner and it’s coming to places most people wouldn’t expect it to be – Kansas City, Missouri just happens to be one of those places, and I will be at the pre-season game at the Sprint Center on September 22nd, 2009!
NHL Hockey, New York Islanders, Sports | admin | February 3, 2010 | 
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Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, Colorado Avalanche, Flyers, Hockey, John Tavares, Kings, L.A. Kings, Los Angeles Kings, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, NHL, Panthers, San Jose Sharks, Thrashers
