Archive for the 'Rangers Suck' Category
What new in Islanders Country? Plenty, but none of it good. First off DP’s getting ANOTHER doctor’s opinion on his knee. The $67 Million Dollar Man has started just 5 games for us this season.
Next, one of the few bright spots this season – the emergence of Joey MacDonald as a solid netminder, hit a snag as Joey Mac was hurt just 6 minutes into last night’s game with the Rangers. There are rumors of the Isles talking to Doobie (who’s playing in Russia) about bringing him back.
And finally, another loss. To the Rangers, no less. After leading 1-0 after one period, two quick Ranger goals in the second doomed the Isles. Officially the NHL’s worst team, the Isles have just two wins since November 29th. Tavares or bust.
So much for getting the Rangers at the right place and the right time. The Blueshirts buzzed the Isles with four third period goals and skated away with a 5-4 victory. The Isles fought hard for a while but were on their heels the entire third period.
The $67 Million Dollar Man sat out yet another game. Coach Scott Gordon scratched DiPietro a few hours before the game to give his keeper more time to get over his groin injury. Gordon said he didn’t know when DP would be back in the line-up.
“With a strain, you’re pushing the envelope where you can get through a practice or get through a game, but then if you hurt it, you’re worse off than when you started,” Gordon told Newsday. “So it’s not like there’s a definite timetable.”
DiPietro has played 10 periods this season. The Islanders have one win in December. They’re dead last in the league in points. Is there a silver lining somewhere with this team? Anywhere? I don’t see it.
This might be just what the Isles need to take their recent feisty play to the next level – a road game against the Rangers. The Rangers sit atop the division and the Isles have the fewest points in all of hockey but, the Blueshirts have a way of bringing out the best in the Coliseum Heroes, especially when they play at the Garden.
The Islanders beat the Rangers 2-1 on Nov. 4, in their only meeting at MSG this season. They are 6-2-2 at the Garden in their last 10 contests. Everything I’ve read says Rick DiPietro will be back in net again tonight, and if he’s healthy enough to play that should aid the Isles’ cause. Add to the mix the Rangers’ three-game losing streak and you might want to find your local bookie and put some green down on the OrangeAndBlue.
I’m not saying it’s going to happen but this could be one of those right place at the right time games for the Islanders. And let’s face it, they need all the help they can get.
Oh – and the Jets just fired Eric Mangini. Good riddance. The guy had promise but he never made any progress. He was awful at in-game adjustments and constantly made poor decisions in the heat of battle. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out, big guy. The 2008 Jets were a monumental waste of talent. Favre and Mangini killed that team. Now Woody needs to go get Bill Cowher. OK – enough of this Jet crap.
Let’s Go Islanders!
In their own building no less. Nice work boys. Thrashers tonight.
The geniuses at the NHL Marketing Department were at it again this weekend, with the debut of “Super Saturday” – all 30 teams playing on one night. Great concept, poor execution. Please tell me why they picked an October Saturday with College Football in full swing, the World Series going on, and no games on Versus? As a bonus, there were absolutely no games last night.
Had a family thing Saturday night, so all I saw were the late night highlights on the NHL network. There were quite a few from the Isles/Hurricanes matchup – 57 Islander shots, 54 saves by Cam Ward, a potential game-tying penalty shot with less than 1 second left in regulation, and this…BOOM!
Doug Weight absolutely crushed the ‘Canes rookie Brandon Sutter at center ice with a legal hit. Sutter was knocked unconscious, and spent a couple of nights in the hospital for observation. He’s been released. The hit started a lot of debating about the legality of the hit and what the NHL can do to protect players from hits like these. It certainly doesn’t help the NHL’s image when players are knocked out and taken off the ice like this, but I don’t know how you legislate this out of hockey. Making it some kind of referee’s judgment call on “intent” or “blow to the head” is just going to make it worse. One odd thing about this hit is that Sutter (6′3″) has 4 inches on Weight (5′11″), I expected the opposite when I looked this up.
Around the rink…
- Islanders 3rd jersey unveiling tonight at 5pm before the NYI/NYR game.
- DP out for tonight. He’s being checked out by team doctors today, and then the Isles will come back and tell us nothing. Unless they have to do something drastic like amputate a limb, he will be listed as day to day.
- And finally, speaking of new jerseys check out these sweet new sweaters for this year’s Winter Classic. Funny thing is, Chelios wore the same jersey in his rookie year back in 1926.
Friday night, the Yanks don’t play until 10p, so how about the Islanders Army “Bag of Pucks” link dump makes an appearance this summer?
Too. Good. To be true.
The NHL filed court papers Wednesday that included a draft letter from commissioner Gary Bettman proposing discipline against Madison Square Garden, L.P., that could lead to suspension or termination of its ownership of the Rangers.
In its court filing, the NHL asked a judge to agree Madison Square Garden breached its contract by challenging league rules.
This may be the best move Gary Bettman has made in his entire tenure as commish.
Speaking of polls, the HockeyFights.com 2007-08 Awards are now open for voting as well. Where else can you vote for “Fight of the Year“, “TKO/KO of the Year“, “Best Team Feud“, or “Best Punching Power“? All those official NHL Awards are for sissies!
The Isles are not very well represented here, in fact they’ve been nominated for “Least Enforcing Team“. But you will find the NYI/NYR Pre-season brawl, and Simon stomping on Rutuu in the “Most Old-School Moment” category. You can browse the categories and videos, but you’ll need a HockeyFights.com forum username and password to vote.
Last home game tonight for the Islanders as they start a home and home with the Rangers. After tomorrow night’s game, it’s off to the golf course early Saturday morning. Hopefully the Rags will get bounced in the first round and join us on the links the following weekend. Disappointing end to a season that started off pretty good. This home and home series was supposed to have major playoff implications (like keeping the Rags OUT of the playoffs).
Hey Garth, what do you think of the Rangers?
Amen brother, amen. They can make the playoffs but we all know they still suck.
We haven’t covered the possible Yankee Stadium NHL outdoor game very much here this season, despite talks about the game coming closer and closer to reality. That’s because every article about the game has the Rangers scheduled for the game in permanent marker, while the list of possible opponents is written in pencil, with the Islanders at the bottom of that list. The NHL (and NBC) suits feel a NYI/NYR outdoor game is too NYC-centric and won’t draw any interested outside of the metro area. It’s really not looking good for the Isles to take part in this game if it happens. However, the Isles now have one notable supporter in their corner – ESPN’s “Bucci” – John Buccigross makes a case to include the Islanders in his latest blog column. We’ll take all the support we can get, even if half of Bucci’s support is based on pity for our fallen franchise.
The Rangers-Islanders rivalry would light up a rink, burst through the television screen and earn very good ratings. It is one of those regular-season games that truly feels like a playoff game. Thats what makes any outdoor game better. A hard-hitting, meaningful battle is the cherry on top of all the Yankee Stadium marketing the game will receive.
You might find two other U.S.-based teams with a rivalry close to Islanders-Rangers, but you wont find a better one. And having the game in New York makes the most sense if its Islanders-Rangers, as much sense as a Blackhawks-Red Wings game in Wrigley Field or a Penguins-Flyers game at Penn State.
It is good sense and would help a franchise in need of a little help, a franchise that has a passionate owner who had a passionate-GM-turned-good-television-analyst make very bad trades. Sports are meant to be played, watched and experienced with passion, but administered with cold, calculating thought. The Islanders learned that the hard way.
Cmon, NHL, give the Islanders a break. Give them a reason to believe, some faith, some hope. Everybody will win. Even Oleg Kvasha.
