Archive Page 2

Annual Returns

January 3rd, 2009 by Tom

The Islanders lost their first contest of 2009 (really, how the hell is it 2009? We are living in the future, man) to the Coyotes 5-4 last night, giving them an 0-1 record for the calendar year. That got me to wondering what their record has been over the last few calendar years. I know it doesn’t mean much because it takes into consideration the performance of teams with different personnel and coaching (for example the guys who played and coached for the Isles in the Spring of 2008 are vastly different than the guys filling those positions in the Fall of 2008) but I still thought it was interesting.

The results:

2008 Islanders 27-44-11 65 points

2007 Islanders 41-31-11 93 points

2006 Islanders 38-37-7 83 points

The team’s best month over that span was February 2007 when the OrangeAndBlue went 9-2-2 (20 points). They were also strong in November of that year going 8-5-1 (17 points). In the 21 months we looked at over the years 2006-2008, the Isles had just 10 winning months.

Not surprisingly, the Islanders’ worst month was December of 2008. That one is fresh in all our minds. The Coliseum Heroes went an abyssmal 2-10-2 (6 points) in December. Other recent stinkers came in March 2008 when they went 3-10-1 (7 points) and October 2008 when the Isles posted a 2-6-1 record (5 points).

As you can see, 2008 kicked the Islanders in the teeth as much as it did the rest of the world. The year that gave us the full brunt of the subprime mortgage crisis, epic collapses on Wall Street and escalating unemployment also did in the OrangeAndBlue. Here’s hoping 2009 is a better year for the Islanders and everyone else, save for guys like Bernie Madoff. He deserves a lifetime of 2008s.

Happy New Year. Go Isles!

DP Misses Rangers Comeback Victory

December 30th, 2008 by Tom


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.

Wrigley Looking Rinky

December 29th, 2008 by Tom

NHL.com

NHL.com

We’re just a few days away from the Blackhawks taking on the Red Wings at Wrigley Field. Man I’d love to be there. Wrigley is an amazing place to see a baseball game, I can just imagine how cool it would be to see some hockey there.

NHL.com has a cool time-lapse photography video showing the construction of the rink and other prep work.

I’m thinking the new Yankee Stadium would make a nice setting for an Islander game. Isles will need to become relevant again before that will happen.

Isles Head to Manhattan

December 29th, 2008 by Tom

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!

Isles Snap Losing Streak With DiPietro’s Return

December 27th, 2008 by Tom

Rick DiPietro returned from a 27-game absence to grab his first win of the season as the Islanders ended a miserable 10-game losing streak with a 4-1 victory over Toronto. Cue “Welcome Back Kotter” theme song.

All of the problems that have dragged this team down this season are still around but for one game, the Isles gave their fans a good show and looked like a complete team. I’d love to see these guys again. Let’s hope they remember the way to the rink.

Bill Guerin scored twice, with the second tally giving him 400 goals for his career. Good job Billy. Keep ‘em coming.

Blake Benched…Again

November 12th, 2008 by murph

Oh Blakey, don’t say we didn’t warn you about taking the money and running to Toronto. I mean, yeah the guy’s got 4 million dollar bills lying around the house to dry his tears, but it starting to sound like 3 million and change, and you know…actually playing and not being booed isn’t so bad either. At $4 million, it’ll will be virtually impossible for Toronto to move him in the Salary Cap Era of the NHL.

Moments after hearing the news that he was to be benched for the second-time this season, Jason Blake erupted into a sequence of profanities, reports the National Post.

Blake sat out of last night’s game, a 4-3 loss to the Calgary Flames.

“I don’t know what’s going on … we’ll try to figure it out sometime today,” Blake told the paper.

A Little Slice of Puck Heaven

November 11th, 2008 by murph

Here’s a great way to spend your morning while waiting for today’s Islanders afternoon game (unless you’re still working today like me). Via UniWatch Blog comes OfficialGamePuck.com’s Virtual Puck Museum with just under 20,000 puck photos for you to browse. That’s even more pucks than the back of the Islanders net in the third period!

Classics like the Bossy and LaFontaine pucks above. Pucks from just about every hockey league NHL, AHL, College Hockey, even Beer League pucks. Corporate pucks, old pucks, wedding pucks, even ^%$&# glow pucks.

Here are a few more Islander pucks; Blake, King, and Peca. You might want to cover your eyes for this last one John Tonelli…as a King…nooooo!

Parrish Debuts in Dallas with Hat-Trick

November 8th, 2008 by murph

Ex-Isle Mark Parrish was signed to Bridgeport a couple of weeks ago on a 25-game tryout basis. Being an AHL-only contract, he was free to sign with any NHL team and was picked up by the Dallas Stars earlier this week. Last night he made his Dallas debut netting a hat-trick in the Stars 5-2 win.

Mark Parrish had his sixth career hat trick in his Dallas debut and the Stars beat the Anaheim Ducks 5-2 on Friday night.

Parrish, who signed a one-year deal with Dallas on Wednesday, had two power-play goals and a breakaway tally in the first 26 minutes of play.

Lowly Isles Beat First-Place Rangers

November 6th, 2008 by murph

In their own building no less. Nice work boys. Thrashers tonight.

3rd Jersey Unveiled

October 27th, 2008 by murph

NICE! Now that’s a 3rd Jersey you can be proud to wear. Guerin’s “C” is a little big, but I can deal with it. At least they didn’t put everyone’s numbers on the front like the regular jerseys. It looks good…I’d say real good – but it looks a tiny bit odd because of the Reebok slim cut. I prefer the loose CCM cut over any Reebok jersey anyday. It’ll be interesting to see it in motion – Saturday night vs Montreal.