Disclaimer

I do have the express written consent of the New York Islanders to use their logo on this website.

Saturday, February 12, 2011

The Real 3 Stars of Friday's Game


We all know what happened between the Islanders and Penguins on Friday night at Nassau Coliseum.
The 3 stars of the game were listed as:
     1. John Tavares
     2. Matt Moulson
     3. Michael Grabner

These three players are deserving of the three stars. If I had my picks, they would be a little different.

Third Star: Mikko Koskinen
A day after going through an emotional up and down and earning his first NHL victory, Mikko Koskinen was thrown back into the fire against the Penguins. He stepped up big time and made 35 saves on 38 shots for his second NHL win in 2 days. One of those 35 saves is this one, which may possibly be the save of the year.



Second Star: Travis Hamonic
Kudos to Travis. The rookie d-man showed that he could compete with the best of them on Friday night when he got a Gordie Howe Hat Trick. (For those of you that don't know, that is when a player gets a goal, assist, and gets in a fight in the same game.) He started off with a blast of a shot for the first Isles goal. An assist on a great pass to PA Parenteau, who simply redirected it home for the Islanders 3rd goal. To cap off the Gordie Howe trick, Hamonic got into a nice tussle with Michael Rupp during the second period. Congrats Travis, you deserve second star of the game.

























First Star: Micheal Haley
Micheal Haley, what is there to say about him? Friday night's was his first game of the season, and to leave with the fans chanting your name, that is something. In the first period, Haley got into a fight with Craig Adams, one of Pittsburgh's better fighters, and he clearly won that fight no contest. In the second period, he scored his first NHL goal, and it was a beauty, as you can see below.



Then, to finish off his day, he got into a fight with Islander enemy Maxime Talbot, won, and then skated down to the other end of the ice and took punches at Islanders enemy #1, Brent Johnson. And, he wanted to take on the whole Penguins team, or what was left of it, as he was being escorted out by the referee.
















Micheal Haley, great statement in your first game of the season. You are the First star.

Now, for your viewing pleasure, because I can't seem to get enough of it.
A Hockey Game.   Friday Night Fights Featuring The Isles and Penguins.
Lets Go Islanders!

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

New York Islanders Goalies (Or Lack Thereof)

As you are probably aware of by now, the Islanders goaltending situation really is very bad. So bad, in fact, that I can barely keep track of everyone and I'll show you everyone and their problems.

Goalie #1: Rick DiPietro
We all know DiPietro signed a contract for life a few years ago. Since then, we have not received much.  Now, DP has a broken face from his fight with Brent Johnson last week. He'll be gone for about a month.

Goalie #2: Dwayne Roloson
Currently starting for the Tampa Bay Lightning after being traded for Ty Wishart and trying to help them make a deep postseason run.  He gets physical at times also.

Goalie #3: Nathan Lawson
He'll be coming back in less than a week. He's been out for a few weeks with a knee injury. He'll assume the #1 goalie role assuming that no one new comes in.

Goalie #4: Evgeni Nabokov
Be a man and just show up Evgeni.  We really, really need you.

Goalie #5: Kevin Poulin
Last night, during warm-ups....

Now he is done for the season.

Goalie #6: Mikko Koskinen: Healthy, but he allowed 2 goals on the first 2 shots he ever faced in the NHL.

Goalie #7: Joel Martin: Arrived at the Coliseum after being driven from Bridgeport straight to the game last night. He'll back up Koskinen if needed.

AND: If all else fails, the Islanders have 3 goalies in their Front Office.
Mike Dunham, current goaltending coach and former Islanders goalie.
Former Quebec Nordiques goalie and fired Isles coach, yet for some reason is still with the team, Scott Gordon.


Last but not least, the Islanders also have GM Garth Snow. If he wants to do something to show the Isles fans that he is doing the right thing, he shouls strap on the pads, and get between the pipes. After all, he is only 2 years older than Doug Weight.  He also likes to get physical, such as HERE, HERE, and HERE.

Who is going to play goalie for the Islanders? My prediction is a person not mentioned in this entry.

Lets Go Islanders!

Friday, February 4, 2011