February 7, 2012; Philadelphia, PA USA; New York Islanders goalie Evgeni Nabokov (20) celebrates a win with teammates New York Islanders defenseman Steve Staios (24) and right wing P.A. Parenteau (15) at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. The Islanders defeated the Flyers 1-0, winning the shootout, 2-0. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-US PRESSWIRE

In a word…

BRILLIANT!

Evgeni Nabokov was outstanding, turning away everything that the Flyers put at them.  45 stops in regulation and overtime, with an additional two in the shootout.  The Islanders would only muster up 18 at Ilya Bryzgalov; but Frans Nielsen and John Tavares would score in the shootout, to get the visitors the extra point.

The Islanders relied on five defenseman in the third period, as Dylan Reese was lost to a knee injury.  Aaron Ness, in his NHL debut, played 14:12 and was not timid in his play.  The Isles are now down another backliner, with Travis Hamonic out for two weeks with a broken nose, and Milan Jurcina about a few days away.

Nabokov is 7-2 in his last 9 games with a near .960 save percentage during those games.  He clearly is not going anywhere, and this team is putting it all together.  The Isles now sitting in 11th place, 9 point behind 8th place Ottawa, with 4 games in hand.  Yes – it is not impossible, the team needs to win these games that are upcoming against teams that are behind them, and try to walk away with some victories against teams that they are not favored to win.  He recorded his 305th career victory which ties him with “Battling Billy Smith” for 22nd alltime.

It is the first time in nearly four years that the Islanders have been at NHL 500 (22-22-8) this late in the season.  Onto to the visit of Les Canadiens de Montreal.

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Cold A Long Time: An Alpine Mystery. A book by John Leake (photo of book cover used with permission of the author)

Duncan MacPherson – an Islanders draft pick was reported lost in late 1989 in an supposed skiing incident in Europe.  He was a promising player, and there were signs that this young man had a bright future.

John Leake has wrote a book about this mystery called “Cold A Long Time:  An Alpine Mystery”, that I am going to not only read, but will get an opportunity to talk to John on a potential new internet talk show that will be on the FanSided network in the near future.

The following quote, is a brief synopsis of the book, as per the book’s facebook page:

 

In August of 1989, twenty-three-year-old Duncan MacPherson—a pro hockey player from Saskatoon, Canada—vanished without a trace in Europe. With no help from the police, his parents, Lynda and Bob, drove all over the Alps looking for him, and finally found his car at the Stubai Glacier, a popular ski resort near Innsbruck, Austria. Thus began their twenty-year struggle to find out why their son had disappeared after taking a snowboarding lesson on a beginner slope. Had he, as the local police suggested, wandered off the beaten track and died in a remote area, or had he been the victim of something sinister? In the course of their search, the MacPhersons encountered an extraordinary cast of characters, including corrupt cops, a 5,000-year-old ice mummy, an amnesiac initially thought to be Duncan, a renowned psychic with a startling vision, a charismatic ski resort developer, and a deceptively friendly forensic pathologist. In 2009 they asked author John Leake to help them with their ongoing search for answers, and after a two-year investigation, he discovered the shocking reality of what happened to Duncan. Cold a Long Time: An Alpine Mystery recounts the strange and agonizing odyssey of the MacPherson family. It is a story about enduring love, perseverance, and the irrepressible desire to know the truth, literally at all cost. It is also the story of a twisted cover-up, committed by employees of the Stubai Glacier, the local police, and high-ranking authorities in Innsbruck. Leake’s findings are the subject of the television documentary “A Cold Case,” produced by the fifth estate—Canada’s premier investigative news program. www.cbc.ca/fifth/2011-2012/acoldcase/ “Leake skillfully and exhaustively takes a complex story and makes it eminently readable.” -The Regina Leader-Post

If you are interested in purchasing the book, please go to this link:

http://www.amazon.com/Cold-Long-Time-Alp…

Will write in the morning on the Flyer game.  Great effort by both teams tonight.

The good news was that the New York Islanders still got a point out of the game, be it the “loser” point. The bad news was they lost the second point and blew a 3-1 lead.

Granted that they were lucky to even have been leading in the game after the first period, as Buffalo certainly had the better of the play, out shooting the Isles 17-9 and generally out playing them. However, a pair of goals from Frans Nielsen sandwiched around a Josh Bailey shorthanded goal gave the Islanders a 3-1 lead after the opening frame.

Both teams played better in the second period defensively, but the Islanders gave up a goal late in the period. At least, they had seemed to find their legs, and tightened up their game compared to the first stanza. It was just a shame that they couldn’t get any other goals, which was the same problem in the final period. Continue reading this post »

Feb 02, 2012; Ottawa, ON, CAN; The New York Islanders celebrate the winning goal scored in overtime by defenseman Mark Eaton (4) in game against the Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Place. The Islanders defeated the Senators 2-1 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-US PRESSWIRE

Who would have thunk it.

121 games….where have you been Mark Eaton?

His first goal in since 2010 gave the Islanders the extra point in a 2-1 victory over the Ottawa Senators in Kanata last night.

In a time where scoring comes from the first line, the Islanders got their contributions for people not names Tavares, Moulson or Okposo.

Matt Martin got a great pass from PA Parenteau and snapped a shot passed Ottawa goalie Craig Anderson, giving the Isles the 1-1 deadlock in the third period.  For Martin, that was his sixth goal of the season, establishing a team high.

Zach Smith scored his 13th of the season just before the second period closed out – giving the Sens the 1-0 lead.  Smith, on the Penalty Kill, came down the left wing, and took a high shot that Evgeni Nabokov had in his possession and let get by him.

Continue reading this post »

January 31, 2012; Raleigh, NC, USA; New York Islanders center John Tavares (91) carries the puck against the Carolina Hurricanes at the RBC center. The Islanders defeated the Hurricanes 5-2. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-US PRESSWIRE

Now that the tuxedos are gone from Wednesday’s Casino night, it is back to business for the Islanders as they take on the Ottawa Senators tonight in Kanata, Ontario.

The Isles have three games in five nights, as they have the first of a back to back set, as they Sabres come to Uniondale tomorrow night.  This is a chance for the Isles to gain some ground on those above them, and a big game against a team that is fighting with them for a precious playoff spot.

Of course, the attention for the home team will be securing the Islanders number one weapon, John Tavares.  The NHL player of the month of January will hope to continue the play that he showed on Tuesday night, when he recorded his third 4-point night of the season.

Kevin Poulin filled admirably for the Al Montoya and Evgeni Nabokov in the nets on Tuesday night.  Poulin had played all weekend for the Sound Tigers, and the AHL goaltender of the month, provided a solid performance.  The winning netminder from Tuesday’s game was sent back to Bridgeport.

Rhett Rakhshani filled in for Brian Rolston in Tuesday  night’s game, and played well with Josh Bailey and Matt Martin.  He has yet to score an NHL goal, but he has the talent to do just that.

Continue reading this post »

It is going to often be said as the season continues. The win in Raleigh was a BIG win for the Islanders. It was 2 HUGE points for them. Make no mistakes about that fact.

Realistically, I see no need in discussing the various statistical “chances” the Islanders have or don’t have in making the playoffs. I am a realist, and I understand the math. I know it’s not an easy proposition, and I am aware of what the total points that were needed for teams to have grabbed the 8 spot in the Eastern Conference over the last few years.

The bottom line is it’s not over until it’s over. The hockey “experts” can discuss all they want about the proverbial fat lady warming up and what teams are “out of it” or not. Until the actual math demonstrates that the Islanders cannot make the playoffs, then I will believe that they still have a chance. No matter how many teams are ahead of them, and no matter what their record must be to make a run, I believe that in the world of probability, ANYTHING is possible and NOTHING is impossible. Continue reading this post »

January 31, 2012; Raleigh, NC, USA; New York Islanders center John Tavares (91) celebrates his 3rd period game winning goal with teammates right wing Kyle Okposo (21) and left wing Matt Moulson (26) against the Carolina Hurricanes at the RBC center. The Islanders defeated the Hurricanes 5-2. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-US PRESSWIRE

I guess John Tavares did not need the All-Star break.  As a matter of fact, he picked up right where he left off.

The Islanders lone representative to the All-Star Game continued his January dominance with a four point night (two goals and two assists), as New York defeated the Carolina Hurricanes at the RBC Center in Raleigh.

Tavares first point of the night was the result of an assist on PA Parenteau’s 11th of the season, as the Isles took advantage of their first power play attempt in three games.  They quickly took advantage as Tavares at the left wing boards found Parenteau in the right slot, and snapped it past Cam Ward for the 1-0 lead.

The second period, the Isles would get another power play notch, as Matt Moulson would get his 23rd of the season, as he re-directed a blocked shot from Mark Streit (2 assists) past an unsuspecting Ward, to give the Isles the 2-0 lead.

In the third, the Hurricanes found some life, and got two goals in a four minute span as Brandon Sutter (11th) and Tim Brent (7th on the PP), knotted the game at just under the seven minute mark.

However, John Tavares was not to be stopped.  Matt Moulson pushed the puck through the slot as Tavares was racing  down the ice.  The slapper was up and in, giving the visitors the lead for good.

The defense was strong, and Kevin Poulin, called up for the game, was solid in net.  Poulin, playing three games in four days for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, made 21 saves for his first NHL win in over a year.  He had to make some tremendous saves, especially in the latter portion of the game.

Continue reading this post »

I will readily confess that I am not a big fan of the “fantasy draft” approach to the All Star game. I’m not “against” it, but even as someone who plays fantasy hockey, it has only a little interest for me.

However, I am a Big Fan of the All Star game and the concept itself. I think showcasing the talent of the NHL and rewarding the guys who are having great seasons benefits both the league and the fan base. It is an entertaining event, and the skills competition has been a great addition to the weekend.

Not that my opinion means anything, but I preferred the “conference” format where east met west. I think this method could be utilized in a similar way as to how Major League Baseball deals with their All Star game. Have the game mean something in that, for example, the winning conference gets home ice advantage in the Stanley Cup finals. If the players have something to play for, it will be a bit more exciting to watch.

Nevertheless, the fantasy draft turned out to be quite interesting in how Daniel Alfredsson and Zdeno Chara chose their teams. Alfie ended up with his fellow teammates and countrymen and Chara pretty much did as well. Of course, from an Islander fan perspective, John Tavares was drafted by Alfredsson by way of a recommendation from Zenon Konopka. Continue reading this post »