Such a fitting image, don’t you think? – Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports

Middletown, N. J. – The world of professional sports never ceases to amaze me and neither does the athletes who play those games either. For every great performance, stand up interview and community service, there are many more ready to drag their fame and fortune through the mud, seemingly unaware that the entire sports community is watching. The sense of entitlement and being above everything else is what is wrong with certain sports figures today.  Tiger Woods, Ray Lewis, Alex Rodriguez, Dennis Rodman : the list goes on and on and even extends to the National Hockey League at times.

Fire When Ready

My first rant involves the absolutely abhorrent, insensitive and purely idiotic comments made yesterday by Don Cherry on Hockey Night in Canada. Here is the video…

Cherry, as a respected coach of the Boston Bruins from 1974-1979 knows the game and is certainly entitled to his opinion. But even if you agree with what he said, and I do not, why in today’s world of uber-sensitivity, would you come out with it on national television? If it is to garner controversy and ‘shock value’ per se, that already surrounds you Don. No need to drive the point home. Females are every bit as entitled to a career as a credentialed hockey journalist as a man is. It is not about a person’s gender, but  rather their talent, plain and simple.. The question she asked Duncan Keith was a legitimate one concerning a goal that was scored by the Canucks Daniel Sedin followed by a whack to the back by Keith with his stick. I love the way he tries to backtrack and make it palpable by referring that he was embarrassed for the female reporter who entered the locker room when he played.  NOBODY buys the sensitive Don Cherry…….NOBODY.

This is not the first time Cherry has commented on women in hockey either…Take a gander…

Reporters/Journalists/TV Anchors have been fired for much, much less. Let’s see how HNIC responds to the latest Cherry blunder.

Hit To The Stern

The New Jersey Devils went into Madison Square Garden yesterday to close out their season against the New York Rangers. New York was looking to improve their regular season standings and first round playoff match-up and leapfrog the Islanders. New Jersey was making reservations at the local country club to play 18 holes.

As a former hockey player and current coach, I absolutely never thought that teams, even after being eliminated, would not give an effort in front of a packed arena on a national stage. What we saw yesterday from the Devils was outright embarrassing  humiliating and every player on that team should be embarrassed as they awake this morning. I will go as far as to even call it gutless.

This is not even from the viewpoint of an Islanders fan, which I am. It is well-known that we blew 3 of 4 points on Thursday and Friday to the Flyers and Sabres and yesterday’s game should not have meant anything for the Rangers. But you are making millions of dollars to represent not only yourself, but a professional sport and organization and that is how you conduct yourself?

They took 6 penalties, 20 shots on goal (mainly from their own zone or center ice dumps) and never even showed anything resembling an American Hockey League club, never mind an NHL one. If you don’t believe me, check out the Ryan Callahan shorthanded goal : Turnover with 4 guys up the ice, Johan Hedberg does…..well, I still don’t know what the heck he did. Better yet, check out 3 Devils watching the puck behind the goal on Derek Stepan‘s goal. Still not impressed….watch how EASY Rick Nash scores both his goals.

Pay real close attention to Ilya Kovalchuk on the second Nash goal in the 3rd period. Are you serious? Joking perhaps? Was this announced as a practice? I don’t think NHL players even practice with that absence of intensity. Go home Devils, you didn’t even deserve to play this game, not to mention be in the playoffs.

The Ship Goes Down

Last but not least was this little tidbit that came floating around Twitter at around 5pm.

Wow Matt Cooke said today “If we play Isles we probably rest Sid a few games,cute team but no threat” @mmoulson @mattymarts17 #BulletinBoard

— Incarcerated Bob IBN (@Incarceratedbob) April 27, 2013

Now, Bob runs a website, IBN Sportswrap where he lays claim to breaking news, betting odds and much more. He has 55,304 tweets and 94,615 followers. Does that make him credible? I honestly don’t know. There is truth to the fact that he is a diehard Islanders fan so this could have been just ‘stirring the pot’ sort of speak as he tweeted it out to Matt Moulson, Matt Martin, John Tavares and Colin McDonald on twitter.

This I do know however – Matt Cooke is a puke. Always was and always will be. He supposed turn around in his game is nothing more than a directive from upper management and head coach Dan Blysma to stop or get released (my opinion, not fact). His nomination last season for the Masterton trophy was an absolute dog and pony show and one of the most ridiculous things I have ever seen in hockey the last ten or so years.  The PHWA should really review who their voting members are putting up for these awards and make some alterations before submitting them.

The hit on Erik Karlsson I believe was intentional. We will never really know as it is almost impossible to judge a player’s intent on a play like that but being on the street and ice for so many years I can tell you this – I have NEVER lifted up my leg like that going into a hit. EVER. And with his reputation preceding him, you make your own assumption.

Feel free to leave your comments on any of my 3 rants in the comment section below. You can log in via Facebook, Twitter or Discus.

Have a great Sunday and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

Getty Images

UNIONDALE, N.Y.– The Islanders pulled the rug right out from under the Jets (and Rangers) last night, as a dominating team effort bore witness to a decisive home victory. With solid overall play on both sides of the hockey spectrum, and an consistent energy level and a desire to win, the New York Islanders defeat the Winnipeg Jets 5-3 in front of 11,000+ fans. That’s right: 11,000. Come on Isles fans: 7th in the division, playing some the best hockey as of late in the East, with one of the premiere talents in all of hockeydom in John Tavares? Let’s show some spirit and go to more game and give these boys the shot in the arm they need to make it into the next round.

The New York Islanders (18-16-3) find themselves in the most opportune of situations. In fact, if you’re the Devils, you’re not worried, you’re downright terrified, for what looked to be a lock (or, at the most, a tenuous hold) on a playoff spot, is anything but. Moreover, for all intents and purposes, the Devils could be in 9th place if both New York squads continue beating their opponents as soundly as they have these past few days.

But if I was a betting man, even at the risk of sounding biased, the Islanders look to me to be sure money. And stop being superstitious: the Islanders have arrived and if you think talking about potential wins will cost them the playoffs I have some advice for you: 1. get your head examined because you’re obviously  paranoid or maybe severely self-centered–(yeah, that’s right, just because you sit in front of the TV at a 45 degree angle or NOT speak a word or phrase at a given moment. Yeah, THAT’S the reason the Islanders haven’t made the playoffs these past few years.) 2.  You don’t believe in talent.

Luck is the art of design. It’s time we all faced a stark reality, a reality both local teams saw in clear HD television last night: the Islanders have arrived. And I don’t mean for a season. Not anymore. We’ve got a team now and they’re gelling at the exact time needed.

So, as the New York Rangers scramble to buy up what’s left of the market  (the Ryane Clowe trade is a good example of a desperate Rangers team; the trade may be a good one in the long run, but there’s a bit of a problem:  as it stands, Colin McDonald has more goals than Clowe. That’s how good the Islanders are at present, and how bad Clowe has been of late.)

Mark your calendars, say your prays, sacrifice whatever it is you sacrifice to the hockey gods, sit at whatever position in front of the boob tube you choose, wear that smelly sock to the game, etc. because the matchup against the New York Rangers April 13th may very well be the most significant contest these two teams have had in over a decade.

As of this morning, the New York Islanders’s magic number is 6, and with Washington, Tampa Bay, and Philadelphia on the slate, a 6 point run is definitely not out of the realm of possibility; the key is to face a Bruins squad knowing that if you lose, you’re still very much in control of your destiny. In no way am I saying that the Islanders cannot beat anyone in the division, but I will say that of all the teams the Islanders are to face within then next ten days, the Bruins are the most formidable. That said, taking a look at what’s left for the season, the Islanders truly have no excuses for not making the playoffs.

Game Recap

The Islanders’s first line brought forth most of the energy at the game’s onset, with a streaking and frenetic Matt Moulson racking up 3 SOG within the first five minutes, all legitimate opportunities and all stopped one way or another. His diligence would pay dividends later on in the contest, but rest assured, Moulson was a beast on the ice last night. Kudos for reemerging when your team most needs you.

But the first goal would come from much-talked about and newly-inked Anders Lee, who fired a blind wrist shot  past a bewildered and equally blind Ondrej Pavelec to give the former Irishman his first notch as an NHLer and the Isles first lead of the evening.

Lee shows some promise on the forecheck, as his size and speed are well balanced, but as time progressed, in fact not more than 2 minutes after his goal, it became apparent that this young man obviously needs to adjust to the speed and strength needed on NHL backcheck duties. Too many holds, one of which lead to a delayed penalty and a goal, but not before missing his mark and allowing for Paul Postma of all people to tie it up at the 18:06 mark of the first:

If you follow Lee’s play on this particular goal, you’ll see that he has tremendous problems catching up to Postma, attempting to keep up with the more aggressive Jets defensemen by tying up, or trying desperately in tying up, his hands. But in his defense, Kevin Poulin should have come out from his crease and jump on the puck, or have done something more to break up the rebound.

The first period ended in a draw, seeing the Islanders outshooting the Jets 12-9.

Second period action initially belonged to Postma and the Jets, as they would score the go-ahead at the time, capitalizing, as it were, on another of Lee’s failed backcheck assignments, this time on LW Eric Tangradi, who was able to break free and fire a pass cross ice to the pinching defensemen to give the Jets the lead:

Travis Hamonic also didn’t help things by missing his mark, as well.

But in all, the Islanders should consider it a viable move in signing Lee: his rookie mind will eventually catch up with his NHL size and speed (on the forecheck.) Patience is key. And imagine, if you will, a team with Strome, Nino, Reinhart, and now Lee all in their prime. Not to mention a seasoned Casey Cizikas (who, by the way, is simply so good right now I want to cry!) Oh did I mention, Moulson, Tavares, Martin, Nielsen, and Grabner. Think about the damage this team can do come Barclays once they all come together like we all know they can and will.

People, this isn’t shoptalk anymore. There’s a real team here in front of us. Excited doesn’t even begin to describe what I’m feeling right about now….but I digress.

Although down by one, the Islanders awoke and never looked back, scoring 4 unanswered goals in what remained of the contest.

Colin McDonald would tie things up 3 minutes after Postma’s second of the evening, off a wonderful blind pass by Michael Grabner, as the Islanders’s secondary scoring keeps lighting the lamp and getting us further into playoff territory:

Most everyone can agree that the middle of the Islanders squad has arrived to the show in time to save the day, and now as a fan, we no longer wait for JT to get back on the ice, but now see Cizikas and say, okay, we definitely can score here.

And let’s not forget Frans Nielsen, whose been lighting it up as of late, 7 SOG, 1 G, and 2 A in the last three. Not to mention all his hustle inside his own zone. Definitely playing like a leader on that line. Good job, Frans.

And thus, it is Nielsen who would score the game winner on the Power Play, a blazing, angry shot that came about off a fortuitous rebound that he buried into a gaping net. With that goal, the Islanders now own the 7th best Power Play in the NHL. And with that goal, as well, the Islanders take a lead and a considerable amount of the momentum into the locker room, preparing for a third period that would be all there’s for the taking.

And sure enough, the evening’s most savored goal for my money was Matt Moulson‘s at the 18:00 of the third–a well-deserved, well-earned and equally reassuring notch that will surely bring about dividends in the days to come:

Good to see Moulson relieved and pumped for what will be a productive set of games for this burgeoning talent.

John Tavares adds another notch to his belt as well, with an empty netter and that was that.

The New York Islanders are tied for 7th. How do you like that?!

Both the Devils and Rangers play tonight, so keep your eyes peeled for that.

Also, if you’ve been living under rock as of late, today’s the trade deadline. KEEP IT HERE FOR UPDATES THROUGHOUT THE DAY!

–RD

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PS

I hope all of you enjoy our little takes on the game and team we love dearly, because rest assured we three love sharing our passion with all of you. But let’s seriously consider heading out to the Coli at least once more, regardless of what happens to this team. These boys are playing their hearts out for us, the least we can offer them is a good cheer for all the excitement they’ve brought us. It’s never easy being an Islanders’s fan, but there’s no alternative as far as I’m concerned.

I bleed Blue and Orange. I love these guys. No matter what, they’re a legitimate team and only a matter of time before the glory days are upon us.

All the best,

RD