Offseason Report Day 1. and My Pick

Well needless to say but I did not sleep much last night. The first issue I am going to tackle is an easy one. Backup Goaltending. Wade Dubielewicz is a character guy. He has always played well when he has been called up. I think he should be signed to a two year deal as Ricky's backup. Glad that was easy, it takes awhile to go into offseason mode. Thats why I wrote such a short column today.

Next Issue- Yashin and Miro.

Stanley Cup
Senators over Canucks in 6

Thank You Islanders.

To The New York Islanders,

I want to thank you from the bottom of my orange and blue heart for the past season. I want to thank each player, coach, and everyone else for a fun and exciting season. When the clock ticked down to the final seconds today and it hit me that I won't be watching you guys again until October I thought I would have the same reaction I had after every season, sadness and a feeling of emptiness. Strangely enough, I feel much better then I could have predicted. I realized it is because this team had a certain something about it. I attended a personal record 25 games this year, I do not have season tickets but I go to as many games as I can afford. I was there for some extreme highs (Rangers) and extreme lows (Rangers). I was there for shutouts, shootouts, and blowouts. And if i knew the outcome of this season, I would do it all over again. Because each and every player deserved to wear this jersey. From Smitty to Dubie, everybody made personal sacrifices to make this season worth every penny, whether it was taking a Chara bomb off the foot, or playing the Sabrefs with a separated shoulder. I know we are all disappointed in this seasons end and that change is obviously inevitable but I want you to thank you all and I can't wait for 07-08. Oh yeah, Ted Nolan is a Giant among mere men. WERE ALL ISLANDERS



Ill have an off season preview soon, thanks for reading.

Believe.

I have finally cooled down after Wednesday. Once again the Islanders got absolutely screwed. But anyways they can't feel sorry for themselves. They must use this as a rallying point and come out hard. They have it in them. I believe.

Let The Boys Play.

The New York Islanders are in the middle of a seven game series against the Buffalo Sabres and the National Hockey League. I was at the game last night so I was unable to tell if the contrversial goal was just that. But, I knew that Toronto would award the Sabres a goal. What was awful was the fact that the Sabres played what seemed like half the game with too many men on the ice and the refs got in the way of several Islander passes. AND GUESS WHO WAS IN THE BUILDING?!?!?!? GARY BETTMAN!!! NO WONDER THE REFS WERE SO AWFUL ITS BECAUSE COMMISH IS PISSED THE ISLANDERS MADE IT OVER THE LEAFS.
But a positive-the Islanders have hung with the Sabres for most of this series. I truly believe.
GO ISLANDERS!

First Two Games and Tonight.

I must say that I knew the Sabres would win game 1. But, I am extremely pleased with a split. The Sabres are so soft it is incredible. The first two games were complete contrasting images of each other. The first game the Islanders looked like they were fine with a loss and just wanted to feel out the Sabres, game 2 however, the Isles took it to the Sabres and played the way they have to. Bruno Gervais and Chris Campoli have been solid for the Islanders and I am happy to see Bruno get a goal. But the Player of the Game was Rick DiPietro. He really played extremely well and gave this team a lot of confidence.

Tonight is going to be interesting. The Islanders haven't won a home playoff game since 01-02. They split the first two games as the 8 seed in 02-03 against Ottawa and 03-04 against Tampa but went home and got hammered. The crowd should be insane, the question is will the Islanders play match the intensity of the crowd.

God Bless Those Involved in the Virginia Tech Shootings
Go Islanders.

DP To The Rescue?

Everybody was talking about how the Islanders would not be able to keep the Sabres offense in check. Well, they did a pretty good job of holding the Sabres in check for most of the game. After Asham's goal things looked to turn around until Witt shot the puck over the glass. Bad break. But, last night the Islanders made Ryan Miller's job waaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyy to easy. They need to get physical with these divas on Buffalo! That is how to beat them.
Rick DiPietro has been cleared to play for the Islanders. He's been taking shots from Shawn Bates after practices and is going to participate in practice today. I think he will start Game 2 and I am certain he will Game 3. It is only one game.
LETS GO ISLANDERS

Series Preview Vs. Buffalo

Well, we made the playoffs in shocking fashion. To move on in these playoffs, we have to shock the world once again. The Presidents Trophy winners, the Buffalo Sabres, are arguably the best team in the NHL right now. Lets see the tale of the tape:
GOALTENDING
-Buffalo- The Sabres goalies are Ryan Miller and Ty Conklin. Miller had a good season again this year posting 40 wins. He also had a .911 Save Percentage to go along with a 2.73 GAA. Conklin was traded to the Sabres after Martin Biron went from Buffalo to Philadelphia on deadline day. Conklin is a liability in between the pipes posting a .879 Save Percentage but unless Miller is hurt we won't see him.
-Islanders- The man with nothing to lose but oh so much to gain will likely play most of this series for the Isles. That man is bald but beautiful Wade Dubielewicz. He is the man of the hour in the NHL these days with his easy-going, me against the world attitude. In 8 games he is 4-1 with a .934 Save Percentage. He will be backed up by Mike Dunham.
Edge- Sabres

DEFENSE
-Buffalo- The Sabres defense is incredibly mobile and offensively gifted. Brian Campbell, Dmitri Kalinin, Teppo Numminen are all solid puck-moving rearguards. The way to beat the Sabres defense, and forwards for that matter is to get physical. If the Islanders stick to what they've been doing all year and go toe to toe against these guys they could see some success.
-Islanders- Brendan Witt and Sean Hill are going to have to turn into superheroes for this series. They have to get physical with the speedy Sabres. Bruno Gervais is back, which is huge. The Sabres are so fast and now the Isles have three mobile defensemen in Campoli, Bergeron, and Gervais.
EDGE- Even

Forwards
-Buffalo- Afinogenov, Drury, Briere, Zubrus, Hecht, Vanek, Pominville, Roy, and Kotalik. All these guys are fast, talented, creative, and oh yeah fast. They are however, soft. They will tear up this series if it is not a hard hitting affair. If it is we will see the Sabres have some problems.
-Islanders- The Islanders forwards must play grind it out hockey. They are all blue collar guys and need to fill that description. If they can do this we may see an upset.
EDGE- Sabres

COACHING
-Buffalo- Lindy Ruff has been to the eastern conference finals a few times now. He has his players believing in him and his style.
-Islanders- Ted "Jack Adams" Nolan, like Ruff, has his players confidence. Nolan has been to the playoffs before and led an underdog Sabres team into the playoffs back in the late 90's.
EDGE- Islanders

Prediction- Islanders in 6 (why not?)