From the moment he became coach of the Islanders, Ted Nolan has been preaching the importance of restoring the tradition of a franchise that reigned as a true NHL dynasty by winning four straight Stanley Cups from 1980-83. He’s not the first to sound that theme, but he might be the first who truly means it.
If I had a dollar for every time Nolan spoke last season about reconnecting with the fans and reviving the excitement that once made Nassau Coliseum the place to be, I could afford a couple of tickets in the lower bowl. As every Islanders fan knows, attendance, the condition of the Coliseum and the high cost of living on Long Island have been major issues for a franchise that struggled through some ill-fated ownership changes before Charles Wang stepped in.
The first step for Nolan, of course, was to establish the mold for the kind of hard-working team with a mixture of toughness and skill that he believed Islanders fans would find entertaining. No one enjoyed it more than Nolan every time the Isles beat the Rangers or Devils or Penguins in front of a loud capacity crowd at the Coliseum last season. But Nolan and general manager Garth Snow wanted to build on that and also to begin to send a message to players around the league that the Islanders are serious about winning again.
So, when Nolan came up with the idea of bringing Al Arbour back to coach his 1,500th game with the Islanders, it seemed like a good way to reinforce the connections between the franchise, the fans and the players, past and present. Thanks to the fairy-tale finish provided by Miro Satan’s two third-period goals to beat the Penguins, the whole production came together better than anyone could have imagined.
“I thought people would come for sure, but I underestimated the love the fans still have for Al Arbour,” Nolan said when the Isles returned to work on Monday. “It’s truly something you hope for and wish for, and then all of a sudden, you see it. I mean, a night like that, not too many teams could do what hockey does once in awhile by bringing back a legend like that as part of a real game. This wasn’t an exhibition or a lot of fanfare before the game. It was a real game.”
Near the end, the fans were chanting “740” in recognition of the additional Islanders victory that will be credited to Arbour. The effect was spine-tingling for fans of a franchise that has had too little to celebrate on the ice in recent years. “It was truly one of those special occasions I’ll never forget,” Nolan said. “That was an indication of the way they feel toward Al Arbour.”
To some, the notion of 75-year-old Al Arbour coaching might have seemed gimmicky, but the Islanders pitted him against Sidney Crosby, the best hockey player in the world, in a game that figured to be close to a sellout anyway. Years ago, I recall covering Gordie Howe when he scored 15 goals during the 1979-80 season when he turned 52 years old with the Hartford Whalers in their first season in the NHL.
That was real, and so was this. If Arbour began hesitantly because he was mindful of stepping on the toes of the coaching staff, he became more decisive as the game wore on and the feeling of being behind the bench again came back to him. Arbour didn’t forget how to coach. He was just out of practice.
And if anyone thinks the Islanders weren’t trying to win for Arbour, well, they weren’t paying attention. In many ways, it was the current players who might have benefited the most from this so-called “gimmick.” For one night, they got a sense of what it must have been like to play for one of Arbour’s teams when the Islanders ruled the NHL.
It was a taste of what life as an Islander could be like again if they buy into the vision of a true believer like Nolan. As he explained his idea of rekindling the connection with the Islanders’ elders, you could hear the echoes of Nolan’s First Nations heritage ringing clear in his mind.
“One thing you have to learn is respect for the people who broke the trail before you,” Nolan said. “They’re the ones who had to go through a lot of things for us to be where we are now. To respect the players and what they did for this organization a long time ago, I think it’s way, way overdue.
“It feels good for our players. They had tears in their eyes just like the fans. It’s nice to see Clark Gillies hop on the ice with Al Arbour and Bryan Trottier and Mike Bossy. We’ve got to get a few more of them back here, but it’s a great honor for us to have them around.”
Comments (202)
Welcome back, Greg - and thank you, a wonderful piece.
Welcome back Greg. I have read a lot about Arbour night but it is your commentary on it that I have most looked forward to. Right on as usual.
Beautiful piece, Greg. Ted Nolan is the bomb.
Glad your back greg. Great piece on Arbour night.
Here is hoping we sign Nolan to a long term contract. The man deserves it for what he is accomplishing with this team, while understanding, celebrating, and embracing this teams past.
Let go Islanders! Pull out a huge win tonite!
Here! Here! Nice piece, couldn't have said it better. It is sad that some missed the point and what Ted Nolan was doing. You definitely could tell as the game worn on that Mr. Arbour was in control and back in form there. Al Arbour most certainly deserved credit for the win and I think Ted Nolan and the Islanders players would be the first to tell you otherwise.
Lets Go Islanders!!!
Here! Here! Nice piece, couldn't have said it better. It is sad that some missed the point and what Ted Nolan was doing. You definitely could tell as the game worn on that Mr. Arbour was in control and back in form there. Al Arbour most certainly deserved credit for the win and I think Ted Nolan and the Islanders players would be the first to tell you otherwise.
Lets Go Islanders!!!
Here! Here! Nice piece, couldn't have said it better. It is sad that some missed the point and what Ted Nolan was doing. You definitely could tell as the game worn on that Mr. Arbour was in control and back in form there. Al Arbour most certainly deserved credit for the win and I think Ted Nolan and the Islanders players would be the first to tell you otherwise.
Lets Go Islanders!!!
What a great article!!!
Thanks Greg :)
GREAT ARTICLE -
LETS GO ISLANDERS!!!!
Don't get me wrong, I am totally onside with having Arbour back and I enjoyed the game and really got into it. But the TV guys kind of screwed up. They put a mike on Nolan and showed him a lot at the beginning of the game helping Arbour get oriented and getting things going. They visually made it look like Arbour wasn't coaching at all.
Hello! Put the mike on Arbour. Give him a period to get back into it. Then show us some spots where he took control. Unfortuantely, they did the opposite.
I am hoping the people who were actually at the game can fill in the blanks for me. Did Arbour look to get more invovled in the Coaching in the 2nd and 3rd?
Kevin T.
I predict that Ted Nolan will be second only to Al Arbour in Islanders history. Good things will keep happening and things will keep getting better with a person of his class and character in the Islanders organization!!!!!!!!!!!!
welcome back greg. thanks for the review.
do you know why bobby nystrom wasn't there for arbour? i know he was at the press conference for the signing of the contract and i was just wondering what happened to him.
Great write up, Greg. Glad to have you back. Hope you are tan and rested.
Cheers,
BD
Yes, they had Al Arbour Night in I think 97. Then I think they had another night for him. Then recently, why was he in that lounge chair? Was that another night for him? Then they had the game over the weekend when they changed the games coached from 1499 to 1500. Later in the season they will bring him back and raise his win total banner. When in doundt, just roll out the old man.
See, the Isles were reduced to honoring Bob Bourne last year. They've run out of nights. So they needed a new gimmick to sell tickets. And it worked. More power to them.
another win from your 1ST PLACE New York Islanders!!!!!!!
great win boys!!!!!!!
YOU CAN'T BEAT US!
Playing more jump more like jump rope
The Rags have been OWNED by the Islanders.
Rag trolls proceed to cry your eyes out due to your miserable team losing YET AGAIN to the Islanders.
I can't wait to see what the Rangers trolls have to say about this. Or my guess is, they won't say anything like the fair weather fans they are.
YOU CANT BEAT US!
How bout the win guys?
Say good by to all the rag trolls..... They won't come around for a while
Put a folk in Jagr he looked done out there...
this just announced........
the main event for UFC 309853
the BATTLE of the QUEENS live from the NASSAU COLISEUM
Queen Elizabeth is not happy with Henrik. She says no one is a queen but her. After Miro's wrister beat him high (like most shots do), Queen Elizabeth has all the confidence in the world that she is better than Queen Henrik Lundqvist.
Once you Rags are eliminated for playoff contention this year, Henrik can answer the bell.......
YOU CAN'T BEAT US!!!!!!!!
Your 1ST PLACE New York Islanders!!!!!!!!!
DP ROCKS!!! He squashed the Rags ONCE AGAIN. Isles now 8-3 in their last 11 vs. BlueSh!ts. Life is good boys, huh?
Ladies and Gentleman ... now introducing .... your FIRST PLACE NEW YORK ISLANDERS!!!!!!
HUUUUUUUUGGGGGGEEEE WIN tonight. Guerin, Comrie, Tank, Miro, Witt, Hunter, Martinek, Park had great games. Thought 4th line was very solid too. And of course, DP WAS THE MAN!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kevin, I had a pretty clear view of Arbour, and he took a good amount of control during the last 2 periods of the game. In addition, as many people here have pointed out, you saw the 4th line play against Crosby on a more regular basis. That's vintage Al Arbour right there.
Besides that, though. Arbour's presence inspired his team. Isn't that the definition of coaching?
And I love that ridiculous debate started by that moron Jim Baumbach. This was one of the best Islanders experiences I've ever had, and I'll admit I was a bit choked up when they had the celebration after the game. If a game can have that effect on a fan, do we really need to debate how legitimate it is?
WOW.....What a huge win. Everyone say it with me..........
FIRST PLACE !!!!!!!!!!!
I thought the Isles played a hell of a game. Bruno Gervais looked great. Hunter and Satan doing everything we all asked. DP proving he is a top 3 goalie in the NHL.
My only negative is our friend M.A.B.....I mean come on....Thank God Berard comes back on Saturday!
On the Rangers side: Henrik is top 3 as well. Jagr is your whole offense and is still awesome. If that guy gets hurt, I think the Rangers are in serious trouble. Avery did not do any "annoying" until late in the third. Also gave up the game winner to Satan, poetic justice. He looked like he had the flu! I think you are wasting DRURY....I mean he is invisible out there. Yes he got a goal, but other than that he was non existent. He has way too much talent to be in this trap type game. Gomez is not the same player so far. Seemed very hesitant.
Ted Nolan: He could of got the goat horns if not for DP.... TWO MINUTES left and on the Power play.....WHY IS M.A.B on the ice?????? We do not need a goal, just kill the bleeping clock. Teddy is the man, but that was a mistake!
Mook~MM~John: Great game......Heads high! MY question to all is are the Islanders this good, or are the Rangers not as good????????????????
And yea, yoooooge (have to say it the New York way) win tonight. More importantly, let's not get pummeled by Philly next, let's match the intensity.
Where's that troll Gary (aka Anon)???? He must have a Miro blast in his mouth!!!! Go play with your doll collection Gary ... the Isles blog is for Isles fans tonight and tomorrow (and the foreseeable future as I see it)!!!!
Can't wait to hear your excuses you boot licker!!!!
Well said Greg Logan, well said....
Now print out your blog,
3 or 4 times.....
Roll it up like a newspaper,
Put a nice chain link bow around it
Follow Brokebach into the men's room....
AND SHOVE IT UP HIS ...
That way maybe a little "INSIGHTFUL" Journalism will find it's way to his brain.
ANOTHER GREAT PERFORMANCE by the Isles tonight.
Rag's ran out of steam in the 3rd and Lundqvist proved he is human.
AZS:
I have to ask....Was that you in a Potvin jersey that gave the Ranger fan next to you the finger after Satan scored????? I was laughing my a^^ off. The camera went right on you (or whoever.)
How was the atmosphere ???? Seemed great!
Yea, I noticed that too, that was hysterical. AZS, if that was you, I nominate that for best timing in a very long time.
Gotta love how we play a full 60 minutes. So much heart in this team. DP was money on that save sequence in the 3rd. For all of us loving we are in first place, ok great but lets be there in April. Also keep in mind the games in hand when looking at the standings. GREAT WIN tonight boys. LETS GO ISLANDERS!!
Great win. Why are we suddenly not selling out Islander-Ranger games? Anyway, I'm looking to be part of a sell-out crowd next Saturday. It's my fiance's first hockey game, but she's always enjoyed watching the games with me at home. I hope the Isles put on a great show, then I can make a pitch for season tix!!
Wow, great to get the win! Even MAB wasn't THAT bad, he was among the ice time leaders tonight. I am glad Satan is heating up and returning to form. Hunter has been huge for us.
We all know whats coming though..huge loss to Philly. I am a huge Islander fan but the "hang over" still hasn't been effectively cured. Especially in a battle for first place I think we lose the next one (I hope not though).
When the heck are we playing Philly? What am I missing here? I'm checking every schedule known to man.
Crap - I had it backwards.
Next game is the Devils on Saturday, and then it's the Flyers on Monday.
devils on saturday, flyers on monday
Damn that crystal ball... it said 3-1... something must be loose.
Nolan proved why he's one of the top coaches and not just a guy who sets drills and calls out the next line. Playing Simon-Walter-Jackman significant minutes in the first two periods, then shortening his bench was genius. It was akin to running the ball for three quarters and when the Rangers were dead tired he let the dogs loose.
If Hank wasn't terrific the Isles would have won 5-2... At least.
Great game. The trolls will have a point that the Rangers were rubber legged playing their third in four nights.... But that is something the Isles will have to deal with way more often than the rangers will. Let's hope that Nolan uses his depth better.
FIRST PLACE.... Not Bad.... not bad at all!!!!!
Park really made the best of his opportunity... but he did get wrecked a couple of times. Hilbert played solid... but standing around in space may have caused the Isles first goal.
Biggest difference from the end of last year... SUTTON played BIG in front of DP. Yes, he's slow... and he'll need more help than captain giveaway can provide... but he was a man in front of the net.
this team may not be THERE just yet, but they aren't playing like a bunch of guys who can't get there...
Now they need to break the post ranger syndrome. I really don't want to see a struggling Devils team taking advantage of THE CURSE.
Great. We'll have three days to cure the hangover. And I'm sure Nolan has some ideas in his head on how to prevent that crap from happening again. I'm really thinking sellout Saturday v. Devils. The Isles drew a sellout last year on a Saturday night against the devils, when the isles were playing real well, but that was the beginning of the end for the surge (of course, before the late-season heroics). Let's not let that happen again! The Devils are wounded animal. LGISLANDERS!!!
GO ISLANDERS !!!
we'll be like a bear hibernating for the winter........
please wake us up the next game you Rags beat us in 60 min.
One of the great things about being an Islanders fan is the rich and storied history the franchise has despite its relative youth compared to other organizations. I think it's awesome the way Ted Nolan has integrated the past with the present -- especially with the young players -- and what it means to be an Islander. What we witnessed at the Coliseum Saturday was a manifestation of this. Outstanding!
Lol ....guilty ....
What a great game ...and the thing I love most about Isles/Rags games is how cocky and arrogant Rags fans are throughout the whole game and how they just can't take it when they loose ...sometimes the bird must be flipped ;-)
The crowd was electric and obvioulsy in the 3rd period the Islander fans were out of control with joy ...good game - back and forth ...some thoughts on certain players ...
The 4th line - eventhough the had only a couple of shifts - looked really good - Walter and Jackman with Simon were cycling the puck well and should keep getting time ...
I realize this horse has been officially beaten to death but Hillbert was a -2 again ...he shouldn't be out there unless it's a PK or on the 4th line
Comrie's vision is just sick - enough said
Nice to see Hunter and Satan stepping it up (I'm sure you happy about Hunter steady!)
Tank's looked good ...generally they all looked good ...I felt really confident even when they were down that they'd win ...seemed to have pressure and not get too dazzled by the rags ...DP was again great ...where are all the haters of that contract? Looks kinda smart now I must now admit ;-)
Good night Isles fans ....1ST PLACE!!! 1ST PLACE!!!! 1ST PLACE!!!
Boo Hoo Pathetic, if you guys would have won tonight we would have a load of Rags trolls over here as well. These fools cannot be controlled as we all know. Wow, what a game!!! I hope this is the beginning of great things to come for the Islanders and Rangers this season. Have to love Nolan and the way he has this team playing right now. Keep it going fellas!!!!
AZS:
That is too funny that I called it, that it was you...You're right you are a big dude. Good thing we made up :) :) I hope your new girl was not there!!!
The Ranger blog is getting hit hard and it is wrong.....BUT, I am telling you it is all the same guy!!!! Gary does it to both boards, you can tell by the way and times he writes!
No one agrees with me about having M.A.B on the point with two minutes to go?????? I realize it is knit picking, but that was a big mistake.....Just hope he does not do it again!
Right about now I's love to dig up all the posts from Rangers fans this summer.
Isles lost six guys blah blah blah blah!!!
Smyth said "See YA!!!" blah blah blah blah!!!
Rangers got the steal of the UFA crop BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH!!!!
Paybacks are a b!#c#. This is what happens when the game leaves the UFA offer sheets and hits the ice!!!!
HUUUUUUUUGE WIIIINNNNNN
1st PLACE!!!!!
1st PLACE!!!!!
1st PLACE!!!!!
1st PLACE!!!!!!!
Greg Logan: Wonderful post on the Arbour night. The raising of the 1500 banner is a memory I will cheish for the rest of my life! And I really felt the energy carry over tonight against the Rangers.
Ryan Smyth is a crybaby loser!! Thank God we got rid of him!
AZS
Always great to put a blogger to a finger.
Let it be known that you are now a popular figure among Islander fans across the country, as far away as Albuquerque NM when the camera so wonderfully captured your digit after the Satan goal.
BE-YOO-TEEFULL
Well said Nick. I agree 100% on your Arbour night post.
Steady
"No one agrees with me about having M.A.B on the point with two minutes to go??????"
I agree....I too got a little nervous seeing MAB at/on that point.
However, part of me also said....Hmmm. wouldn't it be great if
MAB unloaded a bomb and knocked HL into the net?
Chalk it up to Nolan going for the jugular???
Hmmm... I wonder what Arbour would say.......
Never mind....Strike that thought.
NOLAN IS THE COACH...
After all, Brokebach says so.
I really don't have much to add. Hands down, Islander-Ranger games are my favorite sporting event to attend. Forget Mets-Yanks, Yanks-Bosox, Jets-Giants, GWU and Georgetown (oops, G-Town stopped playing us 25 years ago).
I was there and thought the game was a sellout with just a sprinkling of no shows--it was that electric and noisy. And the two teams competed hard on every single shift--there were no slackers on either side tonight. For two periods, I also thought the Rangers looked more like the Devils than the Devils do these days--and they did an excellent job of playing defense first and bottling up the Isles.
I also want to make one point about Hilbert and why we're unlikely to see him moved any time soon. I don't know if this was visible on TV, but there was a play along the Isles boards just inside the blueline with about 12 minutes left in the second. A Ranger had intercepted a pass--and was converged upon by one Islander while Hilbert also was in the general area skating up ice. Rather than try and double-up on the Ranger, Hilbert recognized another Ranger charging up the ice and high tailed to cover him before getting all alone in the slot. I'm the first to complain about his scoring prowess--but that defensive play shut off a near certain solo scoring opportunity in front of our net --and it's that kind of awareness and recognition that I'm sure Nolan loves and will continue to reward.
Ted Nolan is indeed the savior of the Islanders. I haven't heard many comments from Mr. Wang regarding his feelings towards Nolan. That's surprising. Along with Garth Snow, Ted has done more to quickly restore credibility to this team than anyone could have imagined. The fact that Ted was blackballed by the NHL for so many years is astounding. Greg, do you have any idea how much the coach is paid and how long his contract runs? (For many years Mr. Wang was very generous to that clown, Mike Milbury.)
Perhaps your next article should be a comparison of Nolan's style and that of Milbury. Many fans always suspected that Milbury did not want the old Islanders alumni anywhere near him or the team. Milbury conned Mr. Wang for many years. I guess that's pretty obvious to everyone now.
AZS--You're on the NHL highlight reel for this game!
Amazing comeback win... To those who went to Doolin's, sorry I couldn't come. Went to the game with a friend who's a Ranger fan and ended up driving him back to the city afterwards (it's a work night).
We were in 338 and just to our left, there were several fights. Five Ranger fans and an Islander fan were walked out by security in three separate incidents -- two of the Ranger fans were still calling out "Let's go! Right now!" to whoever they'd been fighting with as they were escorted out. And then with all the chippiness on the ice... Well, it wasn't quite the 70s, but lets say the mid-80s. This was the third game I've attended this season, and the intensity level was playoff-like on both sides. The Rangers and the Islanders both played their arses off.
That series of saves in the third period by DP was so acrobatic and so quick as to be almost unbelievable... some of the best goalie play I've seen. The crowd seemed to pause for a second in disbelief to take it in before reacting with a thunderous "DP! DP! DP!" I think I had a mini-stroke on that one.
Thanks KH for the wonderful observation of the intensity of being at the game. It was kind of tough to pick up the buzz in the crowd on VS. tonight and they failed to comment on the crowd chants & intensity like they do on the local braodcast's (FSN & MSG).
Yeah, the chanting was constant.... Each team's fan's trying to drown out the others on the "Let's Go... " chants. Ranger fans did a very loud "DP s__ks!" after their goals and several other times. I like the intensity but that chant is about as uncreative and lame as it gets. Same for our fans who chanted "The Rangers s__k!" VERY loudly. But I do love the passion on both sides.
The Islander fans reached full throat and the Ranger fans gradually lost their steam after Miro put the Isles ahead in the third... I think they were shell-shocked. Frankly I was pretty amazed myself. Third period comebacks don't happen all that often in hockey and now it seems to be a mini-trend for the Isles. It's maybe too early to say this, but I am starting to think this team could do some special things.
And by the way, on ESPN the Sportscenter host just called Islanders-Rangers the best sporting event of the night and raved about the intensity and the rivalry.
wow just listening to WFAN and the idiot steve sumers is trying to say that the hunter or satan goal (dont remember which one he was crying about becuz all he did was b*tch about the L) shouldn't of counted becuz it hit the cross bar and never went in....these rags fan sure make u laugh
Welcome back Logan!!!!!
Wonderful read on AL.
To that Ranger Fan who sat next to me...and talk sh*t all night.
ISLANDERS 3
rangers 2
2-0, 6 games to go.
FIRST PLACE!!!!!
Awesome! GO ISLES!
How about them free agents, Rags? Gomez still worth it? We wiped yer butts in 2 games. More to come. Pass King Henrik's crown to DP the MVP!
I don't know how long 1st place lasts... but it's sweet to beat the Rags everytime!
Um,"golf" your a$$ ;) The Islanders have made the playoffs 4 of the last 5 seasons and they have not been swept once. All the Rags did was miss the playoffs for a longer amount of time than the Isles wemt, then got swept. Last year they beat a team with a fake seeding because of its super-weak division, then get knocked out by the SAME FLIPPIN TEAM that the Isles were knocked out by. There is NOTHING there giving the Rangers ANY bragging rights at ALL. Its sad that you dont even realize how pathetic this sounds, bragging when there is nothing to brag about.
Good game tonight, eh?
first - great piece greg. not easy to condense the emotion of that evening and what it meant to an old timer like myself into a couple of paragraphs. you did a good job of it though. and it sure must help to have the coach's genuine respect and admiration for the footsteps he is following to help guide you. for me the singlemost charming moment occurred during that fantastic group picture, when trottier, with gillies right down next to him and radar standing behind them with bossy, put his arm around brendan witt. that gesture and the look on their faces seemed to tie it all together and it really got to me. i am fortunate to have one of bossy's actual old red titan turbo sticks, which i love to hold onto during big islander moments. i never grabbed it so tightly as i did during those festivities. corny it may be, but what a blast it was. and being at the coliseum tonight to see them follow it all up with that big win added an exclamation point for me. the cup it isn't, but there is a current seeming to gather now that has just a hint of familiarity. i hope it isn't only me who feels it.
I first went to an Isles game late in the second year, went to all of ther remaining games (from Connecticut) and then had season tix for ten years until coming us here. The lat ten years or so have been gruesome - thank God Milbury was finally fired -
Ted Nolan and Garth Snow have brought back the spirit the Isles had in long before they starting winning the Cup. I was in Pittsburgh for that famous 1-0 game, and found out I could not stand after the game. It was tremendously emotional, and that is the way the last two games have been.
What is wonderful is to read your blogs and articles - I have never run across hockey writers as good as you and your predecessor. Keep up the good work!
Some quick morning thoughts.
The Rags allowed three goals all year in the 3rd period in their prior 14 games--making last night's three all the more sweet.
While the intensity of the fans last night was great, there were so many catcalls, obscene chants, etc. during the national anthem that it makes one sick. A few years ago there might have been a smattering of hecklers--now it's several hundred if not a thousand. Our culture, as evidenced by the troll ont his borad, is in the toilet.
The Isles play in the 3rd period the last two nights reminds me of how brutal our schedule is going forward with all the back-to-backs and 3 in 4s. Somewhere, that 4th line has to be worked in with more minutes.
GREAT WIN!!!!
Isles still had some HUSTLE in the tank left over from Saturday. Maybe they learned something about the Isles winning tradition. That is what Nolan wants out of the team. Nolan asking Arbour to coach a game to get #1500 was not only a nice gesture .. It may have been a great tactic to get some of the the Arbour MOJO to rub off on the team.
If they keep playing this way. No team in the NHL ... including Ottawa and Detroit will look forward to seeing NYI on their schedule.. because they'll have to work extra hard if they are to beat the Isles.
More later .. I have to work.
Posted by islesfan222 | November 7, 2007 00:42
wow just listening to WFAN and the idiot steve sumers is trying to say that the hunter or satan goal (dont remember which one he was crying about becuz all he did was b*tch about the L) shouldn't of counted becuz it hit the cross bar and never went in....these rags fan sure make u laugh
What unprofessional ass, he is supose to be un bias journalists.
If he is a true hockey fan, he would give unbias account of the game.
One the best interview I ever heard summer gave was with Milbury. Milbury had him shaking in his boots. At one point in the interview summer referred to the isles as the Icelanders, and Milbury said "Look if you keep referring to my team as that name when I'm talking to you then this is over. He then said " I understand you have to what you have to do your jourrnalim if that's what you call it." it was pure Milbury..
If the goal was not goal Queen Lundquist would made a big deal to the ref.
Summer should be taken off the air he sucks, he like that substitute teacher that can't get a full time job.
What a good time at the ol mausoleum last night. The place was electric and the crowd had to be split down the middle.
The game was great even though the outcome wasn't what 'THIS GUY' wanted to see but, it was a great game from both sides and every goal was a good one.
Henrik got smoked twice up high which is a bit scary. Someone called it here yesterday too.
Some of the people you get to sit around are pretty funny. I had a guy next to me tell me Prucha was wrong for hitting Park. That he picked on the small guy...
Park - 5' 11" weighs in at 190
Prucha 6' weighs in at 175
Can people be any more retarded at these games? But, I was in some corporate seats so what else can you expect right? Had to just stop talking to these idiots...
So you guys are in first place...WITH SOME GAMES IN HAND I KNOW!.....lol Enjoy it while it lasts suckas!!!
Mookie
How many games to you get to see at the Garden??
Mookie-
I know misery loves company and there were certainly a lot of Ranger fans, but it was still roughly a 2/3 Isles crowd (5,000 Ranger fans is still a lot).
people give snow and nolan, and wang credit, and its all richly deserved. but the big difference between this team, and those of the past several years is in the CAPTAIN. he cares EVERY night. he competes EVERY night. and it is contageous. he wont ever disappear in big games, or the playoffs, and if you saw that pregame meeting with Arbour on the ice that morning where he spoke for the team, this is HIS team already. and he is proud to be an islander. he is the biggest difference. thank God at long last we got rid of our Captain Yashin, a person so devoid of passion and emotion, he was practically dead. they called ryan smyth captain canada. well who needs captain canada when you have CAPTAIN AMERICA!!!
Mook you should be used to sitting in corporate seats being a rags fan ;). Sorry pal, you put that one on the rim and I had to dunk it!
Really was a playoff type game. Very fun to watch.
As I said earlier and need to ask Ranger fans.....Was Avery sick? Yah he had a nice assist, but not his normal "Chippy" game. Drury is being wasted on this team. You got to let him move around out there.
One thing if I were a Rangers fan I would be scared about is the type of games you play night in and night out. YES, it is good to be in playoff mode, but to have to grind every single night is going to wear you down. It is November !!! These one goal games are going to take their toll. God forbid Jagr gets hurt. You guys would be in a world of hurt, b/c the other lines are non factors.
With that said, Henrik is awesome. I think he is one of the best goalies I have seen in quite sometime. As an everyday goalie he may even be better than DP. BUT, DP has a little Billy Smith in him. He is a $$$ goalie and comes up big at the right times. Hence 7-1-2 with a 2.30 last 10 times playing the Rangers. He can make you sweat coming out of that net, than make yo smile diving back or sending a forward on a break with a beautiful pass!
To the Isles gloating and ruining the Rags blog, we play these guys 6 more times......Be ready for them to get you back, b/c they will win a minimum of 3 or 4 of them. Nothing wrong with a nice ribbing, but ease up a touch.
The thing the Ranger fan has learned is the fact we will not finish 30th. Our off season was a success. Ted Nolan is the BEST coach in NY. We can compete with them when we play hard.
Now on to the really important games....The Ranger hang over game vs Devils and the Philly game for outright 1st place!
Lets take 4 boys.....TAKE 4 !!!!!!!!!!!!
Greg - so well said... If the Isles were doing this for 'gimmick' reasons, and to sell tickets, they could have done this against Dallas or Phoenix, or Atlanta. Because they used Pitts, it became more of a serious tone.
Anyone, such as that ding dong Baumbach, that thinks this was a stunt needs to take a good look in the mirror.
Isles 22,
I get to about half depending on whatever, know what i mean?
Merrick,
you would know better I was just a visitor. From walking the halls it seemed pretty close. Doolin's was cool, I was down there before the game.
Steady,
Heard the flu bug is in the locker room so you may be on to something. It is hard to watch the team that made the biggest FA splash play a kid that is wet behind the ears on the first line when Drury and Gomez are on the team. But, if it gets things going and puts up W's the coach is on to something right? Obviously Jagr getting hurt is going to suck but I see potential in the other lines. Jagr is playing hurt the last two games which sucks but, this is hockey. Stop the bleeding, suck it up and get out there! I agree with you that Henrik and DP has got to be one of the most exciting Goalie duels to watch right now. They are both great!
Great game last night...what can I say that has already been said.
We came, the rangers played their game, we played ours..but in the 3rd period we picked up the intensity and put it in the net.
No trolls over here for a while,
Great game guys, we ll have 4 games in hand by friday on most teams. 1st place for now but it is early..we need to keep this winning streak and beat our conference rivals in there upcoming games.
Mook,Midnight,: we have 6 more games.left.b/t each other..its great that the rivalry has been strong the last two years.and even better we have been on top. DP played great but we know he plays better when we play you guys, his record is 7-1-2 in the last two years Good luck..
Please stop trolling on the ranger boards if someone is doing it in here.or its probaly gary trying to get his fans over here.
Steady/MJ.....
and all of the normal Islanders fans out there, congrats. Your team wanted it more in the third period. The Rangers were hanging on through two, they didn't look too sharp to me the entire game. The Islanders didn't turn it on until the third and they exploded with an excellent period. Nothing burns me more than when the Islanders beat the Rangers, but lately it is something that I have been seeing far too much. DiPietro looked bland until late in the third, when he showed what he is all about. Rangers defense uncharacteristically fell apart down the stretch. I am not going to buy the three games in four nights excuse, because every team goes through that. The better teams fight through fatigue, no matter at home or on the road. As disappointing as losing to your Islanders is to me, the rivalry is definitely back, thanks to both teams being competitive. Nolan seems like just the right coach for this group of scrappy vterans.