Shootout!

Just finished listening to the Islanders-Senators broadcast from the radio. I recommend doing just that once in a while. Not only do I get warm flashbacks to listening to games on an old AM radio when I was a kid and I was supposed to be asleep, but you get to use the imagination more while thinking about the play. Steve Mears and Chris King are just a lot of fun to listen to. I've said before that I was such a big John Weideman fan (sorry if I misspelled your name, John) that I thought Mears was going to have a tough time replacing him, but Steve has really come along. Around the middle of last year I smartened up and got used to the change. It doesn't hurt either PBP guy that they ride along with the hardest-working broadcaster in the NHL, The Kinger.

So, if you're like me, you can listen and picture the game in your head while you work, it's definitely worth trying to record the games either over the net (not that I am, um, endorsing such a process) or by tuning into Bloomberg 1130.

Hard to believe that last night was the first shootout for the team this year. Last year there were stretches where it sure seemed like the Isles were in shootouts every couple of games.

No surprise that Nolan tabbed Miro to shoot first. I am pretty sure he did that nearly every time last year. I also like the fact that Teddy chooses to shoot first and put the pressure on DiPietro rather than the shooters. DP has proven to be capable of handling the pressure and we
all know that he thrives under responsibility. Seriously, if there is anyone out there who questions either Rick's being picked first overall or that contract of his, they need to get a check-up from the neck up. Rick is The Man who the team will be relying on for a long, long time. His goal, as stated in Men's Health, is to lead the Islanders to the Stanley Cup. Not just to win a Cup in his career, but to win it as an Islander. 'Nuff said.

Mike Sillinger again was big on the face-offs last night and chipped in with a goal in regulation and the winner in the shootout. Can't say enough about Sillinger. I wish he was an Islander for life. Hopefully he won't be going anywhere for a while and will be with the team to finish out his career. The guy is just a pro's pro and worthy of admiration.

Tonight we get the Rangers. Superpest Sean Avery is out with wrist surgery, so that lesion has to been excised. Tough-talker Ryan Hollweg still seems to have some weird retribution on his mind so he will be pinballing and taking liberties tonight as well. Seeing Rick play against GQ Man of The Year Henrik Lundqvist (Engblom's favorite goalie) is always an exciting matchup. Should be a good one. We'll have more tomorrow.