Smyth injured; Isles lose to Philly; Core of the Four today

In case you haven't seen it, last night Ryan Smyth of the Avalanche was stretchered out after being checked by the Kings' Jack Johnson. Smyth was hit into the boards right at the end of the bench area at the point where the side glass begins it's wrap-around into the defensive zone. His helmet went flying and Smyth looked to be out cold.

I just saw the replay on ESPN and true to form, you have to have a player almost die to get a highlight on Sportscenter. They literally showed Smyth scoring a goal--he has 2 in the game--and then showed the hit and stretcher job. If this was one of their precious NBA superstars or God forbid, a baseball player, ESPN would have covered it from the top of the hour until the end of the show.

The Avalanche reported after the game that Smyth was conscious and walking, but was sent to a hospital for further examination. He had been motionless on the ice for several minutes as trainers rushed out to attend to him. Smyth was trying to dump the puck around the Los Angeles goal when Johnson caught him and simply tried to impede Smyth from gaining the offensive zone. There was no penalty called on the play.

Smyth had just returned to the Colorado lineup after missing 18 games with an injured ankle.

The Islanders lost a stomach puncher yesterday to the Flyers. Yeah, it was one of those four-point games. DiPietro was not as sharp as he has been and the late goal that Mike Knuble "scored" that pinballed off of skates in the crease was just like getting kneed in the face if you were watching the game on TV or were live in the arena.

Today the Isles are celebrating the Core of the Four in a pregame ceremony this afternoon. Center Ice subscribers should be aware that because the ceremony is being done before the game that we may not see it because the listings have the start time of the game itself as 4PM when the pregame stuff is to begin at 3.