And Now it Ends...

Well, we can say what we want to about Jagr--and wow, have I taken potshots at the guy before--but he and the Rangers are going to the playoffs and our boys are looking for tee times. The ones who are fit enough to golf are, anyway. The ones who don't have to report to the Bridge to play out the AHL season, that is.

Last night, one thing was incredibly true for the Islanders: Jack Hillen played himself a pretty damn good game for a guy with no pro experience. He also looks a lot like the guy who plays Jim on "The Office", don't you think? Anyway, I thought he looked like a guy who could move the puck pretty well and he had a solid in-stride first pass that impressed me.

Just one memo to the Ranger announcers: um, Jack Hillen isn't eligible to get any playoff games in for the Sound Tigers should they make it because he wasn't in the organization and listed on the AHL "Clear Day" roster back in March. You'd think that professional broadcasters would know this rule. Yikes.

Count Sam Rosen in on the Blake Comeau bandwagon. He's right--you do notice Comeau every time he is on the ice. Whenever I think a young guy is bringing it, I wait to see if family or friends without the freakish rooting interest that I have say something about the player. Couple of weeks ago, my Dad was asking about "this no. 57 kid". So, you know, chalk one up for Blake right there.

Tonight, the Isles wrap up the season at the Garden with one more dance against the Rangers. I've been less concerned with winning and losing while watching the team of late. I've wanted to see how the kids and call-ups compete and on that end, while the wins and the goals may not have been there, the effort sure has. Coach Nolan's rep is that he gets the most out of his players and with the guys from Bridgeport, he's been getting solid auditions all around.

Also worth noting in these past few weeks where very little stands to be gained other than experience is that the Islanders on-ice leadership has been exceptional. Richard Park has been receiving attention for his play and mentoring or Comeau and Kyle Okposo. You see Billy Guerin playing leader on the bench, always talking to the kids and directing traffic. Trent Hunter leads with his play and demeanor; as does Radek Martinek. Radek has been paired with everyone in the system aside from me on the blueline and to his credit, none of the kids have looked like they've been in over their heads. His steady play is what makes it easier for a guy like Jack Hillen to come in off the street (for the most part) and slide right into a role on the team. Matt Spiller and Bruno Gervais all got some time cutting teeth with Martinek while Brendan Witt has been injured this season as well.

One other guy I want to mention is Rob Davison. I mean, I know he's a guy most of us thought was going to be an organizational depth-kind of guy, but seriously, for a seventh-round pick, he has been a steal for the Isles. Credit GM Garth Snow and the pro scouts for this one.

After tonight, we turn our attention to the playoffs (still rooting for the Caps to sneak in) but first we have the big televised ping pong event this Monday, April 7 at 8:00 pm on VERSUS. I can't help it, I am such a hockey dork that I am rooting for ping pong balls. Gotta root for something!

Speaking of rooting for something, Bridgeport has seven games left and trail Hershey by four points, with one game in hand over the Bears. The Sound Tigers can expect to see Okposo, Frans Nielsen, Jeremy Colliton, possibly Blake Comeau, and Kip Brennan if he doesn't get suspended on the car ride back. Drew Fata and Matthew Spiller will be regulars on the blueline for the Sound Tigers as they make their playoff push.

Coming up soon we'll have some playoff coverage and predictions, a look at the year-end Islanders roster and a break-down for next year's team, and something special--a live blog of the 1980 All-Star Game. It's on the DVR now but when I watch it, I'll be commenting on it exclusively on nyiforlife.com. Accept no substitutes!