Luck, thy name is "Islanders"

Ryan O' Byrne, ladies and gentlemen!

I know you've seen it so there isn't a lot more to say other than "thank you" to Ryan O'Byrne. Sometimes you get that feeling in your heart or between your ears that the Isles are never going to catch a break and then, all of a sudden, you get the own goal that leads to an Islanders' win in the shootout.

No telling how O'Byrne was taking his mistake after the game other than maybe he was as bummed out as we were to learn that "Monk" is ending after this upcoming eighth season. (Man, I hope we find out how and why Trudy was killed before it ends.)

Still, we gotta take some style points away from Billy and Howie for likening O'Byrne's mistake to that of Edmonton's Steve Smith in the 1986 playoffs. Smith is always known as the guy who derailed the Oiler dynasty for a year in Calgary by plunking in an own goal off of his teammate, Grant Fuhr--which is too bad because Smith was a pretty darn good defenseman. Still, there is a big difference between costing your team a Stanley Cup and causing your team to lose a Monday nighter in November.

Our boys were paced again by Joey MacDonald, who is really making a case for some gainful employment and dollar signs should he leave the Island after this year. MacDonald has been nothing but outstanding so far this season pinch-hitting for DiPietro; keeping the Isles in every game he plays. Plus, his record is now over .500! Great job back there, Joey. Eleven straight starts in a row and 23 saves.

Islanders goal scorers were Trent Hunter (his eighth; with some help by Carey Price); Richard Park (on the PP!); and the phantom goal-scorer was Islanders captain Billy Guerin. Assist to Doug Weight (now just ten away from 1000 career points) who pressure O'Byrne on the boards while the Canadiens had pulled Price for an extra attacker while a delayed penalty was going to be called on our boys.

Park and Guerin (who roofed it) scored in the shootout to finish off the improbable come-from-behind victory and Joey MacDonald stopped both guys he faced for his second career shootout win. Brendan Witt had a team-high four blocks on the blueline.

The Islanders currently sit tenth in the Eastern Conference with 20 points in 21 games. They're back home to entertain the Penguins on Wednesday and then bus it up to Boston for a nooner at the TD Banknorth Garden on Black Friday.

Speaking of Friday, all of you with the Center Ice package know that this means we may or may not have the Islanders telecast and if it is the Bruins, you know that also means the dreaded Jack Edwards. Now I've killed Edwards on this website and I know he has been killed on many other sites and forums but trust me, unless you've had to sit through him butchering the telecast a lot like I have, you have no idea how bad he is. Edwards exudes all of the charms of Eddie Haskell from "Leave it to Beaver" and clearly has way too much free time to make up weird euphemisms for simple plays in the game. Plus, if you add in his WWE audition tape for the Bruins melee with the Stars from earlier this year (look it up on you-know-where) he is EASILY out-pacing any local sports anchor in your town as the worst broadcaster in America. And yeah, Andy Brickley is not much better. If sucking were an Olympic sport, both of these guys would be unopposed Gold Medalists.

So, you've all been warned. it might be best to spend the day after Thanksgiving with the NESN pictures and with Steve Mears and Chris King on the internet. They do a good job. Plus, every time you hear a snippet of "Black Betty" you can do your best Chris King impression and "welcome back (your) partner, Steve Mears" like my wife Linzi does! Good times!