Isles lose in Phoenix; Weight gets 1000; Bailey gets #1

I hope everyone had a safe and fun New Year.

I of course, fell asleep before midnight but made it to after 11PM this year. Something of a personal best. I'm quite proud of it.

I had some help though. The US played Canada in the World Juniors on New Year's Eve and yes, it was a heck of a game. I'm sure you've all read and heard about it on other blogs...or watched it for yourselves. All I can say about the was that the Americans were outclassed by the Canadians; who started out nervous and watched as the Americans posted a very-early three-goal lead. I immediately got the same sinking feeling that I got in that infamous Giants-Niners playoff game where the G-Men went out to this ridiculous 30 point lead and I knew that they had scored too many points too fast.

Once the Canadians calmed down and let the butterflies float away, they came back and reigned all over the US squad. John Tavares had a hat trick and it ended up being a 7-4 final.

The Americans were obviously shocked at that stunner because they bombed out yesterday versus Slovakia and are now out of the medal round of the tournament.

Earlier in the day, the Isles played Florida on the Island. Still great to hear Jiggs McDonald in there subbing for Howie Rose. Trevor Smith made his NHL debut as a call-up and played very well. By that I mean you noticed him out there. He was also named third star of the game by the partial Islanders off-ice officials.

Smith's story is an interesting one: undrafted, he was signed by the Islanders as a free agent out of college. He struggled early last year with the Sound Tigers and admits to having been a bit intimidated by playing professional hockey. He was actually sent back to the ECHL to get his game in shape and once he returned, he went on a tear for Bridgeport and scored like crazy as the Sound Tigers pushed through the regular season.

Before his call-up, Smith had 18 goals and 29 points in 33 AHL games. He has shown a real nose for the net and an ability to push hard toward the goal. With the youth movement in full swing, there is porobably going to be a place for Smith going forward if he keeps playing like this.

Also, let's face it--in the American League there is a ton more time for practice and Jack Capuano has had the luck to be able to teach Scott Gordon's system to the Soung Tigers than Gordon has had with the big club.

The bad news: Smith's spot opened up because Mike Sillinger was placed on the IR with a hip issue. Our best goes out to Mike. We've been a fan of his for a long time.

OK, so on New Year's, Mike Comrie scored 2 goals and had an assist. Are we all wondering if Hilary Duff is in town?

Seriously, Mike's been on a bit of a tear since returning from his own hip injury. He doesn't even look like the same guy who tried gutting out a few games early in the year. This, of course, makes him a more attractive, tradeable asset come March, if he keeps this up. Don't think that Garth Snow isn't thinking of these guys as chess pieces. He has to. With a one-year deal that he signed over the summer, he makes for an intriguing rental possibility.

And, of course, if he stays on the Island, that is fine with us too.

Last night was one for the books. Sure, the Isles lost 5-4 and DiPietro looked garden gate rusty, but classy Doug Weight added two points to get over the hump and now stands at 1001 points in his career. Fitting that both points we assists, eh? The first one came on a pass that bounced at least twice cross-ice and landed on the stick of Richard Park, who knocked it home with 3:06 left in the game to make it 5-3. Park immediately rushed to grab the puck as Weight's teammates congratulated the admired star; who had thirty members of his family at the game.

Bailey beat Phoenix's Mikael Tellqvist on a one-timer from between the hashes earlier in the third period to get the Islanders within two at 4-2. Sean Bergenheim also scored his second in two games for our boys, who have now lost three of four and face the Sharks in San Jose tonight. Gulp.