Isles 3, Canadiens 2 in OT; how do you say "boo" in French?

First off, thanks for the emails about the draft order post from the other day. You can cool out for now, dear readers, because Tampa Bay and Atlanta both won last night.

In the darkness, there is always a shining light. Right now, that shining light is Kyle Okposo.

Isn't it just fantastic to see the kid improve his game right before our eyes? Seriously, Okposo had another Monster (TM, Pierre McGuire) effort last night before a pretty testy crowd in Montreal. Okposo scored the GWG just 32 seconds into the overtime session to give the Islanders a rare road win in a building full of stunned and forlorn Canadiens fans who are watching the great centennial season become a greater disappointment than the solo career of Chris Cornell.

The Bell Centre had been teasing going NWO on the Canadiens throughout the game. There were times where party boy Carey Price was hearing it. At other times--such as the full two minute 5-on-3 that Okposo killed pretty much on his own--that the derision and impatience was palpable at home on my recliner.

In the OT, after Okposo's winner--a goal that barely crossed the goal line and in real-time seemed to be going in slow motion--the crowd really took it out on the team.

Some of you may not know that I am something of an impressionist. I'll do my best to do my impression of 20,000 pissed off French Canadians right here for you now.

I think it would go...a little something...like this:

Boux! Booooux!

Thank you very much. You're too kind.

Anyway, back to tacks.

Once Bridgeport announced their clear day roster, it's becoming clear now that Kyle Okposo will probably spend his spring playing for Team USA at the World Championships. You'd figure after the second half that he's had that being named to the team is just a formality. It's a great opportunity for the precocious Islanders forward, who will get some playoff-type schooling while playing with some of the country's other top players.

With no NHL playoffs to worry about, the Isles young players will still have chances to play in situations that will allow them to expand upon their careers with some tournament experience. Blake Comeau, Jack Hillen, Jesse Joensuu, and others will get a chance to lead the Bridgeport Sound Tigers toward the Calder Cup. Okposo has the World Championships. They may not be in the Stanley Cup playoffs, but the young core will have a chance to play in some very important games where results matter. Any experience is good experience at this stage of the game.

Isles are back tomorrow afternoon in Boston. Yep, that means Jack Edwards and Andy Brickley for me. Wish me well.