Um, this is no way to tank

While we all like to see our team win and improve, you have to turn an eye toward the standings in hopes of having the best chance at the first overall pick.

We used to like torturing ourselves by giving you an update on the bottom-feeder standings earlier in the year but now it's getting scary.



Take a look at the league-wide standings. Our laundry is at the bottom of the list, of course, but notice how much closer the rest of the tankers are getting to the Islanders.

Last night's opponent--and winners in OT, the Leafs--are sort of gaining on the Isles. Toronto and the LA kings are tied with 67 points--15 away from the Isles. That seems like a safe, comfortable cushion between thirtieth and twenty-fourth place.

But check out the Lightning, Thrashers, and Avalanche. Only six points between Colorado and the Islanders. That's only a modest three-game winning streak. The Lightning are horrendous and have lost three games in a row. They're not getting any better and probably have quit on the season a long time ago. The Isles are playing with spunk and energy and are giving balls-out effort every night; whereas the spend Lightning can't even crack a fart.

Think about this: how shameful is it for the Lightning to be this bad? They have Vincent Lecavalier! Martin St-Louis! Even that Stamkos kid! There's real, bona fide NHL skill there already and they're already fishing with the Ti-D-Bowl Man.

At this point, who would you rather be a fan of: the Islanders? Tampa? Atlanta? Colorado? Even Ottawa and Toronto? If you are looking at the silver lining and not going for the easy put down, mainstream media, you're looking at the Islanders and the second half they've had and you have to think that there really is a plan in place and dammit if the future doesn't look pretty decent.

Of course, being able to secure a talented scorer like John Tavares would help immensely in the rebuild.

So, you know, play hard and all but don't go all crazy about it.

And by the way, noted hockey expert and humble humanitarian-type Mike Francesa can say anything he wants about Tavares and rumors he doesn't want to play for the Islanders because he doesn't know jack. That rumor was put to rest in an interview with ESPN's (and HNIC Hot Stove-r) Pierre LeBrun the other day. Here's Tavares quote:

"It's not true at all," Tavares said. "Wherever I'm selected, 100 percent I'm going to be going there. If it is the New York Islanders, of course I'm going to go. I think they've got a lot of good prospects and there's some good things happening there. Obviously, they're looking to get a new arena, which is always exciting. And it's a team with great tradition and history."

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The game itself at the ACC was another showcase for the kids. Kyle Okposo and Blake Comeau scored for the Isles. Joey MacDonald has another decent game in net in his attempt to fend off Yann Danis for the pleasure of carrying Ricky's golf bag next season.

But the big news is that Bruno Gervais...wait for it...had a fight.

Gervais is a guy who'd probably not even call himself a physical player, fought Lee Stempniak last night. Bruno Gervais. Not enforcer Joel Rechlicz.

Look, I am not big fan of hockey fights but I do like it when guys stick up for themselves, which Bruno clearly did. After checking Stempniak into the boards, the Leafs player got up and looked pretty pissed about it. Bruno held his hands palms up in a "what was I supposed to do, he turned" kind of way and then the two went at it. Nothing to write home about, really, but good to see Bruno can go if he has to.

Kyle Okposo was clearly the best player on the ice last night. Hopefully his performance in the self-proclaimed "center of the hockey universe" opened some eyes league-wide because Okposo absolutely needs to be on the American Olympic team in 2010.

The sad thing is that Islanders fans know how much he's improved and how great he looks on the ice for almost every shift but around the league, I don't know that there is a huge buzz for Kyle yet. Maybe if he hits 20 goals--he now has 15--that'll open some eyes around the NHL.

Mike Iggulden had another assist and now has points (no goals yet) in each of his first three games he's played this season.

Scary bit in the third when Sean Bergenheim left the game and did not return. I don't recall any updates during the game so I guess it is safe to assume that he'll be "evaluated" today.

Isles are back in Canada tomorrow night to play Team Turmoil, the Montreal Canadiens.