Weekend Musings

First off, I want to say this about the NCAA hockey tournament...and it isn't going to surprise anyone.

I freaking hate ESPN.

Why, this time? Well, over the weekend, I tried to take in a little college hockey championship action and not only was one game delayed because of college lacrosse, but between periods of the hockey games we had to suffer through NCAA basketball highlights.

"Suffer" may be a strong word for basketball, but it sure is appropriate for Lowell Galindo, the alleged host between periods who spoke like a know-it-all and yet exhibited no understanding of hockey at all. All to often studio color guy (and Northeast hockey broadcasting mainstay) Bob Norton was sitting there doing nothing while Galindo shouted over basketball highlights.

Let me ask you this: do you think for a minute that ESPN would show hockey highlights during one of their basketball studio shows? If you say yes, please go drive into a bridge abutment right now.

Doesn't ESPN understand that if we wanted to see college basketball highlights or analysis that we'd already be watching CBS? Man, if they don't want to broadcast hockey in any form than don't bother doing it at all. To leave a guy like Norton sitting there staring blindly into the camera with nothing to say while another ESPN shouter shows us slam dunks and greasy-haired coaches is worthless.

So, now, back to reality.

A few people have emailed me wondering why there seem to be few posts on the weekends. Well, that's an easy question with a two-part answer. First off, I am lazy. Secondly, I'm pretty busy on the weekends so having time to watch the games is often the best I can do. Plus, during the week, I am chained to a keyboard for eight hours a day so I really don't feel like going on the computer at home.

Saying that, I have a few quick shots regarding this weekend's games and a ping pong update.

Friday night we got a snapshot of the "o" word working when it's going right. The Isles were able to pressure the defending champions into making turnovers and then the Wings were forced to chase the Isles back into the offensive zone.

And, of course, you have Joey MacDonald standing on his head and making one of the great saves of the season off the stick of Mikael Samuelsson.

A couple of emerging youngsters scored for the Isles; Josh Bailey (6) and Frans Nielsen (7). Nielsen may be a little overlooked due to the development of Okposo and the play of Bailey of late, but he's really been picking up the offense for the team. I was worried that he might have lost some guile after the beheading at the hands of Mike Mottau earlier this season but since he has been back, Frans has shown flashes of a real offensive flair. With the Isles playing the kids in all situations this season, players like Frans Nielsen and Josh Bailey have found some success on the power play and even killing penalties when called upon.

Joey Mac had a stellar game against one of his former teams...and by the way...when was the last time the 30th team in the league shut out the best team in the league--a team they trailed by over 50 points in the standings? Remarkable.

On Saturday, the Isles and Flyers squared off in an Old Time Hockey game on Long Island that saw the Flyers win in the shootout, 4-3.

It's easy to say that these kind of tough games are the ones young teams need to build on, but we did learn a bit about our boys during this one. First off, don't mess with Doug Weight. The assistant captain didn't like the hit the Flyers' Darroll Powe laid on Tin Jackman so he took matters into his own hands and grabbed Powe before a few punches were thrown and Weight shoved the Flyer center to the ice.

Other fights included a game Nate Thompson who took on noted Philadelphia irritant Daniel Carcillo early in the middle period. Next up only a second later was Joel Rechlicz and Riley Cote; who had an enormously entertaining scrap with The Wrecker clearly getting the decision over the squashed Flyers enforcer. Cote skated to his apartment; er, I mean penalty box, and seriously looked like he'd just gone ten rounds with The Ugly Stick.

Three minutes after that, NHL Middleweight Champion Arron Asham dropped Tim Jackman.

Oh, yeah. Goals were scored too--including a play-of-the-night highlight from Jeff Tambellini. Kyle Okposo had a centering pass deflected so Tambellini turned and whacked the puck in one motion past Flyers goalie Martin Biron.

Mark Streit and Radek Martinek had the other goals for the Isles.

Finally, here are your Ping Pong Standings as we head into tonight's slate of games.

Tampa: 65 points in 76 games.
Colorado: 64 points in 76 games.
Islanders: 59 points in 75 games.