Islanders in Washington to take on the Ovies tonight

Quick hits from around the hockey world:

Kate Murray has issued a press release (with a petition!) stating that she is trying to secure federal stimulus dollars to renovate the Coliseum.

I may not live on the Island but I can tell you this: it sure doesn't seem like she wants to do anything but stall on the Lighthouse Project. Some speculate she is afraid of the massive renovations and building that is key to the plan but as an outside, I don't see why. In her press release, Murray likes to mention that the stimulus dollars will create all sorts of jobs while the Coliseum gets renovated but does she not understand that the Lighthouse Project will bring not only those temporary construction jobs but also hundreds of other full-time jobs to the area once the project has been completed.

Oh, and she also tries to condescend to both the Veterans and the Islanders fans in the press release, but she lists the Islanders last Stanley Cup victory as having been in 1984 so right there, you know she is full of it because she can't even get that fact straight.

"Let's see...how can I suck up to the hockey fans in this thing...I know! I'll say that I am 'urging the county to score the Coliseum's biggest victory since the Islanders 1984 Stanley Cup Championship'!"

You just wonder how much effort and fact-checking comes out of that office when she can't even get the year the Islanders last won a championship straight.

The press release is out there if you want to read it. I don't want to have it printed here. I've consciously tried to not write much about The Lighthouse Project because I prefer the mature adult tact of sticking my head in the sand. Of course, when you do that, you expose your ass to everyone else but whatcha gonna do?

Also, who really uses a petition these days? With your help, maybe Kate Murray can become home room monitor!

Mark Streit has not traveled with the team to DC tonight for the game against the Capitals. He has a groin strain and is listed as day-to-day. Greg Logan, in Newsday, speculates that Joe Callahan and Andrew MacDonald are the likely choices to be in the lineup tonight.

Don't know if you've followed this but the Sound Tigers have now qualified for the playoffs and will be playing their first two games at the Coliseum instead of in Bridgeport.

That's good news for Islanders fans in the area but not so great if you're a Sound Tiger season ticket holder. The team will reportedly have busses leaving Bridgeport for the games on Long Island so at least they're trying to get something done for the locals.

The big reason for all of this seems to be that Sesame Street live was booked by the arena during the time period that was supposed to be saved for the rink's primary tenant's first round playoff series. Screw you, Storm--Elmo's in town!

The lesson today, kiddies: bureaucratic horsepies can ruin stuff you love.