Is today David Volek Day in Pittsburgh?
by Dominik on May 12, 2010 1:30 PM EDT
in Islanders of Yesteryear
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PrintI don't know why, it just feels like today is a good day to post this video again. For some reason.
In truth, I can't conjure any rooting interests tonight other than: Overtime. I want lots and lots of glorious, heart-stopping overtime. Tears. Exhaustion. Fans crying. And David Volek videos (the winner was just one of his goals, you know). Maybe a dose of Glenn Healy, and a side of Benoit Hogue.
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David VolekDay
Definitely rubbing my hands over this one.Guess who I have pegged for this years David Volek?You win the prize,MAB.Go Habs Go.
oh the memories – I mean, no playoff series wins since – jeebus h christ … and David Volek, you flash in the pan you, oh how we loved ye…
My biggest memory of that game was sitting there with 5 minutes left thinking – ohmigod, this could be 1982 in reverse. Dynasty, 2 cups already won, should steamroll through this series, suddenly down 2 goals in the deciding game, at home. And lo and behold, wouldn’t you know it – the Pens score 2 to tie – just like the Isles did in 1982. I was convinced that meant the Pens would win in OT and I was nauseous. But just to add the twist – the Isles’ karma was powerful.
My biggest memory of that game was sitting there with 5 minutes left thinking – ohmigod, this could be 1982 in reverse
Wow, I know that didn’t occur to me at the time, but what a scary comparison! Thank Volek it didn’t turn out that way.
Was thinking today (obviously) about that spring. What a year. Those two late goals were excruciating, but I’ve never run around the house like I did after Volek scored. Could’ve lived off that high for weeks. (Heh, didn’t realize I’d have to live off it for um, 17 years and counting…)
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The Montreal Canadiens and their fanbase continue to thank you for that moment, by the way. If Volek doesn’t come through in the clutch, the Penguins buzzsaw runs right over Roy and Gretzky, and it’s dynasty time in Pittsburgh.
SNN Sports - A theoretical Oilers blog (i.e. theoretically, I write stuff there). Link now 100% less broken.
’Tis true. Soooo close, yet so far.
Will anyone do even three in a row again, or do the Isles have to be content with that distinction?
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Shoulda been the Oilers matching the Habs from ‘84-’88. Stupid Steve Smith.
SNN Sports - A theoretical Oilers blog (i.e. theoretically, I write stuff there). Link now 100% less broken.
Of course. there's no way to know whether the Oil would have won the Cup if that didn't happen
The goal only made it 3-2 and there were nearly 15 minutes left. Not something that couldn’t be overcome. If that goal doesn’t happen, the game goes to OT and no guarantee the Oil wins there. And even if they do, Roy was such an animal, he might have as easily beat the Oil as the Flames. Don’t think its fair to lay all that on Smith.
In any event, I am glad that the Isles can say that they are the last pro franchise in any sport to win four straight championships and maybe the only team ever in any sport to win 19 straight playoff series. What’s going on in Pitt now (4-0 Habs in the second, Fleury gone) shows just what an accomplishment that is.
I can't think of it all without thinking of Tonelli vs. the Pens
That is the stuff these things turn on. That is the knife edge of luck, probability, and impressive accomplishment.
…did I mention I’m appalled the NHL’s “History Will Be Made” campaign glossed over 1980-83? Because there sure were a lot more significant events there than a Gretzky breakaway on Billy Smith.
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There is definitely a bias against the Islander dynasty
For example. Hockey: A People’s History doesn’t even refer to the Isles except by a vague reference to the early 1980s as a time when the Cup didn’t belong to Canada. Never mind that almost everybody associated with the Isles then from Bowtie Bill on down was Canadian.
On the Smith thing, it is ironic that his own goal took place the same year as the Buckner-Wilson thing. Everyone blames Buckner for the Sox losing the 1986 Series. They forget several things. Red Sox pitchers had Met hitters at two out and two strikes several times and could not get an out. The Sox manager put in a relief pitcher that Vin Scully mentioned several times was known for wild pitches with a runner on third—and, of course, he threw a wild pitch and a run scored. Mookie was one of the fastest men in MLB at the time and, even before his injury, Buckner was one of the slowest. The pitcher needed to get over quickly to cover the bag because Buckner had no real shot at beating Mookie to the bag. I have an autographed picture of the event. It clearly shows the pitcher just entering the left of the screen as Buckner watches the ball go into right field. Buckner rushed his effort to scoop up the ball and thus missed it because he knew he would have to beat Mookie to the bag because the pitcher wasn’t covering.
Too true
With Buckner and Smith. A whole team fails to do the job, but a memorable gaffe becomes the scapegoat.
There is a similar situation with the MLB Cardinals loss to the Royals in the 1985 World Series (The “I-70 Series” aka “The Series the Rest of the Country Didn’t Watch”). An umpire made a blatant, blatant wrong call on a routine play at first base in the 9th inning of Game 6, and the Cardinals unraveled. Instead of clinching with two more outs, they lost that game by a run in the bottom of the 9th. Then in Game 7? Lost 11-0. A cascade of mistakes, but everyone remembers the ump’s call that “started” it all, even though it wasn’t the final out.
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see also
Bartman, Steve, 2003 Cubs. Alou would have had a difficult play on the ball. And even after Bartman interfered with it, NOTHING HAD CHANGED. It was the same count on the hitter, no extra baserunners, nothing. And that would only have been the second out of the inning, anyway. Every October, Alex Gonzalez sends flowers to Bartman c/o the Witness Protection Program, because thanks to Bartman nobody blames him for his error on the DP ball that would have ended the inning.
Even after that error the Cubs still led 3-1. AND even after that meltdown, the Cubs had a game 7, in which they led 5-3.
But sure, blow up the Bartman ball. They should have blown up Kyle Farnsworth instead. (Yes, he was prominently involved in both the game 6 and game 7 meltdowns.
Of course I'm an expert, I've seen Slap Shot eleven times!
Alou’s reaction was … a harbinger, perhaps? I definitely didn’t expect such a hissy fit from a guy who should be dialed into finishing off a playoff victory.
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Yeah, really. Where’s the Nystrom goal in all of this?
SNN Sports - A theoretical Oilers blog (i.e. theoretically, I write stuff there). Link now 100% less broken.
Can never get enough of this video
For a lot of us, this was the high point of being an Islanders fan.
It’s amazing how quickly it hit a low point, like “Why the hell wouldn’t you re-sign Healy to whatever amount of money he wanted?” or “Why in God’s Name would you think that Pierre’s career is over?” So happy yet so sad.
The Islanders went from Marty McInnis and a 2nd Overall pick to Jesse Joensuu.
I wish that could be my high point...
…but unfortunately I was a few years too young to have any memories of that series. The Bates penalty shot in 2002 is as high as it gets for me, which is pretty sad.
Mine were two goals by Kenny Morrow
The empty netter that sealed the 1983 win and the OT gamewinner against the Rangers in 1984. Although I was at the Bates penalty shot game.
This is AWESOME...
There should be a song for David Volek Day.. aka… DVD!!!
Adios Cindy!
NHL 500... Let the Less Filling vs Tastes Great debate begin!
I can't possibly be the only one
that thinks the Pitt fanbase is seriously under questionable IQ for having a whiteout when Montreal is the team wearing white. Needless to say I’m loving the 4-0 right now. Go Habs Go! LOL!
Joe Thornton should be drug tested or checked to see if an imposter has taken over his jersey.
You're not the only one
I actually said the same thing (albeit for Vancouver/Chicago) over at Bourne’s Blog just yesterday. It looks like everyone’s cheering for the visitors. Of course that’s Bettman’s fault too. :)
Of course I'm an expert, I've seen Slap Shot eleven times!
That was hysterical. The close up shots of the Pens fans that were sitting there in disbelief were worth millions of screenshots. I wish they could have had a camera just situated on the fans after Kunitz did his impersonation of a traffic cone for Montreal’s third goal. I believe it was the third as the second was the one where the ref was looking straight at a clear cut penalty of a Montreal player being pinned to the net by a Pitt player…with no call. Oh well, hopefully Philly the winner of the other eastern conference semifinal can take out Montreal and their too many men on the ice strategy winning team.
Joe Thornton should be drug tested or checked to see if an imposter has taken over his jersey.
by metalcoconut on May 13, 2010 10:39 AM EDT up reply actions
Well, the origin story of the whiteout comes from back when the home team wore white. The tradition lives on, but…
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Oh yeah, I get the point. I think that the whole idea should have been better planned. Perhaps a blackout…there are so many indignant places I can go with that but I will refrain. It is nice to see that the fans showed their support albeit for what appears to have been the wrong team.
Joe Thornton should be drug tested or checked to see if an imposter has taken over his jersey.
by metalcoconut on May 13, 2010 1:15 PM EDT up reply actions
You are absolutely right…but that makes it even funnier. Perhaps they will rethink their strategy next time. The Industrial Psychology minor in me can’t help but laugh at the major blunder this situation could be perceived as…rooting for the away team. You might as well whip out your Opie stuffed penguins, tie a neuce around it and give them to all the fans in the lower bowl to swing around…that sounds familiar…oh yeah 1993! LOL!
Joe Thornton should be drug tested or checked to see if an imposter has taken over his jersey.
by metalcoconut on May 13, 2010 1:21 PM EDT up reply actions
Why not yellow?
I never liked the idea of anyone other than the Jets (and ’Yotes, to honor the tradition) doing the whiteout. Flyers have orange. Caps have re-embraced red. Pens have … why not yellow again?
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Because they would look like a bunch of daisies. Yellow is not an intimidating color whereas red is the color of war/agression and orange can be associated with Halloween. Yellow just screams pick me, I’m a flower.
Joe Thornton should be drug tested or checked to see if an imposter has taken over his jersey.
by metalcoconut on May 13, 2010 1:32 PM EDT up reply actions
White screams, “We surrender like the Jets.” (Winnipeg, that is.)
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LOL! As many people called them Loseapeg. However the absence of color in solidarity can have a psychological effect on a team. The Habs are used to having the Mouslon Center packed so the absence of fans could have a psychological effect on the players…perhaps that was the Pens strategy. After they shot their way to a 2 goal advantage the crowd completed the charade by shutting up and allowing the Habs to believe that there really wasn’t anyone there.
However I do not believe I will ever hear another moment of silence as golden as the Volek overtime goal. It almost had the effect of a blown amp. One second you hear a roaring crowd and the next all you hear is a couple of athletes celebrating in front of 17K + fans with their backs to the ice as they run for the exit. The decrescendo on that crowd was truely mesmerizing. Although I really don’t like Pitt in the first place this is not to poke fun at them as much as it is to comment on how remarkable and unique that moment was with regards to the difference in sound…and being a fan of the team that caused that sudden silence.
Joe Thornton should be drug tested or checked to see if an imposter has taken over his jersey.
by metalcoconut on May 13, 2010 3:41 PM EDT up reply actions
Well said!
That was amazing. That’s actually my favorite moment when I replay that video — the “decrescendo” (awesome word) when you can hear Ferraro and everyone whooping.
I also like to think of Al sticking it to Scotty one last time (even though they were friends, I have my favorite; Bowman told him in ‘73: "You take that Islanders job you’ll lose for 10 years.")
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“You take that Islanders job you’ll lose for 10 years.”
Says the man whose son can’t follow contract regulations and lets other team officials take the fall.
I did not know he said that. That just made the whole event funnier. Thanks Dom.
Joe Thornton should be drug tested or checked to see if an imposter has taken over his jersey.
by metalcoconut on May 13, 2010 4:44 PM EDT up reply actions
The best part is 10 years after that, Al was wrapping up his fourth Cup as coach while Bowman was burning out in Buffalo.
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Alas, there is no joy in Timbits Land
the mighty Sidney has struck out. Wonder how many cars they’ll destroy in Montreal?
Wow...
If Philly can complete the upset, which given that they are getting healthier which each game, that means the Eastern Conference Finals will be between two teams who didn’t even know if they would be in the playoffs with 2 games to go.
The Islanders went from Marty McInnis and a 2nd Overall pick to Jesse Joensuu.
Indeed.
Insanity. A thin margin between great and also-ran.
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The only good part is that one has to lose.
I really hope that Boston wins for multiple reasons but I really don’t think that I can bear to watch Montreal get ushered into the cup finals. Regardless of the east, someone from the west should win this. Part of me feels bad that Philly didn’t get a crack at Pitt.
Joe Thornton should be drug tested or checked to see if an imposter has taken over his jersey.
by metalcoconut on May 13, 2010 10:43 AM EDT up reply actions
No question, someone in the West will win. Even if Montreal’s bizarre “get outchanced 2-1 but win 4-2” strategy carries them to the Finals (even money), Chicago/San Jose will murderize them. No question. They just play better hockey out West.
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Never bet against a really hot goalie in the playoffs I always say
A lot of folks would have said the same about Montreal going into the Caps and Pens series. We’ll see.
If it is the Flyers in the cup finals, perhaps they can get a Kate Smith look alike to go stand in the opposing teams goal crease and sing the national anthem. And you have a good point considering that Nabakov has the ability to pull a Russian Olympic performance in net on any given night.
However I’m with Doogie in thinking that the West is going to win this one. My only doubt, other than the goalie situation is the D that the Flyers are showing. However if Boston finds a way to get out of their hole I beleieve that the West will just show us the true definition of a breakout play all to often.
Joe Thornton should be drug tested or checked to see if an imposter has taken over his jersey.
by metalcoconut on May 13, 2010 1:30 PM EDT up reply actions
I suspect that the Habs will go to the Finals and
that Halak will be the great equalizer. It will probably go to seven games…and then someone will emerge as the great hero…probably an unlikely person. Maybe Gill the Tool scores a goal in triple OT or Murray maybe. Or if its Chicago maybe Sopel.
The way that Buff is playing he may end up skating his way right through the finals and into the Conn Smythe. The Habs seem like a logical pick but I have some doubts. I don’t think they can keep up that run and I sure hope that they don’t win the cup…again…
I just can’t see Gionta and Cammallari having the same success against the Flyers (if they win). Perhaps against Boston but not Philly. As much as I don’t want to see either Philly or Montreal in the cup finals I wouldn’t mind watching a Buff v Pronger matchup. That could get interesting.
Joe Thornton should be drug tested or checked to see if an imposter has taken over his jersey.
by metalcoconut on May 13, 2010 3:50 PM EDT up reply actions
I wanna see Montreal catch the Yankees in championships again
and I do NOT want Pronger or the Flyers anywhere near the Cup except when they visit whereever it is kept in the offseason.
Strong reasons, these
I just don’t know if I can stomach Habs fans receiving another gift from the hockey gods. Not that I want any of the other remnants to win (if we could somehow deport Heatley, then SJ would have my overwhelming sympathies.)
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