Penguins 4*, Islanders 3 (*SO): 2 comebacks, 2 fights, 2 Comeau goals
by Dominik on Apr 8, 2011 10:35 PM EDT
in New York Islanders Game Recaps
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PrintMatt Moulson wasn't allowed to be the hero thanks to some bizarre archaeological reading of the long expired crease rule applied to John Tavares, but that's okay. Travis Hamonic stepped up with a bullet from the point just inside the post to tie the game at 3-3 with just 35 seconds to go. A few chances were traded in OT but none converted, so the game went to the breakaway drill where Chris Kunitz had the only conversion.
Game Sum | Event Sum | H2H | Corsi | Recaps: NHL - PensBurgh - Isles
Before Hamonic's heroics (and Moulson's aborted one), Blake Comeau had another fine late-season game by notching two goals from the doorstep to erase a 2-0 Penguins lead. The first was initiated by smart board play by Jesse Joensuu -- who had another quietly effective game -- but the second was all Michael Grabner on the powerplay, as Grabner circled the net with speed, drawing a trio of panicked Penguins who left Comeau wide open to the left wing side of the Pens' net.
Alas, the 2-2 tie did not last long. The game seemed to take a sudden shift to wide-open, end-to-end hockey as the teams traded not so much scoring chances but near-chances, and just general risk-taking that indicated each team was trying to force a lead. During one such sequence, Mark Katic pinched on a not-quite 50/50 puck at the point, and the Pens got a staggered rush the other way, on which Mark Rupp made like a hockey player and nicely set up Mark Letestube for the easy tap-in.
The Islanders were scrambling for the tying goal, with Moulson chucking a backhanded rebound at the gaping net and John Tavares -- who'd been boxed into the crease behind Fleury -- trying to get out of the way. Tavares didn't impede Fleury in any way, and jumped into the net to avoid both the puck and other players, but somehow the official on duty waived the goal immediately.
In OT Tyler Kennedy had an uncontested chance all alone in front of Montoya, tried to deke backhand and ... missed. I don't know how he did it, or how it happened, but it didn't go in.
To twist the knife all the more, Mark Katic was set up in the slot for a slapper that beat Marc-Andre Fleury...right after the clock in OT hit 0:00. It would've been Katic's first NHL goal, and you could tell by his reaction that for a second he thought he'd done it. But instead we headed to the anticlimactic skill drill.
Game Highlights
Game Notes
- For shootout fans, the Islanders had to dig into the well without their normal go-to guys. One frequent shooter who did appear was P.A. Parenteau though, who rather than do his usual rush in from the left side, decided to attack straight away. His intent was to fake the backhand deke and just shoot forehand over Fleury, and Fleury bit for the first part but kept his glove there to grab the shot.
- More shootout: Blake Comeau got his first opportunity of the season, had Fleury beat after Fleury faked a poke-check, but Comeau's shot sailed just over the crossbar. ... John Tavares, meanwhile, continued to look almost lost in the shootout, the puck never settling for him and his movements never posing much mystery for Fleury.
- Quietly, Comeau now has 24 goals on the year -- fourth on the team and not bad at all for a guy who gets second/third line opportunities and rarely a featured powerplay role. We have our fun with our pet peeves and his lapses, but can anyone seriously want to move him? He's 25 and has upped his point total by about 10 each year.
- The latest ATO: Jamie Doornbosch only had 8 shifts and 5:21 of TOI and was -1 -- but hey, that was only two shifts and one minute less than Zenon Konopka. Of course, Konopka's limited time was in part thanks to the officials' odd need to give everyone who fought an extra 10 minute misconduct, and in Konopka's case, an unwarranted instigator penalty too. Regardless, surely it was a thrill for Doornbosch, who didn't look nervous at all.
- Speaking of that skeleton D: Really nice game for Hamonic, pretty good game for Ty Wishart. The Isles were lethargic as a team for the first 20+ minutes (and penalties didn't help), but I don't know how this D does it, as injury-battered as they are.
- Speaking of officiating: From Konopka's bad instigator to the decision to give Trevor Gillies and Eric Godard 10-minute misconducts without passing go, to four minutes on Brooks Orpik (two for complaining too much) and the archaic in the crease call to waive off the first tying goal, it was another curious night from the officials. Colin Campbell was in the crowd.
- Speaking of fights though, Gillies pretty much destroyed Godard [video below]. This was the one fight I expected, per the ol' ambiguous "hockey code" to make Gillies atone for last game. Clearly Gillies expected it, too, as he varied his fighting moves and took Godard by surpise with some early jabs and several changes of hand. It's not reading too much to say Godard was relieved when that one was over.
- FIG Winner: RIckfansince76 got his first FIG win of the season for picking Comeau and getting one assist (Joensuu's) correct.
Gillies vs. Godard
Courtesy of the always instant HockeyFights.com
Not related but still fun: Carolina won again to take over the 8th seed, so the Rangers are still looking at a potential world of hurt. Tee hee. The Rangers face the Devils tomorrow at 12:30 and have to do something or else.
At the Game: What'd you see?
Well, lots of you were there -- how was it? Let's hear some stories. The crowd sounded great -- "Ha-ley" and "Colie Sucks" chants were audible -- but I want to hear more testimonials.
P.S. If you're reading this right now (10:30 EDT), WHRU is still airing a bunch of post-game audio.
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I just came back from the game.
There was a good turn out for the game. It was a sell out but still a few empty seats.
I have to say this the most energetic ive seen the coliseum in sometime.
It was loud, which was a great feeling. My throat is shot.
I thought the roof would blow off during the Gillies fight and the game tying goal.
Plenty of Penguins fans in attendence but def. not an embarrassing amount.
Also a compliment to them, they werent D bags.
The Isles fans made a statement tonight. We exist and we love the team. It felt like the old days at the old barn. On top all that the game was a real good one.
GO ISLES!
by The Danish Backhand of Judgement on Apr 8, 2011 10:59 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Love this team! No quit!
I thought this was going to be Isles vs. Pens but it quickly turned into Isles vs. the NHL. The officiating was the worst I’ve seen all year but we overcame it to force OT and nearly won if there were just a .01 seconds more! I wish they would’ve shown Campbell’s face after Hamonic’s goal! Really looking forwards to next season…I think we’re gonna surprise alot of people!
by 54_Fighting on Apr 8, 2011 10:59 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
That officiating was either corrupt
…or embarassingly incompetent. The no-goal call has to be one of the worst calls I’ve ever seen. Not to mention the blatantly high-stick that knocked down the puck in OT that sent Kennedy in alone (and wasn’t called). Enough is enough with this bias against the Isles. Charles Wang should come out with a statement ala Mario, to the tune of how much of a travesty the officiating was tonight and how he might take his puck and go home.
Aside from that the game was absolutely great. Awesome non-stop action for 4+ minutes after Comeau’s tying goal… a thing of beauty.
A Mario statement from Wang would be hilarious
I think you’re right — the first period in particular but many points afterward, too. I’m just tired of harping the officials too much in the recaps, fearing I’ll sound like a lunatic’s broken record.
That’s why the Rangers game was a good chance for me (and WebBard): A 6-2 Isles win, featuring some of the most horrendous officiating I can recall.
The sad thing is, yeah, it was a really entertaining game when it wasn’t being mucked up by officials. 3-3 is probably a fair result.
Lighthouse Hockey: Send us your cold, your poor, your healthy goalies.
And I was going to let the Rangers game go until Gaborik didn’t get suspended.
"had to take a Campbell and wipe my Bettman" Skeeterman
Contributor to Lighthouse Hockey not sure if I'm the Sniper or the Enforcer.
I'm going to avoid stating the obvious...
So I’m going to make sure I don’t mention how amateur the officiating was, or how even more amateur it would be if the league had a hand in it. I won’t dwell on Grabner’s wheels and how, as long as he’s in the lineup, there will be at least 3 quality scoring chances a game. I’m going to sidestep Blake Comeau’s performance tonight, as it was just MBC being MBC. I will stay away from praising Al Montoya and how each game he looks more and more like the starting goaltender of a playoff hockey team. There’s no point talking up Travis Hamonic and his bright future, and how he may end up being one of the better 2-way defenseman in the league in a few years. And I’ll most certainly refrain from gushing about the smackdown Trevor Gillies laid on Eric Godard, bc, well unless you were medically diagnosed as blind at some point before tonight, you saw how bad of a beat down it was.
Unfortunately, since I’m not going to comment on the obvious, I have nothing much else to say.
Intently glued to every COZO
by Chris McNally on Apr 8, 2011 11:30 PM EDT reply actions 6 recs
Very nicely done.
Nice hand sir.
There's a mountain of buoyant nostalgia under this team and it's going to erupt like Vesuvius when the Islanders are back in playoff contention.... Count on it.
by Nova Scotia Isles Fan on Apr 8, 2011 11:49 PM EDT up reply actions
Even listening to the Gillies-Godard fight was nice
Listened to the Radio Hofstra feed during the 1st period before I found an online MSG+ feed.
I think so
Doornbosch had a decent audition and hopefully he can parlay that into a professional contract with an NHL team next season. I want to say that the ATO is good for one game only at the NHL level, which may be one reason why Matt Campanale was only around for one game.
I swear I could do 5 minutes
Maybe not next to Reese, but definitely next to Marti. As long as the Flyers promise not to hit me; that’d be uncool.
Lighthouse Hockey: Send us your cold, your poor, your healthy goalies.
by Dominik on Apr 8, 2011 11:59 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Hell yes
And debate whose aunt’s svíčková is better.
Lighthouse Hockey: Send us your cold, your poor, your healthy goalies.
They serve Czechvar near section 314 or so. Good stuff.
I can’t ice skate, but I could do 5 minutes. I can take all the bench penalties – I’d even act pissed off and disgusted as I skated to the box, shaking my head, and yell at the other teams fans. I’d even fight someone. That would be amazing.
Hard to find the words...
I’ve been searching for the proper words to describe this game … a well played game by both teams … a game that even as a loss, and taking the loser point … I should of felt a little bit of a moral victory in the way they came back and never backed down … However the rare satisfaction in a loser point moral victory keeps getting eclipsed by the horrible officiating… The game tying goal getting wiped out b/c JT was in the creased (an obvious push, and frantic effort by Johnny to get out)… really killed the whole good feel for me.
These kids are going to be really good … but what will keep the Isles at the top when they get there is depth … and we are starting to see that in the prospects that get brought up … and some prospects that are playing in the CHL, NCAA and Europe.
This should be the last draft we see in the top 5 … and hopefully the last.
by 19 Isle in NJ 22 on Apr 9, 2011 12:00 AM EDT reply actions
Yeah, I’d have happily focused on how the Isles played tentative for the first 20 or so minutes. The officials keep behaving as if…if it’s not a directive it’s some sort of read of the Isles’ post Feb. 11 reputation or something.
I’ve been looking into all the 10-minute misconducts and while Konopka had a lot last year (6), that still doesn’t explain how the Isles have compiled 28 this year, which is now 11 more than the next team (Edmonton, although Peckham might have picked one up tonight to give them 18).
Hopefully this is something that changes with a better record/winning/“respect” etc. It just feels like years of bad press and the woe-is-us Pens reaction has put them in a spot where they never get the benefit of the doubt. And I’m not one to commonly complain about officiating.
Lighthouse Hockey: Send us your cold, your poor, your healthy goalies.
Remember there’s been some silly Misconducts on the Islanders, like Frans getting the misconduct after Briere nailed him.
"had to take a Campbell and wipe my Bettman" Skeeterman
Contributor to Lighthouse Hockey not sure if I'm the Sniper or the Enforcer.
Also the Frans misconduct in a game against the Devils
I still have no idea how that happened, and I attended the game.
Depth and maturity
The young players will mature over time, and I think we’ve already seen that a lot this season. As for depth, I think that is about as important as the players maturing. With a hockey team that is as injured as the Islanders seem to be, having that depth will be very important, especially as the Islanders play more consistent in upcoming seasons and compete for playoff seeding.
I really agree with 19/22. The Islanders have become a fun team to watch. These kids, like the Kings and Pens {sorry about that} both have done since the lockout, will be a team to be reckoned with starting next season. Grabner just keeps impressing me more and more each time I see him play. Just wait until him, Tavares and the rest start to click and have a whole season to jell and grow…no more top five draft picks for you…
Montoya did not deserve to lose that game either. He played very well. Just a little bit more D would have probably got him the W…
One comment from my wife – she loves how the Coliseum uses the organ music during the game, even the shootout. It’s a neat throwback to classic hockey. One bonus point to the entertainment department.
It's always a great day or night for hockey - no matter the time or place!
Long live the organ
One comment from my wife – she loves how the Coliseum uses the organ music during the game, even the shootout.
Couldn’t agree more. Organs have their place. The piped in music often destroys the flow for me when they’re playing only 10 seconds of a song, cutting it, starting another, rinse, repeat.
Lighthouse Hockey: Send us your cold, your poor, your healthy goalies.
by Dominik on Apr 9, 2011 2:41 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Just got back from the game as well
Had a spectacular time. The crowd was amazing and after the first period the team was giving it right back. Particularly, Trevor’s fight and that last goal by hamonic set the coliseum crowd off. Probably the most encouraging thing was seeing all the youngins in the crowd – the future of the fanbase
"Brasky once hosted the Grammy's and gave every award to Cory Hardt."
Awesome
Thanks for joining, and thanks for posting that!
It is really cool to see so many kids getting “the bug” in ’em. I mean, I know half my appreciation of hockey is tied to days like that when I was just a tyke.
Lighthouse Hockey: Send us your cold, your poor, your healthy goalies.
Yes but it starts from the very top...Campbell and the powers that be are corrupt...
Not enough people watch this sport to actually give a damn so they get away with it due to obscurity…
Suffered thru a great game.
Up here in the far north east corner of NY ..I had to suffer thru the Pens broadcast of the game on Center Ice. They did somehow manage to comliment some of the Isles and even the team a couple of times.. As you said it was a slow and cautious start but boy did they pick up the pace. I was really impressed with Katic, stepping right into the skates of Hillen.
He seemed to be pretty confident carrying the puck into the zone. Isles have nothing to be ashamed of tonight thats for sure..
And one final note..id be happy to take a 10 minute misconduct for taking a run at Steggi and his troll side kick Errey lol.
At the game too.
Great crowd, as good as we’ve had all year. Pens fans were very respectable there, no fights in the stands from what I saw.
Officiating was shady, but what’s new. Great game anyway. Tavares call was complete BS, even the pensburgh posters agreed with me there(I read). It is what it is. I’m surprised how well our injury depleted defense played. Only problems I had with our defense was that for some reason, Katic and Reese love to cheat in the o-zone WAY too much, and Reese refuses to back skate too much. I don’t know if Reese is a terrible backwards skater or not but that’s a necessity for a d-man to do well and often. Whatever. Really looking forward to the future of this team, and even next year it’s looking great. Input Nino into the Top 9 and give us a full year of a healthy Okposo and Streit and we are a team to be reckoned with. I really wish garth goes after a physical top 4 d-man in free agency if we don’t draft larsson, but we could use a top 6 forward too(but not so much, and for all we know Landeskog falls into our lap or someone else that is nhl ready). We get a physical top 4 d-man in the offseason and I believe we have an easily above average Top 6 defense that can keep opposing forwards honest in our zone(Top 8 too).
Proud Islanders fan, the organization that iced the greatest team to ever play the game and won 4 straight cups.
I'm also an optimistic Knicks fan, pessimistic Mets fan, and a happy Jets fan.
"Clipping" Penalty - Bryan Trottier
Here’s a youtube video of Bryan Trottier. Check the video at the 50 second mark. You know what? Trots was NOT called for “clipping.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hN0MczpIeDo
Really, this league is embarrasing when it comes to on-ice officiating with what’s allowed and not allowed, and that’s a direct reflection on the league office which is supposed to give these officials direction. And Colie. What can I say that hasn’t already been said. The Milbury of league officials. If only I could be as embarrassingly inept at my job, seemingly immune from any criticism by my boss, and keep my job for year after year after year.
“The Milbury of league officials. If only I could be as embarrassingly inept at my job, seemingly immune from any criticism by my boss, and keep my job for year after year after year.”
You mean government?
What the fish, stick?
by Homey Chives on Apr 9, 2011 8:41 AM EDT up reply actions 3 recs
Great game!
Philly tomorrow, draft drawing Tuesday. Exciting promise for next year. Nino, Dehaan, and a top 5 pick IN ADDITION to another year of THIS GROUP AND Mark Streit. This team is stocked with talent..
"Seriously that's the last time you guys f#@%ing won?" -RSH (about beating the Penguins in '93)
Wow, the draft drawing is that early. What time Tuesday?
Proud Islanders fan, the organization that iced the greatest team to ever play the game and won 4 straight cups.
I'm also an optimistic Knicks fan, pessimistic Mets fan, and a happy Jets fan.
Update on the NHL draft "drawing"
It’s not a lottery now…
Draft Drawing to be conducted on Tuesday, April 12
Friday, 04.08.2011 / 4:01 PM / 2011 NHL Entry Draft
NHL.com
NEW YORK/TORONTO – The National Hockey League Draft Drawing, a weighted system to determine the order of selection for the first 14 picks of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, will take place Tuesday, April 12, at 8 p.m. ET.
The League, in cooperation with TSN, will unveil the results of the Draft Drawing live during a 30-minute program, produced and televised by TSN in Canada. The special presentation will also be simulcast on VERSUS.
NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly will be live in TSN’s studio to reveal the order of selection for the top picks in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. The Draft Drawing involves clubs that do not qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, or the clubs that acquired the first-round drafting positions of those non-playoff clubs.
Per NHL rules, the club selected in the Draft Drawing may not move up more than four positions in the draft order. Thus, the only clubs with the opportunity to receive the first overall selection are the five teams with the lowest regular-season point totals, or the clubs that acquired an eligible club’s first-round draft pick. No club will move down more than one position as a result of the Draft Drawing.
Based on team finish, the percentage chance of being selected in the Draft Drawing is:
30th place team – 25.0%
29th place team – 18.8%
28th place team – 14.2%
27th place team – 10.7%
26th place team – 8.1%
25th place team – 6.2%
It's always a great day or night for hockey - no matter the time or place!
I love
That TSN broadcasts these things. And that I watch it :S
"Playin hurt, baby that don't faze me. I don't got time for pain. The only pain I've got time for is the pain I put on fools who don't know what time it is!"
NM's Chief Lady Pleaser. Just ask eightyseven.
No doubt
Without balls bobbing live it’s not quite as suspenseful as I’d like, but it still works.
Lighthouse Hockey: Send us your cold, your poor, your healthy goalies.
Clutterbuck ejected from tonight's game against Edmonton.
5 minute major for boarding on Theo Peckham. Who knew that this guy would ever deliver a questionable hit?
He "plays on the edge". lol
Proud Islanders fan, the organization that iced the greatest team to ever play the game and won 4 straight cups.
I'm also an optimistic Knicks fan, pessimistic Mets fan, and a happy Jets fan.
When I saw that, I almost did a separate post about it
Remember Kids: Cal Clutterbuck Doesn’t Deliver Dirty Hits.
I thought better of it though. The hell I care about the Wild.
Lighthouse Hockey: Send us your cold, your poor, your healthy goalies.
Gremlin For Calder!
From Grabner’s twitter, compliments of Andrew MacDonald
"had to take a Campbell and wipe my Bettman" Skeeterman
Contributor to Lighthouse Hockey not sure if I'm the Sniper or the Enforcer.
Just wanted to say...
I was really impressed with how your boys looked in the second half of the game. If it weren’t for Fleury pulling some big saves out of his ass in the third, and the refs completely botching a goaltender interference call, you would have cost us the division last night.
Hopefully injuries aren’t a concern next year—I’m quite confident a healthy Isles squad could make some noise.
by Hatt the Moople on Apr 9, 2011 8:03 AM EDT reply actions 6 recs
Having an idiot for a disciplinarian who is a model for inconsistency and also a bad person does not mean the NHL rigged the standings. Campbell’s role is relatively small when you consider the opportunity for supplementary discipline is negligible compared to other millions of on ice events that happen every day which warrant no further review.
I agree with your gripe about Campbell and his lack of professionalism. But to assume that some guy who decides the few instances of whether a player should be suspended after a hit somehow escalated into rigging the standings is ludicrous. Campbell is an idiot but conspiracies don’t work. There are too many unknowns and too much risk. I mean, seriously, if the NHL is so incompetent (which you argue), how do they get off rigging the standings and keeping it secret?
Hockey Blogger at Pensburgh.com
Ok, ok...Im not saying that they can actually put the fix in BUT they can influence the outcomes of games and influence the way teams play...
and that can influence where teams fall in the standings…To say this isnt true is ludicrous…If a ref can take a fucking winning or game tieing goal away from a team, that can very well effect a teams entire season…WTF happened in that game against the Devils???They took Nielson out of the game and stole a possible point from the Isles and that would’ve but us 8 points of of 8th…So I wouldnt say the notion is exactly ludicrous…they cant simply rig the standings but they can cause what they favor…
How do they influence how teams play? Do you have any evidence to support that? And complaining about referees taking away goals is nonsensical, since that power has been exercised for almost a century, and is continually exercised against every team every year.
Hockey Blogger at Pensburgh.com
oh, you're a Pens fan so you probably dont see how bad it really is...
because your team gets favor, the isles get fucked, IMHO
How do the Islanders get screwed and the Penguins get helped? The Isles have the 8th most PP time in the league, and the Pens have spent the 2nd most time a man down this year. If the league is trying to help the Pens and hurt the Isles, they’re not doing a very good job.
Hockey Blogger at Pensburgh.com
I'm going to step in
I agree that there’s no conspiracy theory when it comes to standings or wins and losses. That’s evidence by the fact that no team has repeated as Stanley Cup champs in 13 years. It has seemed a little fishy the past 2 months of the season with some of these calls for “league favorite” teams, especially the defending champ Blackhawks. But the teams that make the playoffs this year earned that right and to call it anything less would be unfair.
But I can tell you two things that any other fan in the NHL would not understand bc you do not see every Islanders game. The fact that we may have a lot of time on the power play, or we may not have the most man down minutes in the NHL is irrelevant. It’s the actual calls against the Islanders that are baffling. With phantom calls, loose interpretations of the rules, and at times making up the rules themselves, the refs have seemingly showed the Islanders no respect this year. And while I do not pretend to know what happens in every second of all the other teams games, the way I see the calls go for the opposing teams during Islanders games leads me to believe that it is not a league wide thing, and instead an “Islander” thing.
And even though we do not spend as much time down, the amount of men we have lost to 10 minute misconducts in the last month, and I’m not just talking about thugs, but guys who would be qualified to win the Lady Byng, is absurd.
I am taking nothing away from what the Pens have done this year, bc what they have done minus Crosby and Malkin, is amazing. I am simply stating that there is an Anti-Islander bias when it comes to officiating, whether it comes from the top, from certain refs, or from the officials as a whole.
Intently glued to every COZO
by Chris McNally on Apr 9, 2011 12:36 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Campbell meddles
He influences the refs to favor particular teams and players and he black balls other teams and players…We all know he black balled the Isles…I cant really blame the refs because they only answer to their boss…I can only hope someone blows the whistle on this piece of trash…But what good would that do if the emails he sent about his son and Savard were simply swept under the rug and he still has his job of power???Not enough people actually care about hockey so they can get away with it in obscurity…If this was an American sport., if this was Baseball or football, this shit wouldnt, fly…
I agree Campbell is an idiot. But this level of corruption and ineptitude is no different than when the NFL found out Bill Belichick stole three super bowl trophies and gave him a small fine. This type of institutional incompetence and problems are common to any large organization which controls a lot of money or wields a lot of power. The NHL is no more or less worse than other groups.
Hockey Blogger at Pensburgh.com
Thanks, Hatt
Yeah, hopefully soon every Atlantic game will be that tight. (Isles don’t seem to have a clue how to handle Philly at the moment.)
Lighthouse Hockey: Send us your cold, your poor, your healthy goalies.
Hey guys: A visiting fan can drop in and leave a few nice words...
…without us badgering them with our tinfoil hats.
Lighthouse Hockey: Send us your cold, your poor, your healthy goalies.
Wait
You’re saying I should put mine away?
"Playin hurt, baby that don't faze me. I don't got time for pain. The only pain I've got time for is the pain I put on fools who don't know what time it is!"
NM's Chief Lady Pleaser. Just ask eightyseven.
by Semi_Colon on Apr 9, 2011 3:34 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Not at all!
I just mean, it’s rare for someone to drop in just to say, “Hey, your team could be promising next year” — the least we can do is not give them our baggage right away.
In other words, any lurker can read our baggage and fury plain as day; if they stop in and don’t bring it up, we don’t have to dig it out.
That said, free(ish) speech, everyone. Carry on as you like, within reason.
Lighthouse Hockey: Send us your cold, your poor, your healthy goalies.
Officials = Dog shit
But you knew this was coming even before the game started.
Then the game started… They started throwing 10 min. misconducts to every fighter.
Which made you think, OK this officiating is dog shit but its fair dog shit.
Then they gave Haley that clipping call for a solid hip check and about 3 or 4 more
non sensical biased penalties. Then they took away our goal because JT was in the crease.
Then these officials were biased dog shit.
I swear Penguins fans were coming up to us at the game telling us we got robbed.
It was obvious to everyone.
by The Danish Backhand of Judgement on Apr 9, 2011 8:36 AM EDT reply actions
Guys I know the refs are bad
but if they don’t take away Matty’s goal we don’t pull the goalie which got us Hamonic’s goal
THANKS, Matt - that means a LOT to us all here on LHH.....
…..yeah, we’re QUITE happy with all the young dudes – just hoping that they’ll be injured a WHOLE lot less often next campaign (if at ALL!)
My plus/minus
I caught the 2nd half of the game last night when the score was 2 -0 already and from there really battled there way back. It was a fun game all the way down to the wire and considering we have an AHL defense right now, they work well together with Marty as the anchor.
+ Hamonic, not just tonight but since his call up has been a notable presence with physical presence and his crisp outlet passes. Last nights blast with 35 seconds was just icing on that cake. I do no think we will have a sophomore slump with his style of play.
+ The fans for coming out last night (sellout) on the last night of year. Last year was not the same, and we were blown out by the bruins.
+ Top 5 pick in the works, I would shoot for Landeskog by all accounts, if the draft really is not filled with upside like in years past, package picks and move up to grab him. Should be the final top 5 pick and move on from there.
+ Katic, learning on the job. Really a terrific skater and puck mover with offensive upside. Bridgeport should have some great Dmen in the ranks next year with this guy leading the way.
+ Cozo, two more goals, do not know why somebody here said they were luck, but the second goal was his break out, his pass to grabner, who used his speed and blake putting himself in the right position to score. The guy has 24 goals this year with 3rd line minutes. He improves each year, and just needs a bit more consistent play (I am fine with the numbers). Why do you want to throw away a 20 plus goal scorer on a third line?
+ Grabner, his speed rocks and is a difference maker.
- We miss Frans, Streit, and Amac.
- The refs disallowing that goal with Tavares in the crease. This is not the 90s.
- We lost at home on the final night, but everyone was surely treated to a great game.
+ offseason. Get everyone healthy, making moves, draft and training camp. Probably the most excited I have been in 10 years to watch the on ice product work from day one.
++ Gillies and Konopka for pouring heart and soul, oh yeah toughness, into this team and really making them gel together.
+++Haley, he plays big when it counts, like Web, and has some upside on that 4th line. I have a blank Isles jersey that is just waiting for a name to put on, might just be him.
++++ JT, bright bright future my boy. He makes things happen and 100 percent every shift. I think he will be damaging next year.
Re: Comeau on the third line
At this point it’s looking like the team is developing enough depth to really roll 4 lines, and “3rd line” might not necessarily mean “3rd line minutes” next season.
Founder, President and sole member of the Bruno Gervais fan club
Hamonic is making me extremely happy. He's getting more physical and better as the season went along.
He is gonna be something special on this blueline for a while.
Proud Islanders fan, the organization that iced the greatest team to ever play the game and won 4 straight cups.
I'm also an optimistic Knicks fan, pessimistic Mets fan, and a happy Jets fan.
Nice. Re: Hamonic as sophomore
Agreed, Hamonic’s head is quite level and he doesn’t seem like a guy who’s gonna have a step backward…unless they pair him with an understudy, I guess.
Lighthouse Hockey: Send us your cold, your poor, your healthy goalies.
he doesn’t seem like a guy who’s gonna have a step backward…unless they pair him with an understudy, I guess.
Doing exactly that didnt hurt AMac! :)
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Apr 9, 2011 2:31 PM EDT up reply actions
True
Although he had a pretty fine understudy!
Lighthouse Hockey: Send us your cold, your poor, your healthy goalies.
- AGAIN, JT was in the crease ONLY because he was PUSHED (?)
….he did EVERYTHING in his power to avoid interfering with the puck AND Fleury……
by ogam5 on Apr 9, 2011 9:14 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Gillies-Godard
I wouldn’t say Gillies “destroyed” Godard. Gillies controlled the fight landed a couple of jabs and Godard lost his balance. I think this is the first time Godard has played since the last Islander game so a little rust would expected, plus Godard always looks like that after a fight- win, lose or draw.
I like both guys and as much as I don’t care for the one dimensional player, these guys have the hardest “job” in the league.
He was a boy of soft demeanor
And he loved his caburetor cleaner
I was reluctant to use that word without there being the symbolic blood
But I just thought for as big and intimidating as Godard is, he was fighting uphill the entire tussle.
While Penguins fans will pretend Gillies looked for a fight, I don’t think there’s anyway this wasn’t the “hockey code” moment for Godard to extract justice on Gillies, and Gillies just never even gave him a chance to do that. He was switching up and landing the whole time.
Totally agree it’s the hardest “job” even though its place is, well, debatable.
Lighthouse Hockey: Send us your cold, your poor, your healthy goalies.
Pretend, Dom?
I saw Godard take a shift and, surprisingly, set up a goal. Then the Isles line up Gillies in front of him for the immediate draw at center ice.
But Godard was the one looking to extract justice? If you say so.
"Game's the same. Just got more fierce."
How are enforcer-on-enforcer bouts normally arranged?
By lining them up at the faceoff, as happened last night.
That’s great Godard got a goal — we know him from his NYI days. Pretty sure that’s not why he was in the lineup though.
Really, I understand why Pens fans make Gillies out to be a scar on humanity based on the Tangradi incident, but ascribing constant predatory motives to a guy who has spent the majority of his (limited) ice time policing against players who have tried to intimidate his teammates, well it’s off base to say the least. His “victim” list is pretty tame and hardly unusual for a guy in his role.
Lighthouse Hockey: Send us your cold, your poor, your healthy goalies.
by Dominik on Apr 9, 2011 1:42 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Gillies actions against Tangradi and Clutterbuck speaks for itself. His on-ice demeanor of constantly barking at people and being a low life is something I’m surprised you defend. If you’re going to take that corner, well, that’s your choice. The fact that he doesn’t have a long victim list probably speaks to the limited minutes. In fact, Gillies does have a long list, it’s just not well known for all his time in the minors. Like sucker punching a then rookie in ‘09. Just because it’s not well known doesn’t mean he doesn’t have dirt and that you look the other way is sort of disappointing.
And if Godard is powerful enough to force your coach to set his lines up, then he ought to be a little more effective in the big scheme of things.
"Game's the same. Just got more fierce."
Your bringing up Clutterbuck speaks for itself
Did you see that incident? No, really see that incident? Tell me what happened right before it, and describe exactly what kind of hit Gillies laid on Clutterbuck. (Hint: His “victim” had just jobbed a rookie from behind in his second ever NHL game.) On second thought: Please, don’t. There’s no point going over this again, and I’m really not sure why you’ve bothered.
As for “defending a low life,” um, yeah, it’s not worth your time but you’d probably have to read everything I’ve written about Gillies since he was first brought up before you can make a black-or-white assertion about him and how I feel about him.
But to your other point: What do you mean by “setting his lines up” for Godard? Again, why was Godard in the lineup for the first time in months? To score goals? The Isles coach gave Godard his chance to deliver the weird form of justice that the NHL holds so dear. This has happened hundreds of times in the rematches of “incident” games, and it happened last night. I predicted it, and it was the least surprising event of last night.
Lighthouse Hockey: Send us your cold, your poor, your healthy goalies.
by Dominik on Apr 9, 2011 2:07 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
To your point you have been fair-handed and that’s why I enjoy this place. My comments were refering only to your stance in this comment section, which has been slanted in my opinion. There is no need to drag up all the old issues, you’re right it won’t get anywhere productive and no one will end up changing their minds.
But to your other point: What do you mean by "setting his lines up" for Godard?
You said Godard was looking for justice. I said Capuano sure gave him the chance by sending Gillies out for a rare shift and lining ’em up right at each other.
Again, why was Godard in the lineup for the first time in months? To score goals?
We both know the answer. The last time the Penguins came to Long Island they had guys punching people from behind (Haley on Talbot), punching injured players in the head (Gillies on Tangradi), skaters trying to fight goalies and all sorts of nonsense.
Would you go back into that situation, playing a team with no real motivation in the standings without your muscle? I sure as hell wouldn’t. I don’t have a fault with Bylsma dressing his enforcers for this one. I agree that the Godard/Gillies bout was predictable and unavoidable, but the way I read your comments you sure make it seem like Godard had to “deliver justice” and had to chase Gillies down to make him pay, or something. Gillies was more than willing to answer the bell.
In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if Gillies was the aggressor. His team just gave up the first goal and he definitely had reason to fire them (and the crowd) up. Surely Godard wouldn’t turn away either, as I said, it was going to be unavoidable.
"Game's the same. Just got more fierce."
"Deliver justice"
Sorry — that wasn’t my intent with that. The connotation of “extract justice” is a slight mocking of how the NHL’s hockey code “frontier justice” works. That when something happens, two enforcers make a date and then suddenly everyone’s “answered” for their transgressions. (What exactly does a Godard-Gillies fight accomplish? Yet you know people were expecting it, and I’m certain many Pens fans were hoping for it. It scratches a primitive itch.)
If I had my way, enforcers wouldn’t have to suffer the sins of their teammates — if anything, I’d say attack the same level of player on the offender’s team, so when Cooke takes out a star, someone takes out his star teammate.
As for February, it was Martin on Talbot, not Haley. (Haley, in fact, was pulled from a scrum from behind by Talbot later, which is what began their fight even though Bob Errey rendered it as “of course Haley seeks out Talbot”, and … oh then I’m sure Haley just sprinted down the ice to attack Johnson, rather than get into a back-and-forth which the aggressive and shit-talking Johnson has proven quite capable of handling himself, though of course Godard was compelled to jump in so they could two-time Haley (but it’s not Bylsma’s fault, because he “tried” to stop him). I find it funny that Haley (and Konopka?!) was also tarred with the actions of Gillies and Martin in that game.
We have different views of how these things happened and why — I just read your recent version of it as “circus” just now — and I’m pretty sure nothing’s going to change that. You can tell just from the paragraph above that I’m frustrated with the one-sided nature of how those events have been rendered, completely without context and with an overriding “OMG, why _us?” tone.
But my views happen to be a lot more nuanced than “looking the other way” or “defending a low life,” — and I see nothing in my original comment (about the context of the Godard-Gillies fight, which I expected and viewed as the “safest” way to defuse the baggage leading up to this game) that is “slanted,” unless you’re referring to my stance on how Pens fans will assume Gillies started that fight — which isn’t a slant, because I saw Pens fans blabbing that all over the place on Twitter last night.
Here’s what bugs the fuck out of me: It’s sports, sure, and people like to look for villains and throw ambiguity out the window. Certainty and moral certainty comforts us. But just because Gillies has done douchy things doesn’t mean everything he does is douchy. Likewise, with Cooke (who I find to me a far lower life form, given whom he’s made a career of targeting, but whom I can also admit is an effective grinder too). I try to separate any event from the reputation when I’m feeling up to elaborating on it. I’m sorry if in this case this disappoints you.
Lighthouse Hockey: Send us your cold, your poor, your healthy goalies.
Haha
Jinx
"Gervais...he looks danger in the fist with his face!" JPinVA
Website: Lighthousehockey.com Twitter: @KeithLHHockey
No worries dude, it’s not that I don’t respect your views, just disagree with your viewpoint.
I don’t separate Gillies being “non-douchy” from anything else he does. His actions and attitude, to me, makes him the most despicable player in the league. Others in the know (like Justin Bourne who knows him personally) feel the same way. Gillies is a disgrace. Besides maybe Ryan Hollweg, if I could pick one player to be banned from professional hockey, it would be Trevor Gilles. Gillies brings nothing to the table, even for an enforcer he is not honorable at all, and I’d be willing to bet the Isles don’t retain his services (though you guys would know more on that than I).
I was wondering when the first Matt Cooke reference would come up, and to be honest, I figured you would go to that well earlier. Most Penguins fans, myself included, have totally and disavowed his actions. You can look in my history and see that I’ve been about the most vocal anti-Cooke guy around. He can be a good player, but he consistently shows zero respect and regard for who he plays against and that’s terrible. The Pens gave him a no movement clause, so he’s locked in….Otherwise I can tell you from inside info they would wash him away.
unless you’re referring to my stance on how Pens fans will assume Gillies started that fight — which isn’t a slant, because I saw Pens fans blabbing that all over the place on Twitter last night.
If anything, that’s on the coach. We all know Gillies doesn’t play that many shifts, and they sent him over the boards when they knew Godard was out there. It was unavoidable anyways that the two of them would tangle. My thought that Gillies instigated was a little strong, surely the both of them were willing and knew what would happen. In the broad scheme they are both just pawns.
"Game's the same. Just got more fierce."
I've only seen Gillies at the NHL level
What I’ve seen from Gillies are one despicable mistake and a whole lot of sticking up for his teammates (including the hit on Clutterbuck, which was from the side), which is his job. His barking sideshow antics from the bench aren’t my taste but, hey, if you’re an enforcer you might as well embrace the role.
I enjoy Bourne, but I don’t know what his opinion is and regardless do not take it as my only inside source on Gillies’ nature.
On Cooke: I tried not to bring him up because I know how you feel about him and Pens fans hate having him thrown in their face, but I find Cooke far more despicable for one simple reason: Cooke plays a regular shift and targets stars. Gillies plays only select shifts to deter douchebags from targeting his teammates.
I’m not a big fight fan in any way shape or form — it’s kind of ironic that I’m even in the position of examining the “good” a player like Gillies does. I’d rather enforcers not be in this game and have argued for their elimination…but I’ve seen what happens to the young Isles when they lack that protection and have resigned myself to their situational necessity. In my view, it is scumbags like Cooke who make teams bring up one-dimensional ponies like Gillies.
(Beyond that, I blame the league for enabling players like Cooke until they found Jesus last month, but that’s a separate topic.)
Lighthouse Hockey: Send us your cold, your poor, your healthy goalies.
by Dominik on Apr 11, 2011 1:28 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Isles fans knows why Gillies did what he did to Tangradi
It looked bad when he kept yelling at him when he was down but WTF do you guys expect?Gillies is pissed and takes offense when players like Tangredi took out and concussed Hillen so he took him out to show him you dont fuck with my small stars or you will answer to me?When you’re in a fight it means you are mad at that person and you want to hurt him…Why is it a surprise that Gillies was so pissed off because he hates Tang and that he couldn’t hold back his mouth when he layed him out?Maybe he was saying, "look at this face, see this stach? Thats wtf you get for trying to assault my teammates and if you do it again this is what will happen, asshole!!!
Hes lucky he didn’t do what they would do it Spartacus and piss on his face as he layed there on the ice after a beat down as humiliation…Im just making the point that these are real emotions and guys are taking it personally when players go out with the intent to injure…In what world do people live in to call it rude when a friends sticks up for their friend and hands down a beat down and stands over the loser and says, “look at this face, never ever fuck with me again, or else you will see me again”…Thats all I got to say because Gillies isnt a scum bag but he is a guy who cares about his teammates and will do what he needs to do to protect them…
I think you need to understand Dom's tone here
This statement
you sure make it seem like Godard had to "deliver justice"
Around here it generally means pseudo-bullshit frontier justice that we all know isn’t justice at all. It could basically be written in sarcasm font every time it’s written. There is no way Godard kicking Gillies’ ass would even BE justice for the Tangradi incedent…the closest to that would be Godard taking out Hamonic.
Ideal justice would be if Tangradi was able to play, and he beat the crap out of Gillies.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Gillies was the aggressor.
Seriously? Two guys who skate backwards and shake their gloves off and stalk each other for 20 seconds before engaging and you can tell there’s an “aggressor”? That conversation goes like this “wanna go?”, “yep”.
Two goons having a staged fight off a faceoff is just a waste of time. Of course lines were going to be matched goon for goon all night. I think both teams were interested in protecting their “good” players from the likes of goons. Both of those guys did exactly what they are supposed to do which is be a sideshow. If you want to sit there and pretend that one is less (dirty, useful, aggressive, predatory) that is your prerogative. Around here, it is considered an appointment fight.
"Gervais...he looks danger in the fist with his face!" JPinVA
Website: Lighthousehockey.com Twitter: @KeithLHHockey
How is Godard supposed to extract justice
If the person he’s supposed to send the message to isn’t on the ice? Because Gillies wasn’t on the ice when Godard was setting up a goal. It’s really quite simple. His shift came after the goal and whether you want to believe it or not, it was the 4th lines turn to take a shift.
Intently glued to every COZO
by Chris McNally on Apr 9, 2011 2:07 PM EDT up reply actions
anyone else see in the highlights
the disallowed “crease rule” goal…originally the ref signalled it a goal then saw JT in the crease then wiped it out? Check the highlights for yourself and YOU decide. Kinda makes all the BS obvious.
What the fish, stick?
Makes you wonder what he was thinking
I noticed that live. I also noticed that Capuano doesn’t deserve any explanation from the ref. (I know the ref doesn’t have to talk to coaches, but come on.)
Lighthouse Hockey: Send us your cold, your poor, your healthy goalies.
by Dominik on Apr 9, 2011 1:30 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Capuano doesnt even bother to complain about the lack of respect this time
He saw how much it helped last time.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Apr 9, 2011 2:33 PM EDT up reply actions
That surprised me too. I thought when a call like that happens, it does deserve a personal explanation to the coach. That was a strange interpretation of that rule to begin with.
Both Fleury and Montoya played very well last night, I thought. Montoya’s found a home. Now, if you were to go after Brzygalov {but you may not need him at this point, he is a UFA and is not too keen on going back to Phoenix}. Just a thought, I have said this elsewhere that those two would make a good pair.
It's always a great day or night for hockey - no matter the time or place!
Firewagon hockey
I didn’t talk about the goalies much in the recap, but I agree. I mean, odd to have three goals against on both side and say the goalies were great, but they each made some fantastic saves. And when the game went back-and-forth, they were bailing their guys out.
Wow, fun game. I don’t remember any officiating at all. I’m feeling good. Life is good. Hockey, baby.
I’d love Bryz. Are you serious that he isn’t keen on staying in Phoenix? I thought he was settled there.
Lighthouse Hockey: Send us your cold, your poor, your healthy goalies.
One more thing if someone could explain
Not that I am complaining, but the Canes are ahead of the Rags right now with the same amount of points yet they have less overall wins and more shootout losses. Do they work off less overall losses or head to head match ups which I thought was only reserved for when same points and same wins?
Non-shootout wins
I believe the first tie-break is non-shootout wins. So even though the Smurfs have more overall wins, if they are tied in points at the end the non-shootout wins factor in first.
somehow
that picture you have up there of gillies reminds me of this
The Hamonic Howitzer
Travis probably practiced that shot hundreds if not thousdands of times … but in the case of last night’s shot … it was picture perfect at just the right time.
by 19 Isle in NJ 22 on Apr 9, 2011 10:41 AM EDT reply actions
In comments?
Could you explain? I don’t see anything…
Lighthouse Hockey: Send us your cold, your poor, your healthy goalies.
Check your preferences/settings
You can select which time zone you want to see.
Lighthouse Hockey: Send us your cold, your poor, your healthy goalies.
WTF!?!?!?!
is up with brandon dubinsky calling out the islanders like this? this to me seems quite disrespectful. here is what he said…
“We’ve played really well after games that we haven’t played our best,” Brandon Dubinsky said. “I expect that tomorrow. Games against the Devils are always tough. We have to approach it like Game 7. I don’t care if it’s them or the Vancouver Canucks or the New York Islanders, we have to be ready to go. We’ve gotta have that urgency and that fire. The feeling after that game [the shootout loss in Game 82 last season], you don’t forget the way that feels . . . We’re confident we’ll get some help from other teams.”
seems to me that there is some disrespect there. i mean its not much, but instead of saying a lower ranked team, he called the islanders out.
I don't think it was meant as disrespect
I’m not one to defend a Rag, but I don’t think he was saying Vancouver’s good and the Isles are bad. I just think he was saying that the Rangers are always up for the games against the Islanders. After the whoopin’ we put on them last game, I don’t think he’s stupid enough to insult the Islanders skill level, bc what does that say about them, who as of right now, won’t be pkaying til October after tonight just like the Isles.
Intently glued to every COZO
by Chris McNally on Apr 9, 2011 11:32 AM EDT up reply actions
I took it the same way
Actually a bit of respect in this case. Sounds like he is saying that the rags need to play well whether its a game against the best team in the league or your fiercest rival. They need to be prepared. Well either way then, they lose and they are out. Carolina Wins and they are out. They really let it ride till the last moment. And you can bet NJ will be playing hard to upset them.
No Disrespect - It's the Same for the Islanders
They play hard whether it’s a really good team like Detroit or Vancouver or whether it’s a team that’s overrated and sucks like the Rangers or the Devils.
It was definitely a dig
I like it. The rivalry needs a little hatred – it’s going to be taken to a new level the next few years once both teams become playoff contenders.
Have to give the Penguins a lot of credit for leading the division after game 81 considering all of their injuries. Bylsma has to be considered for the Jack Adams.
Found this on VeryDemotivational
I thought it was appropriate, although they picked the wrong Islander for the poster…
Mark Letestube?
Do you know something about this guy, Dominic, that the rest of us don’t?
Anyway, the most important thing for next season is to find a way to stay healthy. The team finally has something brewing, but it’s still fragile and getting hurt starting with the preseason can set the team back for another season, something it can’t afford. Although signing Comeau and Grabner wouldn’t hurt either.
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1979-80
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May 24, 1980: Tonelli to Nystrom. At long last, the steady build of the New York Islanders from expansion doormat to surprise semifinalist to annual contender reaches the promised land: Buoyed by a late season trade for Butch Goring that gave the team the depth up the middle GM Bill Torrey had been seeking, the Islanders knock off the Philadelphia Flyers in six games.
The victory justified the faith in coach Al Arbour who guided them from their second season to their first Stanley Cup seven seasons later. The Islanders would not be the first expansion team to win the Stanley Cup, but they would be the only one capable of a dynasty.
1980-81
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May 21, 1981: This time it was much easier. After falling to "only" 91 points in the 1979-80 season, the Islanders returned to their division title tradition, piling up 110 points -- a whole 13 points over second-place Philadelphia.
Between the quarterfinals (where they beat the upstart Oilers in six games) and the finals, the Islanders reeled off eight consecutive wins -- with a four-game sweep of archrival Rangers in between. As they defeated the Minnesota North Stars in five games for their second Cup, their goal difference in the final was a combined +10.
1981-82
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May 16, 1982: Another year, another landslide title. The Islanders won the Patrick Division by a whopping 26 points over the second-place Rangers, and were seven points clear of their nearest competition for the President's Trophy, the still-not-quite-ripe Edmonton Oilers.
A first-round scare against the Pittsburgh Penguins turned in the Isles' favor thanks to John Tonelli's heroics, and a true dynasty was on its way: Past the Rangers in six games, then an eight-game sweep of the Quebec Nordiques and Vancouver Canucks to run away with the Stanley Cup.
1982-83
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May 17, 1983: Not so fast, whipper-snappers. The Edmonton Oilers' steadily rising challenge for league supremacy took them all the way to the finals for the first time, where the New York Islanders summarily dispatched them in a four-game sweep. For the Islanders, the Dynasty was secured. For the Oilers, it was a powerful lesson in where talent ends and the demands of playoff hockey begin.
Four years, four Cups, 16 consecutive playoff series wins (a record that would grow to 19 until the rematch with the Oilers the following year). Mike Bossy scored 60 goals yet again, and Wayne Gretzky became acquainted with Billy Smith's crease.
