LIVE! MLK Matinee! CAR @ NYI - FINAL - OT (3-2 CAR)

Hello everyone! It's a special MLK 2pm matinee between the New York Islanders and the Carolina Hurricanes!

The Isles have some good news coming to them as BOTH Brendan Witt and Radek Martinek (following his annual injury) will both be back in the line-up to help bolster what is a very depleted blue-line. We'll see who gets the scratch honor today...but if I were a betting man, I'd say Bryan Berard and Aaron Johnson.

Also, Colin Powell will be in attendance tonight...he'll be dropping the first puck. So here we go with our LIVE! blog starting....now!

12:30 - Wade Dubielewicz is back from his mini-conditioning stint up at Bridgeport. I'm sure he was given a very warm welcome over there. The Bridgeport fans love their star players who made it to the NHL. Bruno Gervais is another one that comes to mind. I recall last year when he made an autograph signing appearance after a game, there were lines wrapping around the concourse to see him!

12:42 - Looks like some local hockey players will be presenting a HUGE flag for today's national anthem...I'll try to get some pics up in a bit...

12:45 - The referees for today's contest are Rob "The Model" Martell (WWE fans should get that) and Stephane Auger

12:46 - Here's one look for the pre-game flag rehearsal...

12:52 - Odd stat of the day: New York Islanders +/- leader? Sean Bergenheim with a +3

12:58 - I'm looking through the game notes, I noticed Shawn Bates' name taken OFF the IR list and he's literally no where to be found on the roster now. I don't know if I'm looking into it too much, but I just thought that was interesting...

12:59 - Also another fact of importance...apparently the Chinese National Anthem will be sung today, probably to do with the Lighthouse Cup Tournament culminating this week.

1:01 - Fans are currently being let in right now. And from what I can tell there are a lot of kids already! That's a good sign

1:04 - Great little opening video package they're playing right now here showing some highlights from the season.

1:05 - "Know Your Islanders" - Mike Sillinger's favorite band is U2! Coincidentally, my favorite band as well!

1:09 - Really good to see the kids here. Looks like it will be a packed game...

1:16 - Dee is here...good to have some company :-)

1:21 - Bridgeport Sound Tigers President Howard Saffin was just spotted in the crowd with his kids. Always good to see him here.

1:29 - The hurricanes are out now led by Cam Ward...and the Isles are sure to follow right now obviously led by Ricky DiPietro. So there's your goalie match today...

1:31 - Second game in a row the Isles have come out toa Foo Fighters song. This time its DOA from the In Your Honor album

1:34 - Kick-ass song selection immediately which is followed by "The Joker and The Thief" by Wolfmother

1:35 - The pre-game warm up is very crowded on the lower-bowl which is very good to see!

1:36 - I better mention that Melissa is probably reading this blog right now LOL

1:38 - Here are today's line combinations...

Park - Comrie - Guerin
Bergeron - Vasicek - Satan
Fedotenko - Sillinger - Hunter
Comeau - Hilbert - Jackman

Witt - Martinek
Sutton - Meyer
Gervais - Bergeron

1:41 - Let me see if I can get down low for some pics...I'll be right back...

1:44 - I'm back...it's quite crowded down there. But a very welcome sight...could be sold out.

1:49 - Here are a few pre-game warm-up pics...


1:51 - Dee Karl just pointed out how Rod Brind'Amour has 88 points against the Isles, which is the highest scoring output by one player against one NHL team. Now when you think about Islander-killers, you think Jaromir Jagr...Ryan Malone...Chris Higgins...but Rod Brind'Amour certainly flies under the radar.

1:53 - SOUND TIGERS UPDATES: End of the first period in Portland as the Sound tigers and Portland Pirates are scoreless. Tigers wasted a five-minute major PP late in the first period.

1:59 - TONS of media getting set up for Colin Powell's first drop of the puck


2:03 - Dee's daughter's friend has a Rangers jersey on...how inappropriate!!

2:04 - It must be tough for the Isles to skate around with all this media on the ice! Starting for the Isles is the Fedotenko - Sillinger - Hunter line. Sutton - Meyer on the back-end

2:11 - Wonderful renditions of the Chinese and American National Anthems by Jia Hao Shee and Blair Goldberg respectively. Colin Powell almost slipped and fell walking out...the Isles organization as a whole must've had a heart attack! I'll get some pics up soon...

2:13 - Great crowd on hand today...love to see the Coliseum packed to the gills!

2:15 - "Watch those carams Rick!" Ricky stopped one behind the net and gets a derisive "Hey! He stopped one!" comment from a fan behind me

2:16 - Fourth line out there now...tricky deflection handcuffed Cam Ward for a minute...on a separate note, I love how Blake Comeau has literally fit in with this organization. He's been pretty rock solid steady since his recall.

2:18 - Close call up front by the first line there! Remember boys, shooting helps!

2:19 - HEY! Down in front! Carolina break stopped by Ricky.

2:20 - Carolina is buzzing in the Isles zone...Ricky's strong...I dunno how he makes some of these saves....and Bergenheim from a very sharp angle gloved by Ward.

2:21 - Nice job by Bergie to whack the puck out of mid air to keep it in the zone...which led to a Bergeron shot on goal...

2:23 - Oh boy...crazy scramble up in front of Cam Ward...saved by the Carolina D-men...it really could be 2-0 right now...

2:24 - TV Timeout calls for pics...


2:25 - Comeau looks very composed while skating up ice...it's really great to see

2:27 - Looks like from the early star both teams are trying to feel each other out...and Brendand Witt makes his return with a nice open ice hit!

2:29 - Ten minutes into the game and our Coliseum shot count is 4-3 CAR

2:30 - Looks like we have some Chinese TV networks in the Blog Box right now!

2:32 - Ricky had to fight off a nasty deflection there, but did the job well.

2:34 - The shots on Ricky look harmless, but it looks like Ricky's kinda slow reacting to them...maybe it could the early game time??

2:35 - Comrie can't you handle the puck right when Hillary is not here?

2:38 - Good hustle by Tank to beat out that icing call...but I dont think any is going to beat that one that Hunter sent down there...

2:39 - Found out from Ken Dick that our Chinese friends were from Sinovision


2:40 - A little too quick on making those passes boys?

2:42 - Pretty blase right now...both Ken Dick and I agree that it will most likely pick up in the second.

2:44 - Ricky looked asleep at the wheel after that shot hit the side of the net. He looked he had no idea where it was

2:45 - Ohh a shot on goal! Neat!

2:46 - END OF PERIOD 1: Pretty dull period with not much action going on. Look for it to pick back up in the second period as both teams seem to get back on schedule and shake off the early-afternoon rust.

2:48 - SOUND TIGERS UPDATE: With 17:21 left in the third period, the Sound Tigers have a 1-0 off a goal by guess who? Yup, Jeff Tambellini with his 25th of the season. Trevor Smith and Frans Nielsen with the assists.

2:52 - Intermission activites consisted of a little shootout featuring the teams from Harbin and Qiqihar from China


2:56 - SOUND TIGERS UPDATE: Steve Regier potted his 11th of the season on the PP. Jeff Tambellini with the assist continuing his torrid scoring pace. TIGERS LEAD 2-0

2:59 - It should be noted that Blake Comeau has MORE ice time than players like Josef Vasicek and Miro Satan. Comeau with 4:10 of ice time

3:03 - And we're ready to start the second period...

3:04 - Silly starts out with a nice shot blockered away by Ward

3:05 - So far, no penalties this whole game...and the scoring chances are coming for the Isles now..

3:06 - Bergeron with a rocket kicked away by Ward...

3:08 - Oh boy...Andy got a bounce from the glass...or I dont know if the hurricanes just badly misplayed it...but had a clear break on Ward and backhanded it by him! 1-0 NYI

3:10 - Nice strong glove save on Brind'Amour by Ricky

3:12 - Oh Bergie...even when you do shoot it never makes it to the net!

3:13 - Comeau nearly rolled right through that defense and almost got a great pass off to Hilbert

3:14 - Happy 28th Birthday to Islanders Radio Broadcaster Steve Mears!

3:17 - These damn kids won't stop banging their bottles on the metal bar behind me!

3:18 - Satan keeps getting chances but can't get them to the net!

3:20 - Ohh Witt trying to mix it up with Staal...

3:23 - So far its kinda back and forth right now...the refs seem like they're putting the whistles in their pockets...

3:24 - This poor Satan line can bring it deep but can't execute...and as I say that Comeau dishes it to Satan and fires it through Ward's legs!!! Don't know if Vasicek tipped it, but regardless it's 2-0 Isles!

3:26 - Satan gets the goal...Comeau and Meyer with the assists

3:27 - And now we've got Jackman vs. Gleason! Jackman got the best of him throughout most of that battle...he seemed a tad pissed....spirited effort!

3:28 - Comeau with a nice open ice hit as well!

3:29 - Satan filling in on the fourth line now...and boy did that line buzz!! Carolina got away with having eight men on the ice there!! And Comeau with a drop pass to Hilbert and Ward SNAGGED that one. What a shift!

3:30 - SOUND TIGERS UPDATE: Portland's Jason King broke up a Joey MacDonald shutout attempt, but the Sound Tigers hold on to defeat the Pirates 2-1.

3:31 - Comrie is playing with Satan and Bergenheim now...wondering if Vasicek is getting benched.

3:33 - Now it's Vasicek - Hilbert - Bergenheim...

3:34 - Shoutout to Jimmy14 from NYIC!

3:36 - Looked like a missed offsides call in the Isles end...and now Comrie draws the hooking penalty...our first PP of the game for either team.

3:37 - END OF PERIOD 2: The Isles took advantage of the scoring chances and delivered. Action definitely picked up as I thought it would. the Isles will have 1:44 of PP time heading into the third period, so hopefully good things will come with it.

3:43 - I'm getting reports from Jimmy14 through Dee that Ricky was favoring his right leg...we'll see how he feels in the third and if we will see Dubie or not.

3:53 - Ricky is back out to start the third...and he looks good to me.

3:55 - And we're ready to start...with 1:44 of PP time for the Isles

3:56 - Gervais is getting some PP time now...

3:57 - Well there went that PP...Silly tries to make it up with a sharp angle shot that doesn't make it on net

3:59 -Scoring change on the second goal. Scratch Meyer's assist, and add one to Vasicek

4:00 - A seemingly harmless throw-in by the Canes gets tipped in with Scott Walker in front...we'll see who gets credit...NYI LEADS 2-1

4:01 - Mike Commodore gets the goal

4:03 - Close call there for Ricky...quick enough to get to the post...

4:04 - Vasicek is back out there with Satan and Bergie...guess it was just temporary

4:07 - Oh Comrie...you almost won that faceoff...

4:09 - Oh Vasicek went for a fun ride on the ice...and still managed to get up and take the puck away

4:11 - No toe drag for you today Comrie!

4:12 - It's Bizzaro-World here as Hilbert is outplaying most of this team...

4:13 - Bergenheim with a nice shot on goal from the slot...and a good kick save by Ward

4:15 - The kids are watching the hits montage, "Ohhh!! Ohhh!!! Ohh!!!"

4:16 - Carolina is buzzing around the net...

4:19 - All these kids screaming is giving me quite the headache...

4:20 - There hasn't been much scoring chances in this period....it's gone by so fast I'm surprisd there's only 5 minutes left!!

4:21 - Carolina shot from the blueline goes right through Ricky...and Rod Brind'Amour was right there in front screening him...its a new game TIED 2-2

4:22 - Wallin gets the goal...Samsonov and Brind'Amour with the assists. And right after the Isles D looks like they thought the game is over and Carolina NEARLY gets another one.

4:24 - Comeau looks great out there...and right in front net the Isles have a chance to get it back...looked lieka cross-check but no dice. Silly tries a shot from the face off dot but Ward eats it up

4:25 - Now how the hell do you call that penalty on Radek when the Carolina player was falling to his knees to begin with..

4:27 - You can't spell Park without PK

4:28 - END OF PERIOD 3: Not enough muster by the Isles...they looked content to save the lead and not expand it. Either way, we got 5 more minutes and maybe a little more...soo....FREE HOCKEY!

4:29 - :37 seconds of PP time for CAR to start the OT

4:30 - Park savior again....but now Sutton for the cross check?! What's the deal?!

4:31 - That's the game....see ya...3-2 CAR OT