LIVE! LAK @ NYI - FINAL (3-1 LAK)

5:42 - I'm baaaccckkk! Yes, I'm back at the Nassau Coliseum after an uncharacteristic miss on Tuesday. I had good reason. I was attending a wake for a co-worker of mine whose father had passed away. We're a very tight bunch where I work and I knew that if I missed it it wouldn't have sat well with me. So I appreciate those who understand.

Big thanks go out to Dee Karl for playing the role of me on Tuesday night. She did quite the admirable job of filling the void for me and I applaud her efforts!

Tonight is a must win for the Isles against a very young LA Kings, who are making a very rare appearance, their first since Oct. 10, 2006!

Wade Dubielewicz will be starting tonight as Ricky DiPietro is feeling the effects of a flu-bug virus that is running rampant through the Isles lockerroom. Ruslan Fedotenko is scratched for the second straight game and Andy Sutton is a game-time decision.

Don't be surprised to see Aaron Johnson as a fourth line forward again...

5:46 - Looks like they'll be doing a big flag unfurling for the anthem tonight...rehearsals just went down on the ice

5:57 - It's very quiet here at the Coliseum right now...and I wouldn't be surprised to see it stay quiet. Thursday nite games, actually all weekday games don't do very well attendance-wise. Plus tonight is a Western Conference opponent...yeah, right...10,000 at most

6:08 - Dee Karl is here now. Yay!

6:20 - *Crickets chirping* It's very quiet here...

6:28 - I may take advantage of the lessened crowd and try and take pictures close up...ill see...

6:29 - And here come our teams...the Kings led by Jason LaBarera...immediately followed by the Isles led by Wade Dubielewicz

6:36 - I'm back from my picture taking spree....line combinations to follow shortly...


6:38 - Here they are...

Park - Comrie - Guerin
Comeau - Sillinger - Hunter
Bergenheim - Vasicek - Satan
Johnson - Hilbert - Jackman

Martinek - Witt
Berard - Meyer
Bergeron - Gervais

6:43 - Great to be joined by Ken Rosenblatt now...always good company!

6:45 - I have no idea who is filling in for CJ Papa...I'm pretty sure it is an Islanders staffer...but he's an interesting listen...

6:51 - Link to my pictures from pre-game warm-ups: LAK @ NYI - Jan 31 Warm-Ups


6:57 - So I wrote that the last time the Kings were here was October 10, 2006...I was wrong...apparently it's since 2003-2004.

Of course the game notes write it up top...but fails to maintain its consistency at the bottom...


Isn't consistency all we ask for???

7:05 - The Comeau - Sillinger - Hunter line is starting with Martinek and Witt on the back end

7:08 - Isles win the opening faceoff...this might be an interesting game...just with the different conferences and right off the bat the Isles get LaBarbera moving and create a good scoring chance

7:10 - The ref just got knocked down to a rousing applause...and Frolov holds...and holds...and holds...good stick save by Dubie

7:11 - Early shots...3-1 NYI

7:12 - Why does it seem like everyone trips over a line somewhere on the ice?? Now, it's JoVas

7:13 - Isles are firing a lot of shots at LaBarbera now...

7:14 - Deflected shot leads to a good Isles scoring chance...and Josef Vasicek goes off for a trip...LAK to the PP

7:16 - Shots are now 8-1 NYI with 14:40 left

7:17 - Witt got caught flat-footed...LAK in close on Dubie but he stops them..

7:19 - Isles escape the PK with no goals....LAK took it a bit to them at the end..

7:20 - Now the Isles are going short-handed again? I was looking right at the play and couldn't see anything...Bergeron off for cross-checking...on second chance by looking at the replay I can see...

7:23 - Josef Vasicek putting on some SH moves...and that'll kill off the rest of the penalty...

7:24 - Bergeron why are you still out there? You have two D-men already out there...

7:25 - Well...bad defense, a sprawling Dubie leads to a Kings 1-0 lead.. Matt Moulson with the goal, his 5th of the season

7:26 - Hey defense, it's better to shoot the puck when someone is NOT in front of you..

7:27 - And now Witt is going off for high sticking...what a great start...

7:30 - Trent Hunter...swing and a miss...

7:31 - Great glove save on a breakaway by Dubie...

7:32 - It may be me, but the Isles seem really flatfooted tonight....it could be the flu...

7:33 - GREAT READ by Berard to steal the breakout Kings pass and he puts it right through LaBarbera's legs! TIED 1-1

7:35 - That was a big goal by the Isles...they need to capitalize

7:37 - Berard and Meyer....4 and 44....4 goals on the season and the IV....too many fours....

7:39 - Jump ball with Park...and SHOOT THE PUCK Comrie...lord....Hillary probably isn't here...

7:40 - Despite the lack of shots LaBarbera looks shaky...close up on him yields chances but no goals...

7:42 - END OF PERIOD 1: Kind of a weird period...Isles seemed to dominate the first half of the period by firing a ton of shots at LaBarbera, and then they seemed to vanish, especially after the Moulson goal. The Berard goal provided a boost but still it seemed very funky and weird to watch. Hopefully the second and third period will have a little more flow.

8:00 - I'm back just in time for the second...

8:01 - These kids behind me are getting really annoying...

8:02 - Hey Josef, it helps when you pass the puck to Bergie's stick, not his skates....

8:03 - Lordy...it's like hot potato with the puck here...no one can get a handle on it...and the fourth line for the SECOND TIME TONIGHT. That's right...Jackman and Johnson saw :59 of ice time...

8:05 - "If you know the Rangers suck, leave a comment."...and now Martinek is getting a delay of game?? Oh boy...Ken is saying it hit the camera...if so, then that's crap

8:07 - Good to see Vicki (IQ) here tonight...and Dee was playing usher before...hilarious...

8:08 - This penalty seems like it's taking forever...

8:09 - Now it's done...no goals, which is a good sign...

8:10 - That Raitis Ivanans from the Kings is one big dude....he just got a two-year extension actually

8:11 - Congrats to NYI Radio Color Man Chris King on his 1000th game!

8:12 - Eww...there's one of those center ice faceoffs...

8:13 - Ohh a shot...how exciting..

8:15 - What a bland period....Jackman looks like he wants to fight...

8:18 - Andddd icing....that will add to the dullness of this period.

8:20 - I could say something exciting about this period...but there really hasn't been anything..

8:22 - A recent flurry of Isles chances just caught me off guard...they were pretty good...probably the most exciting action this period

8:23 - Aaron Johnson: Breakout Superstar - doesn't have a ring to it...and it certainly didn't work

8:26 - Oohhh... a scuffle behind the net...and is that Comeau getting testy?? Finally some life!

8:27 - Comeau and Moulson both get two for roughing...4-on-4 play..

8:29 - Dubie gives me heart attacks whenever I see him making a save attempt

8:30 - Vasicek holds...and holds...and holds....and gives it away...

8:32 - Two minute warning...and both men come out of the box...five aside now

8:33 - I'm so impressed with Comeau's choice of passing...he doesn't try to push it when he knows there's going to be no pass deep past the hashmarks on a rush...if he sees a D-man come by the blue line, he'll pass it off there...and it actually creates a decent chance.

8:35 - END OF PERIOD 2: Zzzzzz....that's pretty much all I have to say. I hope the third is a little more livlier

8:52 - Here's a shot right out of the bat...ok, that's a start...

8:54 - Apparently, tonight I'm Dee...separate entry to follow...and Vasicek with a one-timer on LaBarbera with the save...

8:56 - *Yawn* Seems like a carbon-copy of the second period right now...

8:58 - Close call with Dubie sprawling...thank god there was defense available...

9:00 - Some action again...which is good...Dubie coming up with the saves...

9:02 - Bench minor?? Good lord...

9:03 - And the Kings get one to dribble in...poor Dubie...poor us...since we have to watch this....LAK LEAD 2-1

9:05 - This crowd is getting restless...the boo-birds are coming out...

9:08 - Isles scoring chance one way...Dubie squeezes it between the arm on the other...

9:10 - "Welcome to the Jungle" playing here?? This isn't a jungle right now...more like the Sahara Desert...

9:11 - Oh a PP?!?! How sweet of the refs...

9:13 - I swear Marc-Andre Bergeron is like Fulton Reed from The Mighty Ducks...1 out of 5 hit the net...

9:15 - This whole period has felt like a TV timeout

9:16 - And now a piece of glass is being repaired...so we'll be a little bit

9:18 - And we're back...

9:19 - Crowd is trying to get the Isles into it...hell...I need them to get ME into it.

9:21 - Another shot? Neat...

9:23 - Anytime you wanna try to get Dubie to the bench would be nice...and there he goe with a minute left....

9:24 - And a prayer from the defensive zone goes in for LA...*Yawn* LA LEADS 3-1

9:25 - That's all folks...as the boo birds fly

No Blogging Tonite

Hey all...quick late update. There will be no blogging tonight...I'm going to a wake so that will take the majority of my night.

Sorry to dissapoint. I'll be back tomorrow and then Thursday Night when the Kings come to town.

Another Wild Night at the Bridge

"That was baffling and very confusing"

Those were the first words out of Mike Fornabaio's mouth when we met up to head down to the Bridgeport lockerroom. But yes, it was quite the head scratcher. After Drew Fata lost his cool with under two minutes left and trailing 3-2, I thought for sure it would be over...

9:20 - One minute warning...and Fata tries to go with Triston Grant and Grant pulls a Steve Webb and refuses....Fata gets four minutes...wow...consider that game over?

Yeah, ok, sure...I forgot that Jeff Tambellini was here, because not only 16 seconds later did Steve Regier deliver him a cross-ice pass that somehow made it through the smallest of openings between Brian Boucher's pad and the right post.

Why was I not surprised?

Then after a wild OT, which included not one, but TWO breakaway close-in saves by Mike Morrison, we go to a 5-on-5 shootout (not that 3-on-3 stuff we get in the NHL...they really should expand it). The Phantoms attempts were not exactly "highlight reel" chances...and all the Tigers needed were goals by Frans Nielsen and Trevor Smith. Kyle Okposo pulled off a BEAUT of a move, but Boucher got enough of it before KO pulled the trigger to convert the chance.

The locker room was buzzing...while we were waiting outside the locker room we could hear a loud roar come out through the doors. This was a pumped up team, a team that knew they could win. As Steve Regier said last night...

"It all starts with belief," Regier said. "Everybody was up on the bench when (Philadelphia) scored that goal, which is something you rarely see in hockey. We didn't care."

Whenever you need a good quote in Bridgeport...go to Reggie. He's a class act, always accommodating to the media and makes sure to shake everyone's hand when we're done. Couldn't ask for a better guy.

Pre-game was definitely a whirlwind experience for me. When I get into the arena, I always like to make sure I say hi to Kimber Auerbach (Director of Media Relations for the Sound Tigers) if he's around, Mike Fornabaio (who's always hard at work), and Phil Giubileo (Sound Tigers radio broadcaster). As I set myself up last night and give a "Hey Phil!", Phil tells me that he's "gonna make my night" and asked me to be a guest during the first intermission! Also, he added that we would be on the radio that night on ESPN 1300AM! Needless to say, I was quite the nervous wreck during the first period...but I thought it came out pretty well.


The majority of the interview was focused on the NYI Blog Box, and also covered the Sound Tigers, Kyle Okposo, and Blake Comeau. Overall, I thought it came out pretty well. I hope to get it up soon!

A big thank you again goes to Phil Giubileo for giving me the opportunity and for plugging my blog on the "big stage"...I hope we can do it again soon!

Until then, have a great night everyone!

LIVE! PHI @ BRI - FINAL (4-3 BRI - SO)

Here we go...big night tonight....

6:06 - For those that are in the area or possibly get this station, I'll be a guest during the Sound Tigers first intermission broadcast on ESPN 1300AM (CT) with Sound Tigers play-by-play man Phil Giubileo. If you get it, listen to me! We'll be talking about the NYI Blog Box!

6:07 - From what I hear, Tim Jackman and Blake Comeau are just simply "paper transcations" and will not be suiting up tonight. Saves the Isles a lot of money apparently.

6:10 - Stefan Ruzicka is on the roster tonight, but obviously will not be suiting up. He is serving the second game of a five-game suspension.

6:17 - According to Phil Giubileo it should be a good crowd tonight. I wouldn't be surprised if it's double Wednesday's number.

6:24 - I think I found my new favorite hockey last name...Philadelphia Phantom's David Laliberte

6:25 - There were a bunch of pick-up games going on before fans filed into the arena, so the crew is still working on the ice. I wonder if this will have any effect on the game.

6:26 - Here come the Sound Tigers, led by Mike Morrison. They're wearing their orange jerseys now. Brian Boucher is going to get another go at it for the Phantoms.

6:30 - Just as discussed, no Comeau or Jackman on the ice

6:34 - Line combinations are pretty much the same as the last tilt between these two teams...

Okposo - Nielsen - Tambellini
Regier - Walter - Smith
Keith - Colliton - Pitton
Brennan - Haley

Spiller - Kohn
Fraser - Sertich
Fata - Ford

6:37 - One day I'm gonna ask Joey MacDonald about that mask...

6:41 - Joey Mac is looking good on the "Gang Up On The Goalie" drill...oops....as soon as I open up my mouth he let's it in...and...BREAK!

6:43 - Tonight's scratches are Mark Wotton, Sean Bentivoglio, Blake Comeau, Tim Jackman, and Pascal Morency

6:48 - PA Announcer here at the Arena at Harbor Yard, Adam Goodman is not doing tonight's game. Poor guy suffered a bruised nose from Stefan Ruzicka's stick swinging incident, but apparently he just has the night off regardless of the injury.

6:54 - Just was handed the starting line-ups for tonight and the Okposo - Nielsen - Tambellini line is getting the start. Fata and Ford will man the blueline to start

6:55 - The Phantoms are starting out the rowdy bunch of Denis Gauthier, Frederik Cabana (who fought with Micheal Haley on Weds) and Triston Grant (who leads PHI in PIM)

6:57 - The announcement of Stefan Ruzicka's scratch drew a little cheer here

7:00 - It's great to see "I'm Rick DiPietro, and I was born in Bridgeport" knowing that he's starting the All-Star game tomorrow. And just think, the NHL fans around the league were so ignorant of his play (I think he finished pretty low on the fan balloting). Take that!

7:03 - Your officials tonight are Referee: Chris Cozzan; Linesmen: Luke Galvin & Derek Wahl

7:05 - Congratulations to Jeff Tambellini for being awarded the AHL Player of the Week for the week of 12/30....he was honored in a ceremony before the game...and we're off and running.

7:07 - Philadelphia starts it off with a quick icing 40 seconds into the game.

7:08 - Trevor Smith gives the Tigers their first shot of the game for either team.

7:09 - David Laliberte was just NAILED by Drew Fata with an elbow and he's not moving now. Philly's radio man is calling for a game misconduct. No penalty on the board yet...

7:10 - What a start for what could be an interesting night...Laliberte is up to a nice ovation...Fata only gets 2 minutes. That really could've been more, and Fata is lucky for that.

7:11 - And Philly gets right on the board off a rebound and poor defensive play...Jonathan Matsumoto gets the goal for Philly...PHI LEADS 1-0

7:12 - It's a pretty good crowd for Saturday...possible 5,000 draw...

7:13 - Ben Walter wraps it around in front...leaving the rebound to a waiting Kyle Okposo and he shoves it home for the goal!! That's his second of the year...1-1 TIED

7:16 - Kip Brennan is going to go for interference...it looked like he was trying to skate through and there just happened to be a Phantoms skater there...oh well...PHI to the PP

7:17 - Laliberte is back on the ice, so it's good to see that's he's OK

7:18 - 40 seconds left and Kip Brennan is itching to get out...and great clear on a rebound left right in front of Morrison...that's a quick stick.

7:19 - Brennan is out and he makes sure PHI knows that he's free...

7:20 - We got Micheal Haley (BRI) vs. Chad Anderson (PHI) and oh boy are they just flailing away at each other!! Crazy fight! Haley looks to have busted Anderson open and he'll go to the lockerroom to get attended to

7:23 - The PHI radio guy is still alluding to a possible payback to Drew Fata...hmm...

7:24 - Getting feisty here...the crowd is definitely into it.

7:25 - Ohhh Jason Pitton nearly got on in very short side....puck is bouncing a lot...pro bably due to all that pre-game ice work...

7:27 - Top line looks to be buzzing tonight...and good glove save by Morrison...

7:28 - Matt Keith got hooked while attempting to shoot...and the Sound Tigers will go to the PP. Josh Beaulieu (PHI) was trying to mix it up after the whistle and get to Fata...but he'll just go to the box...

7:30 - The five man forward combo is on...and KO just got Boucher in the mask

7:31 - Good PP as the Tigers kept it in the PHI zone for the whole two minutes...with lots of buzzing around the net...

7:33 - Jason Pitton is playing with the fourth line right now...that's quite the rough-and-tumble line...

7:35 - Dustin Kohn just got crunched against the boards and was slow getting up...

7:36 - Tigers putting a lot of pressure on...great action in the Phantoms zone

7:37 - Chad Anderson is back to the Phantoms bench after getting tended to...lot of shots in the first period with 1:30...BRI leads 13-10 in that department

7:39 - Ew...a faceoff a center ice...can't stand those when there isn't a goal

7:40 - END OF PERIOD 1: Lots of good action from both ends...Sound Tigers were generating a lot of pressure in the Phantoms zone. Let's see if they can keep it up. Now off to the radio...

7:51 - Just got done with Phil Giubileo and the Sound Tigers radio broadcast. My many thanks to Phil for giving me the opportunity to be on! I am very grateful.

7:57 - Here we go for the second period...it's always interesting to see how these two teams will come out and approach it...

7:59 - Triston Grant is jacking with the Sound Tigers bench during the stoppage...

8:01 - Mike Morrison has been good with the glove so far...caught a good half of PHI's 11 shots

8:02 - Kip Brennan looks to be itching to go with someone...he looked to be goaiting Jesse Boulerice

8:04 - Kerry Gwydir is here tonight from the Islanders.

8:05 - Denis Gauthier is heading to the penalty box right now...the Tigers get another PP...and the five-man forward unit is out.

8:06 - Lot of good chances by the Tigers on the PP, and Triston Grant just HAMMERED Andy Sertich

8:07 - Ohhh Gauthier right out of the penalty box on a breakaway! Morrison with the save!

8:08 - Iffy offsides call there...

8:09 - Okposo's buzzing tonight...he looks primed for more points...

8:10 - KO just took the puck away from the PHI defensemen right in front of the net...unfortunately couldn't get a good shot off.

8:11 - Kip Brennan is out there again...and he's trying to get Grant out of Morrison's crease...Spiller is out there as well. That's a recipe for disaster.

8:12 - Now it's Brennan vs. Grant!!! This was gonna happen after Grant tried to goat Haley...good fight with both players getting in some good shots. And Haley is right there by the box showing his appreciation. Brennan is going to get an extra two for initiating it with a check on Grant.

8:15 - The extra minor is for roughing on Brennan. Haley is going to serve Brennan's roughing minor

8:17 - Why does it seem like everytime the puck hits the netting the refs are slow to blow the whistle and have to be reminded by the players to blow the play dead?

8:18 - Tambellini is very quick out there...there was no stopping him on a recent end-to-end rush

8:20 - Fata's mixing it up out there with a nice hit on Andre Picard

8:21 - KO's causing problems behind the PHI net and causing turnovers...then draws a penalty on Guenin...BRI to the PP

8:23 - Nice to see KO shooting the puck more....5 man forward unit out there again...

8:24 - The Tigers are definitely shooting the puck more than last their last game. They're leading in the shots department, 27-15 with 4:45 left.

8:26 - Good scoring chance by PHI there as Greentree had a surefire goal on a 2-on-1 but couldn't get all of the puck on his stick

8:27 - Great patience and poise by Matt Keith there as he waited as he approached Boucher...and waited....and waited...and once he was down, deked around and put it in the open net! BRI LEADS 2-1

8:29 - And Denis Tolpeko draws a hooking penalty on Andy Sertich on a break-in...PHI to the PP

8:30 - And Jeremy Colliton draws a tripping penalty right afterward on Bartulis...4-on-4 hockey now...

8:31 - Oh boy a broken play by Scott Ford left a puck wide open in front for Philly and they tie the game...TIE GAME 2-2

8:33 - END OF PERIOD 2: Even period with a lot of action. Sound Tigers seemed to outplay the Phantoms for the majority of the period yet they come up even on the scoreboard. It's a one-period game now...

8:46 - It was great seeing Andy Hutchinson here at the game tonight. He helped me a lot last year getting accustomed to the Sound Tigers media and helped me fit right in.

8:51 - And we're ready to start the third period...

8:53 - PHI is working it in the BRI zone in the first 1:30 so far...

8:54 - Attendance tonight is an amazing 6,728

8:56 - Haley had a nice close up opportunity with a good save by Boucher

8:57 - Morrison is doing a lot of catching the puck tonight...

8:58 - Colliton moving his feet and draws a hooking penalty on Matsumoto...BRI to the PP

9:00 - Grant was taking a little liberty with Jamie Fraser on that penalty...and he'll continue playing helmetless, Fraser that is...

9:02 - Drew Fata and Jeff Tambellini is leading the team in shots tonight with 4 each. Music miscue right now as it accidentally went off during play.

9:04 - Nice backhanded attempt by Matt Keith, with a good glove save by Boucher.

9:07 - PHI is working the tigers in their zone...firing a lot of shots on net...but luckily for the Tigers nothing is really getting through.

9:08 - Bad break for the Tigers, as Morrison made a good skate save, but left the rebound out a little too much, and the Phantoms put it home, making it 3-2 PHI with 8:51 left

9:09 - Matsumoto gets the goal...

9:12 - We've got 6:28 left in the third period...the Tigers look to have trouble generating any form of offense right now...

9:14 - Phantoms have gone into shutdown mode it seems....everyone is playing back and giving the Tigers a tough time to generate any chances

9:15 - My three stars picks are Matsumoto (PHI), Greentree (PHI), and Okposo (BRI)

9:17 - Ford is down and having a lot of trouble getting up, yet the ref still lets play go on...and PHI is dominating play...

9:18 - Reggier with a nice center yet no one there...best chance of the period with 2 minutes left

9:20 - One minute warning...and Fata tries to go with Triston Grant and Grant pulls a Steve Webb and refuses....Fata gets four minutes...wow...consider that game over?

9:22 - Oh my! Cross ice pass from Steve Regier to Jeff Tambellini and he nails it home!!! Sound Tigers tie the game! TIE GAME 3-3

9:23 - It's a totally different game now...20 seconds left...

9:24 - END OF PERIOD 3: Judging by the period that the Sound Tigers played, they didn't deserve a point, but they managed to pull it out...the Tigers will be down a man for 52 seconds...but they got a big point out of this...so....FREE HOCKEY!!!

9:26 - Morrison strong in facing the opening OT shot

9:27 - And the Sound Tigers block makes it out of the zone...we're back to 4-on-4 now...

9:28 - Tambo tries for two...but is denied by Boucher.

9:29 - the choppy ice is not helping both teams here...puck is very bouncy..

9:30 - Nielsen breaks up the icing call and play will continue

9:31 - Very fast paced last three minutes of overtime...very exciting....and Philly just got two breakaway opportunities with under 10 seconds left on Morrison...and he's a wall stopping them both!

9:33 - SHOOTOUT TIME!

Shootout Results
Bridgeport
1. Frans Nielsen - GOAL
2. Trevor Smith - GOAL
3. Kyle Okposo - NO GOAL
4. XXXX
5. XXXX

Philadelphia
1. Denis Tolpeko - NO GOAL
2. Ryan Potulny - NO GOAL
3. Kyle Greentree - NO GOAL
4. Alexandre Picard - NO GOAL
5. XXXX

9:40 - Three Stars of the Game
1. Mike Morrison, BRI
2. Jeff Tambellini, BRI
3. Jonathan Matsumoto, PHI

Ricky Named All-Star Starter

Congrats to Rick DiPietro on being named the starting goaltender for the Eastern Conference All-Star Team!!!

We'll all be rooting for you Ricky!!

Comeau and Jackman Back To The Bridge...

...for now it seems like.

According to the AHL's Transactions page, the Isles have sent Blake Comeau and Tim Jackman down to Bridgeport just to get some extra work in for the All-Star break. Don't be surprised to see them returned to the Island after the All Star Game.

And luckily for me, I'll be able to see them again tonight, since I can't help but miss Round II of the Sound Tigers v. Phantoms.

See you tonight.

Ruzicka Gets Five

To follow up on my story from last night, the AHL issued a ruling on Philadelphia's Stefan Ruzicka's actions from Wednesday by handing him a five-game suspension.

AHL announces suspension
01/25/2008 2:14 PM

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League today announced that Philadelphia Phantoms forward Stefan Ruzicka has been suspended for five (5) regular-season games as a result of his actions during an AHL game at Bridgeport on Jan. 23.

Ruzicka was suspended under the provisions of AHL Rule 29.1 (supplementary discipline) for an incident at 18:03 of the second period.

Ruzicka will miss Philadelphia’s games tonight (Jan. 25) vs. Hershey, Saturday (Jan. 26) at Bridgeport, Feb. 1 vs. Worcester, Feb. 2 at Binghamton and Feb. 6 at Binghamton.

Heads Up!!

Here on the Island we got our share of a stick swinging incident last season in the form of Chris Simon tomahawking Ryan Hollwegg last season. That was enough I thought.

Last night in Bridgeport, Philadelphia Phantoms forward Stefan Ruzicka didn't put a player in danger, he nearly put an official in that same position. Here's what happened...



First of all, thanks to HFBoards member kbarbdamnit for providing the footage off the B2 Networks. Because of the spontaneity of the events, it was hard for the camera to catch what was going on suddenly, but this was quite the scary, and wild incident. I've seen incidents in the penalty box before, but never have I seen a player try to literally go across officials as viciously as Ruzicka did.

I don't think Ruzicka was aware, but sitting in the crowd was AHL Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations, Jim Mill. Not a smart move by pulling that incident....DOUBLE NOT SMART with the man that could hand down your suspension actually watching you do it in the crowd.

Kudos to PA Annoucer Adam Goodman for holding his own by the table. It looked hard, and according to Matt Spiller, Ruzicka may have gotten him in the nose. Thankfully for Goodman, he was able to laugh it off as he was delivered a helmet midway through the third in a jokingly manner.


The big question of the night was, "What did Spiller say?" It almost reminded me of that scene from Slapshot where Reggie Dunlop incites a fight with the Long Island goaltender by calling his wife a lesbian (to put it nicely). The media were like his teammates in the lockerroom, "Reg! What did you say to him?!?!" Instead of Reg, it was Spills.

So, Spills, what did you say to him?? From Mike Fornabaio's article...

"I asked him what he was thinking, cross-checking Colli in the back of the head," Spiller said. "He lost his marbles."

In my head I'm thinking, "Ok, what did you really say to him?"

Word was going around afterwards of what he really did say, and I gotta admit, it was pretty funny, but will be left unsaid.

And all before that happened in the lockerroom, Mr. Fornabaio was rummaging through the Philly lockerroom trying to get a statement from Ruzicka. Myself and Sound Tigers TV were standing outside the Bridgeport lockerroom waiting for Mike when Coach Jack Capuano comes out and goes, "You ready for me?"

(Actual dialogue)

Me: "Sure Coach, just waiting for Scoops (Fornabaio). We don't know where he is."

*Sound Tigers TV turns camera on and mouths "GO!" to me*

So I tossed three questions at Coach right off the top of my head. I almost panicked but thought to myself, "Come on, this is what you wanna do for a living! Plus, you'll look really bad if you do!"

I couldn't have been more right. Lord knows I didn't have any prepared due to what is normally protocol, but I thought I held my own pretty well.

Hopefully if it gets up on Sound Tigers TV soon I'll have it for you here...

Until then, Phantoms visit the Bridge again Saturday...that MIGHT be fun after last night.

Who knows?

LIVE! PHI @ BRI - FINAL (4-1 BRI)

Well like I had mentioned earlier, I made the knee-jerk reaction to take a drive to the Bridge tonight immediately after work. So let's start the LIVE! blogging now...

6:22 - It's a very quiet Arena at Harbor Yard right now...as it looks like some Phantoms are playfully shooting pucks in their sweats...well they WERE....they just left.

6:27 - Oh! To the fan that told me to stop saying, "FREE HOCKEY!!" because they always seem to lose, check out December 26 vs. the Maple Leafs. You may want to rethink that ;-)

6:30 - They just started the music in the arena, so I'm assuming they're letting people in now. Unfortunately I dont think it's gonna be much. Wednesday night games usually don't fare well in attendance.

6:33 - Silly me...I forgot my writing utensil's in my car. Luckily for me, and sometimes unluckily for you I jot everything down right here!

6:38 - How unsetlling is it that David Clarkson is being added to the YoungStars game?? Is the selection of rookies that low?

6:48 - It's great to see Jeff Tambellini leading the AHL in goals with 25...what would be better is to see him have a regular spot on the Islanders...

6:55 - I wouldn't be surprised to see a good 2000-2500 tonight

6:56 - And out are both teams with the plain-masked Joey MacDonald leading the Tigers, and Brian Boucher (remember him?!) leading the Phantoms

6:59 - The Tigers are wearing their "creamsicle" jerseys for warm-ups. This whole jersey thing of switching back and forth with what is supposed to be the "official" home orange jerseys are confusing the hell out of me.

7:03 - Line combinations for tonight...

Okposo - Nielsen - Tambellini
Walter - Regier - Smith
Colliton - Pitton - Kieth
Haley - Brennan

Spiller - Kohn
Fraser - Sertich
Fata - Ford

7:07 - For those wondering, Sean Bentivoglio is out with a muscle strain suffered in the Sound Tiger's last game against Portland. Most likely he will be out until after the All Star break

7:12 - I asked Mike Fornabaio about the Sound Tigers jersey choice and all he had to offer right now was that because the Phantoms have orange in their jersey? Seems like a weird reason, but kind of feasible. I'll try to get the official word...

7:17 - This arena is bare bones tonights...

7:22 - Forget that, the arena is lucky if it will break 2000 tonight. We will see...

7:23 - Tonight's scratches are Mark Wotton, Sean Bentivoglio, and Pascal Morency. The Okposo - Nielsen - Tambellini line is starting.

7:24 - For those that think the Isles take too many penalties at times, I give you the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. The Sound Tigers have amassed 1,117 PIM in total this year!! Yikes!!! And 449 of those come from JUST Matthew Spiller, Drew Fata, and Kip Brennan!

7:31 - Oh lookie, the Tigers are wearing their "official" orange home jerseys now. This is confusing! Sometimes I wish they could make up their minds...

7:35 - And here we go...off and running...

7:36 - This is a fashion nightmare on the ice...bright orange vs. black and purple...gheesh!

7:37 - Jeremy Colliton on a breakaway off a Regier dumpin and looked like a harmless backhander and he SCORES! BRI LEADS 1-0

7:39 - Referee David Banfield seemed to be a little too hasty on blowing the whistle on a close up scrum...

7:40 - I think Okposo could've shot that puck, instead he hands it off to Tambo...

7:41 - Andy Sertich overskated the puck and had Okposo wide open, unfortunately that didn't come to fruition

7:42- Ohhh Matt Keith had a beauty off a Philly mishandle...

7:43 - Tigers are shooting the puck alot...and judging by how Boucher is playing, this may have "Goal-Fest" written all over it.

7:44 - We're seven minutes in and the shots are 3 aside for both teams.

7:45 - Tigers pressuring the net again as Ben Walter pots one in from up close!! I had this feeling...BRI LEADS 2-0

TIME OUT PHI

7:46 - And already we got FREE CHILI!

7:47 - Tigers with a 3-on-1 and the puck bounced over a stick and oh boy, that could've been 3-0

7:48 - MacDonald has been strong SO FAR. Made a nice save on a tricky deflection and just snagged one with the glove.

7:51 - MacDonald just took one off the mask. Heh, maybe that'll give it some color...

7:52 - KO is out there now...he seems prime to break out out of his quiet little "slump"

7:53 - Fun little fact, PHI Pete Zingoni is actually was born and raised right here in Bridgeport, CT.

7:55 - Tigers are buzzing again deep in the Phantoms zone. And Walter could've easily shot the puck there but tried to look pretty and make a dumb pass

7:56 - Jamie Fraser was trying to look like Bob Bourne going end to end...except Bobby didn't drop it off to no one...

7:58 - Ohhh, pretty glove save by JoeyMac...

8:00 - Not really digging the opposing broadcaster's descriptions..."Taken by an orange shirted player..." That's why there's numbers, albeit too hard to see, so you can get a name!

8:01 - Bombs away by Denis Gauthier!! (PHI) but Joey Mac snagged it...

8:03 - Fata had a 3-on-2 and blew a tire...bad timing...

8:04 - Ohh Okposo centered it in for what looked like a surefire scoring chance, but no one there...

8:06 - END OF PERIOD 1: Good period by the Tigers, as they shot the puck a lot during the first half of the 1st period. The latter half seemed like the Tigers were just missing chances or just making poor decisions. Joey Mac has looked good and all-in-all they got a 2-0 lead to take to the dressing room.

8:22 - I didn't want to mention until the intermission, but that was a very RARE period with no penalties by both teams.

8:23 - As Mike Fornabaio said, "There's gotta be some violence in this game..."

8:24 - Tigers start the period deep in the Phantoms zone...

8:27 - Slow start to this period...not many shots getting to net, if any shot attempts period

8:28 - Now we got our first penalty, as there was a very close call when the puck bounced off MacDonald's blocker and landed on the goal line...net went off the moorings....no goal signaled, but there are off-setting penalties...and we'll play 4-on-4

8:29 - Any missed shot is going to reverberate very loudly here in the cavernous and empty Arena at Harbor Yard.

8:30 - Okposo seems to be passing up opportunities to shoot...not that that's a bad thing, but there have been quite a few times where he the chance to shoot, but looked like he didn't want to.

8:31 - Both men are out of the box...back to 5 aside

8:33 - 13:40 left in the second period and the Phantoms lead in shots, 14-11

8:34 - Looks like Fata and Triston Grant (PHI) are going to make an appointment soon...

8:35 - But Fata gets tripped up by Ryan Potulny (PHI) and the Sound Tigers have their first PP

8:38 - The five forward powerplay unit is out to finish up the PP

8:39 - Nice chance up front for Micheal Haley, but Boucher was pretty steady in making the follow-up

8:41 - Pitton's taken down and the Tigers will go to the PP

8:42 - Oskars Bartulis with the penalty...and Nielsen centers to Regier...and it looked like Gauthier put it in his own net! Oh boy...either way Tigers LEAD 3-0

8:43 - Nielsen and Tambellini get the assists on the goal

8:44 - Right off the faceoff we got Micheal Haley (BRI) vs. Ferederick Cabana (PHI) and oh boy it looked like Haley handed it to Cabana. Good fight!

8:46 - KO stopped right in front in what looked like his first good scoring chance of the night.

8:47 - What a surprise...Section 105 won again ;-)

8:48 - Colliton almost had a gift right in front

8:49 - Tambellini is way too talented...

8:50 - Tigers are going to have to kill a penalty..and it's Drew Fata for tripping

8:52 - Fransie had a clear lane to the net on the PK rush, yet still decided to pass it off...need to make better choices my friend...

8:54 - Fata is out of the box as Macdonald gets another one up high and holds on...

8:56 - Spiller's off for a hold...but the Phantoms are going to take one themselves, or maybe two...

8:57 - Stefan Ruzicka (PHI) is getting 4 minutes....one for interference and a cross check. Now him and Spiller are jacking in the boxes...and he just swung his stick across the officials table at Spiller!! Oh my....he's gone for sure...This will be more...

8:59 - Someone could've seriously gotten hurt there...and now Matt Spiller is leaving as well...

9:00 - Officials are still talking it over with the respective benches....looks like Haley is serving Spiller's penalties now. Ruzicka's penalties are off the board now...

9:01 - Now it's back on with 4:00...he gets a 10 minute misconduct only?! Wow.... Spiller gets a misconduct as well.

9:02 - Jesse Boulerice is serving Ruzicka's penalties...and MacDonald with two good saves....just incase you forgot there was a hockey game here...

9:03 - END OF PERIOD 2: Bridgeport added on another goal, but it looks like tempers are going to flare big time in the third period. This could get ugly...and now Brennan is talking with the ref...who knows what about...Enjoy the third soon!

9:14 - "Official" attendance for tonight is 2,053

9:20 - Philly is out to a loud chorus of "BOOS!!!"

9:21 - I think they put up some glass in between one of the boxes now, thank god

9:22 - Spiller is back in the box, but Ruzicka is not out, and Boulerice is still in the box. Remember, Sound Tigers are still on the PP

9:24 - PP is almost finished as we got a stoppage of play with 14 seconds left on the man advantage.

9:26 - Interesting how I can hear Boucher's directions to his defensemen very clearly

9:27 - Did Ford just try to "glove down" a puck with no glove on?!

9:28 - Joey Mac has been strong...and so has the Tigers defense tonight.

9:29 - Colliton almost had another breakaway if the puck didn't bounce over his stick...

9:30 - I'm overhearing the Philly radio play-by-play guy and he's saying the Ruzicka hurt his leg in a collision before, hence why he's not out

9:32 - Did I just see someone give one of the official's a helmet?!

9:35 - Freddy Cabana just fired one past MacDonald stick side...it was fun while it lasted...BRI LEADS 3-1

9:38 - Gotta say I was expecting more physicality especially after the end of the 2nd...not so much right now

9:40 - Very back and forth game right now with not much going on...

9:41 - Shots are 27-22 PHI with 8:24 left in the third

9:42 - Tigers are definitely slowing the game down, or as the Philly radio guy said "hot potatoing" it

9:44 - Zingoni just fired it over the glass...stoppage in play

9:45 - Triston Grant just flipped Jamie Fraser with a hip check...nice hit...

9:47 - 4:30 left and the Tigers have really slowed everything down here

9:49 - MacDonald just got run over...and cue the pushing and shoving...Grant for goalie interference

9:51 - Brennan on the PP...wow...and Fata just clipped Zingoni on his backswing...two for high sticking

9:52 - Nielsen just hit the post on an empty net!

9:53- But Sertich gets it back for Fransie, and scores from center ice. BRI LEADS 4-1

9:54 - That's gonna be all very soon...in 20 seconds...I'll see ya!

9:55 - FINAL SCORE 4-1 BRI

9:56 - Three Stars of the Game:
1. Steve Regier, BRI
2. Joey MacDonald, BRI
3. Jeremy Colliton, BRI

Headin' to the Bridge...

Just a little update... so I decided last minute to head over to Bridgeport tonight for their game against the Philadelphia Phantoms. I need my Bridgeport fix, and tonight I think is a good time.

Should be a small night tonight too....

So I'll see you in a few hours LIVE! from the Arena at Harbor Yard!

The IV Gets II; Camps Done

Two separate articles by the New York Islanders here...

BREAKING NEWS: MEYER EXTENDED

The Islanders have signed defenseman Freddy Meyer to a two-year contract extension through the 2009-2010 NHL season.

In recent weeks, Meyer has filled in more than capably on the blue line when Radek Martinek, Brendan Witt and Chris Campoli were sidelined with injuries and he has emerged as a regular on the Islanders defense, often playing more than 20 minutes a game. Earlier this season, Meyer was lost on waivers to Phoenix but was reacquired by the Islanders when the Coyotes tried to put him through re-entry waivers.

Freddy has earned this contract extension with his talent, work ethic and perseverance," said Islanders general manager Garth Snow. "He has been through a lot this season, but his attitude never wavered. He is a solid defenseman in all aspects of the game and we're pleased he has made a commitment to us for two more seasons beyond this year."

As much as I can say that this was a good move, I must say I was EXTREMELY SURPRISED with this move. Although Meyer has really stepped up his play this year, I think the contract extension was a bit hasty, but if "The King" (I'm going to keep this nickname up...I think it could carry!) can keep up this stellar play, then I'm all for it!

Also...

CAMPOLI'S SEASON IS OVER

Defenseman Chris Campoli will have shoulder surgery on Thursday and will be sidelined for the remainder of the 2007-08 NHL season.

The 23-year old defenseman will have his surgery performed at the Cleveland Clinic by Dr. Anthony Miniaci, the head team physician of the Cleveland Browns. Dr. Maniaci was a prime consultant for the National Hockey League Players Association for many years and continues to evaluate and operate on many NHL players at the Cleveland Clinic.

The 6-0, 200-pound Campoli played 46 games for the Islanders this season, his third with the team after being selected in the seventh round of the 2004 NHL Draft. He had 4 goals and 14 assists for 18 points this season. In 177 NHL games, the Ontario native is 14-52-66.

"It's a tough break for Chris. He's been such a good player and he's shown a lot of heart this season while battling the injury," said Islanders head coach Ted Nolan. "The good news is that he will be under the best medical care and he has so many good years ahead of him. With Chris out, an opportunity opens up for someone to take advantage of. Thankfully, we had depth at the start of the season with at least 9 quality NHL defensemen. You can never have enough of them."

Well this is why Garth stocked up on defensemen this year. This is bad news for the Isles, but luckily with the emergence of Freddy Meyer, the affect of Campy's absence will hopefully be lessened.

We wish him the best in his surgery and his subsequent rehabilitation.


On a side, RIP Heath Ledger. Such a sad, sudden loss in the entertainment industry. I was really looking forward to watching his take on The Joker in the new Batman movie, "The Dark Knight". I know I will have a very hard time watching it when it's released this summer.

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

LIVE! PHI @ NYI - FINAL (5-3 PHI)

Here we are...back for what seems like my first LIVE! blog from the Nassau Coliseum in ages!!!!

5:31 - I'm already joined by Ken Rosenblatt in the Blog Box while the Nassau County Girls Choir rehearse the National Anthem. Apparently the very elusive Jon Jordan will be joining us all the way from Florida tonight!

5:40 - I wonder why they have Wade Dubielewicz on the roster for tonight when its obvious he's in the Bridge on a conditioning stint? They have Mike Morrison on the roster so I really haven't a clue...

5:50 - I just added my e-mail address in the side-navigation bar. So have any questions? Shoot me an email!

5:54 - I can see this being a nasty game with the Flyers trying to take advantage of the less physical Isles. When you got guys like Riley Cote, Steve Downie, Scott Hartnell in the lineup and are past offenders, there's always reason to get worried.

6:02 - I think I just saw the epitome of a hardcore Flyers fan. If I can get these pics to come out better I'll try to post a reasonable one.

6:04 - Fans are starting to file in now...oh, and it's Town of Hempstead Night tonight.

6:07 - I'm all for the March of Dimes and charities (I contribute to worthwhile charities when I can), but playing emotional heartfelt video pieces before a hockey game isn't something I'd want to play before a game to get a crowd fired up. But do visit their site and support the cause here: March of Dimes

6:13 - According to Corey Witt, tonight's probably goalie match is Rick DiPietro vs. Martin Biron

6:15 - It's a crowded Box tonight! In the span of two minutes, we've got Jon Jordan, B.D. Gallof, and Ken Dick

6:22 - Should be a good crowd for a Saturday...(Billy Joel fans anyone?) I mean, there's been so much traffic out on the roads today it SHOULD be packed.

6:28 - The Flyers are out led by Martin Biron. And here are the Isles led by Rick DiPietro. It's loud for not many people...I'm starting to like this.

6:30 - Great intro song..."The Pretender" by the Foo Fighters

6:31 - Mike Morrison is wearing #33 tonight

6:39 - Ugh! Had to restart my computer just now! Well the forward combinations are pretty much the same for the past couple of games. Here's your mish-mash-mix-'em-up defensive combinations...

Meyer - Gervas
Berard - Sutton
Bergeron - Johnson

6:42 - Ken Dick was reading some press clippings and just came upon that Jay Pandolfo is not playing because of a pubic bone ligament??? Where the heck is that? And remind me not to hurt it...

6:48 - Should be a fun night tonight...the Coliseum is filling up quickly

6:55 - Steve Downie is starting for the Flyers tonight. Interesting...

7:00 - I'm gonna say about 14,000 here tonight...that's a safe prediction...

7:02 - Town of Hempstead Supervisor Kate Murray is due to drop the ceremonial first puck tonight.

7:03 - This crowd does not like the Philadelphia Flyers at all...haven't heard a "Boo! Hiss!" reaction to a team like that since the last time the Rangers were in town.

7:04 - The Isles are making an unusual late entrance tonight. Coming out with 10 seconds left in the countdown.

7:06 - Ricky gets an "All-Star" graphic next to his name for the starting line-up announcements. Fourth line of Jackman - Hilbert - Comeau is starting tonight.

7:09 - Interesting how Ricky stayed in the corner for the line-ups and National Anthem.

7:10 - Scratch my original attendance prediction...looks like a near sell-out tonight.

7:11 - And we're on our way...

7:12 - Good to hear the crowd getting loud early on. This crowd is always a key factor in the enjoyment of a game.

7:13 - Nice pick from Aaron Johnson at the blueline and leading Hunter with a pass. He got a good shot on Biron, to which Marty made a better glove save.

7:14 - Isles seem to want to get shots off whenever they have room. That's a good sign

7:15 - Aaron Johnson with another specatcular play on a Flyers 3-on-1...he's already proving like he's fully healed

7:16 - Thought the Flyers were going to the box...but it's just the opposite. Park for hooking...Ricky was having words with Gagne before...PHI to the PP

7:17 - Oh yeah, the Flyers have the #1 PP in the league

7:18 - Johnson is already getting PK time. Doesn't take much to get into Ted's good graces....but a sloppy play in front of the net leads to a Flyers goal. Too much playing the puck and not much of the body. PHI leads 1-0

7:19 - And the Isles get it RIGHT BACK! Park on a breakaway with a great pass from Berard! DiPietro with the other assist. TIE GAME 1-1

7:23 - NHL.com says that's Ricky's first assist of the year. I'd like to think that's wrong.

7:24 - Isles are putting good pressure in the Flyers zone...great stickhandling and passing. This is getting a good reaction from the crowd and forces the Flyers to take a penalty. Hatcher for tripping. NYI to the PP

7:25 - Park just had to get off the bench to skate some circles for a little bit. I dunno if I should be worried about that.

7:26 - Why pass it at your own blue line when an opposing player is right there?

7:27 - Passing the puck to an actual player helps, right Trent?

7:28 - PP over...and oh boy the Isles had a great chance off a fluky bounce off the boards...but then what a great rush by Miro Satan with an even better feed to Vasicek and the Isles take the lead!! 2-1 NYI

7:29 - TIMEOUT PHI

7:30 - The Isles look like they don't care where they are, they'll just fire the puck at will.

7:33 - Quite the stark improvement by the Isles from their last home game. There's 8:24 left in this period and already 11 shots...make that 12...

7:35 - STUPID move by Guerin...he was asking for that puck to be taken away. Plays like that could really turn the momentum around...

7:37 - Stand up play by Gervais to break up that cross ice pass.

7:39 - The New york Islanders got it right, and put it up on the scoreboard that Rick DiPietro has already set the team record for assists by a goalie in a season with 4

7:42 - Poor Ricky fell over himself while trying to get into the boards...forcing him to literally crawl in. We all gave him a good ovation to which he looked to appreciate. NYI to the PP

7:44 - What a rebound shot by Billy Guerin...as Ken Dick said, "Same as the Devil game" He's right...top corner...NYI leads 3-1

7:46 - And DP just gets leveled with a trip by Upshall...and he doesn't like that so he gets another for unsportsmanlike! NYI to a 4 minute PP

7:48 - END OF PERIOD 1: What a period by the Isles. They did almost everything right, which includes SHOOTING THE PUCK!! The old mantra is "Shoot the puck, and good things will happen" and it sure paid off so far. Keep up the good work...

7:54 - SOUND TIGERS UPDATE: 2-1 Albany after one period of play. Wade Dubielewicz has given up 2 goals on 13 shots. Tambellini continues his torrid scoring with another assist.

7:59 - NHL.com still has DiPietro's assist total at 1...fix it!!

8:00 - Remember that Flyers fan I mentioned during the pre-game? Managed to lighten it up a bit...

8:06 - Start of the second period...and the Isles got 2:10 of PP left...

8:07 - Not much it seems like is going on on this PP...

8:09 - Upshall is out of the box...and that was a good kill for the Flyers...everything seemed to be coming to them

8:10 - Wow, what a move by Park!!

8:12 - Hunter in a fight?!?!?! Ohhh he's got Hatcher on him ... I applaud his efforts, but not the guy to start with...

8:13 - That's gotta be Hunter's first professional fight

8:14 - And I as I was looking it up, the Flyers got on the board. Judging by the replay it looked to be again too much playing the puck and not much playing the body. Oh well...NYI LEADS 3-2

8:15 - My favorite Flyer Steve Downie gets credited for the goal.

8:16 - SOUND TIGERS UPDATE: Drew Fata ties that game with his 3rd of the season. Ben Walter and Frans Nielsen with the assists. TIED 2-2

8:19 - Gotta say the Isles have lost a lot of momentum ever since the failed 4 minute powerplay. Only 2 shots on goal through 8 minutes of the second period

8:20 - King Frederick IV goes off for tripping, or as Ken Rosenblatt says "Looked like he travelled there." PHI to the PP

8:22 - It looked like to me that Brion just skated right through that little corner where you can't handle the puck by the trapezoid. It could've been my eyes though.

8:23 - The King is out and had a nice offensive rush before getting taken out of the play. Play foes to the other end and it looked like Ricky still felt slighted about not scoring that goal the other night and tried to take the puck end to end.

8:27 - Upon further inspection, Mike Comrie looks to be wearing the "A" tonight. And a great defensive play by the King!!

8:28 - Bruno's going for a hook...PHI to the PP

8:29 - I have my head turned for one second and the Flyers score...looked to be a bad clearing attempt...TIE GAME 3-3

8:31 - Oy, the Isles aren't looking good...too many chances are being given up. And is it me, or did Daniel Briere show up tonight? I almost forgot he's playing...

8:34 - Ohhh a decent scoring chance!

8:35 - Guerin just went off to the locker room...I hope that's equipment related...

8:36 - I'm very uneasy with the Isles playing end-to-end hockey with the Flyers

8:37 - Fourth line showed some great energy...and then get called for a WEAK interference penalty. Jackman is going off...PHI to ANOTHER PP

8:40 - Penalty over and thank god no goals...and another penalty to finish off the period...Sutton for holding...wonderful...PHI to the PP

8:41 - END OF PERIOD 2: Sloppy, sloppy period by the Islanders. The seemed to have no discipline, no defense, and no drive. Philly wanted the period more and we have a new hockey game because of it.

8:46 - SOUND TIGERS UPDATE: Brandon Nolan scored his 17th of the season and have put the River Rats back up on top for a 3-2 lead.

8:56 - Stat of the night...Bruno Gervais leads all Isles so far in time on ice with 16:39

8:58 - flyers start with 1:57 of PP time...

8:59 - Another BAD bounce screws Ricky up...4-3 PHI

9:01- Looking at the scoresheet...that's Hartnell's third of the game

9:02 - Silly was right in front of the net witha glorious opportunity...just that the Flyer's defense showed up tonight...I wonder where the Isles D is

9:04 - Isles are going to the PP now for once...Smith for hooking. NYI to the PP

9:06 - Berard looks like his knee is wobbly..

9:09 - The way the Isles are playing is just zapping the life out of me quite honestly...this headache isn't helping either

9:12 - 8 shots since the first intermission for the Isles...

9:16 - 9:53 left in the thid period. Isles have now gotten 10 shots since the first intermission

9:18 - Looks to be a little altercation right above us involving some Flyer fans (surprise, surprise)

9:20 - I think the Isles spent more time in the Flyers zone on that rush than in the whole second period combined...

9:21 - Richards just blasted one by Ricky...nothing he could do about it...Pretty poor defensive effort again...5-3 PHI

9:23 - Good thing Ricky didn't go out there for the clear in attempt....he already got burned on two already...

9:27 - Johnson off for hooking...and I may be off right now. There's not much of a headache, but enough where it's zapping the life out of me...Thanks for reading all :)

The Emergence of "King" Frederick IV

Is it me? Or does the Isles defensive corps look like a M*A*S*H unit now? What was once LOOKED like a strong defensive unit (ok, so Marc-Andre Bergeron isn't the best defensive player in the world, but he sure can shoot the puck as we've seen lately!) with Brendan Witt and Radek Martinek as the top unit is now relegated to having "King" Frederick Meyer IV as their "#1" defenseman!

Guess what?

That's not exactly a bad thing right now.

Freddy Meyer has had quite the wild ride this season. He began this season as a member of the New York Islanders, unsure of his status on the team with the emergence of Aaron Johnson and the invitation of Bryan Berard to training camp. With the signing of Berard, Meyer was voted off the Island and picked up by Phoenix, to which he was put on waivers after 4 games, cleared waivers and sent to the San Antonio Rampage of the AHL. Meyer was then put on re-entry waivers by the 'Yotes, and with a fateful injury to Aaron Johnson, was immediately plucked back up by our Isles.

You'd think he'd get some playing time, right?

Nope.

King Freddy, the team player he was, proceeded to sit out the next 20 or so games, and for some, you might have well forgotten he was on this team!

And then with one fateful hit in Ottawa on Jason Spezza, he was immediately thrust in the forefront of the Isles defense.

With the absense of Brendan Witt, Freddy Meyer has stepped up in a huge way to fill the defensive void. Who would've thought that a quite suitable substitution for Martinek - Witt would be Gervais - Meyer??? I sure didn't...

Tonight, the man who Freddy Meyer was brought into replace when went down with an injury, Aaron Johnson returns to the lineup. And with the possible loss of Chris Campoli tonight, the Isles defensive line-up is in bare-bones form of: (probable)

Gervais - Meyer
Sutton - Berard
Bergeron - Johnson

How's that for a back line!

I'll see you in a few hours for the Isles and Flyers!

Johnson Recalled, Dubie To Bridge

Geez, it's been 5 days? Having a life sucks sometimes!! Well, here's some news per the Islanders Official Site. I'll see you all tomorrow for the Isles and Flyers...

After suffering a knee injury nearly two months ago, Aaron Johnson will return to the Islanders roster on Saturday, after playing tonight with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, the Islanders' AHL affiliate.

The 24-year old defenseman played in five games with the Islanders before going down with his injury, and has competed in one game with Bridgeport since returning from injury. Johnson has 121 games of NHL experience, having played in parts of four NHL seasons.

"We're happy to have Aaron fully mended," said head coach Ted Nolan. "With all of our injuries to our defense corps, it's going to be nice to have another reliable player to count on."

Goaltender Wade Dubielewicz has been sent to Bridgeport on a conditioning stint. In eight games with the Islanders this season, Dubielewicz is 4-3-0 with a 3.43 goals against average and .890 save percentage. Dubielewicz went 3-1-0 during a four-game stretch in December when starter Rick DiPietro was out with an injury.

Filling in for Dubielewicz will be Sound Tigers netminder Mike Morrison. With Bridgeport this season, Morrison is 13-9-0 with a 2.70 goals against average, .908 save percentage and three shutouts.

Sound Tigers Armed Forces Jerseys

More located here: Bridgeport Weekend

LIVE! BNG @ BRI - FINAL (3-1 BNG)

Here we go again for Okposo-Mania Part II!!!

3:12 - Not much a crowd here so far. Funny, I would've expected it bigger due to the afternoon game...

3:14 - Are going to be wearing special camouflage jerseys today for the armed forces. I will my best to grab a photo or two for visual aid...

3:18 - We got a few BRI call-ups, not sure if its PTO-related or just from Utah, but D Chris Busby and RW Luke Fulghum are listed in the roster today...

3:21 - Just found out from Mike Fornabaio that Fulghum is on a PTO...Busby is a signing from Elmira of the ECHL

3:25 - Ken Dick will be joining us again here in the press box...it's great that he was able to make the trip.

3:32 - Joey MacDonald and his unpainted mask will be in the net for the Sound Tigers today.

3:37 - Here are tonight's sound Tigers line combinations courtesy of the pre-game warmups. Andy Sertich, who played forward last night, is moving back to the blue line due to a Mark Wotton injury.

Okposo - Nielsen - Bentivoglio
Fulghum - Walter - Smith
Pitton - Colliton - Keith
Haley - Brennan

Fata - Ford
Spiller - Kohn
Fraser - Sertich

3:42 - I'm gonna make a bold predicts and say that today's crowd will be around the same 4500 tonight

3:49 - Here's a sneak preview of tonight's very sleek jerseys...


3:58 - Thanks to cohenzee for the update that Jeff Tambellini is heading back down to the Bridge after Ted Nolan announced that Miro Satan will be playing tonight in Ottawa...he sure made the most of that callup!

4:01 - The Okposo - Nielsen - Benti line is starting tonight with Spiller and Kohn on D

4:13 - Nice long tribute to the armed forces, hence the long delay

4:14 - We've got the Walter line out now...not much action going on so far...end to end with only one shot by the Sound Tigers to show for it.

4:15 - Nice defensive play by Colliton to clear the zone

4:16 - Big bad Kip Brennan is out there now...does he have another fight in him after yesterday's TKO?

4:17 - We're five minutes in and Bingo has the slight shot advantage 2-1

4:19 - MacDonald thought he was Ricky DiPietro there coming way out from his net...and now we got some shoving, but that's just it.

4:21 - Drew Fata just NAILED Greg Mauldin (BNG), but he's gonna go to the box for an interference call. Bingo to the PP

4:23 - Colliton JUST MISSED on a shorthanded chance

4:24 - Frans Nielsen just had a shorthanded chance...the Tigers are being very aggressive today...

4:25 - Drew Fata is out of the box...3 shots for Bingo on the PP

4:26 - Did Matt Spiller just shoot it through his bench's door? Ha...

NICE standup play by Dustin Kohn...getting his gloves in the Bingo forwards face...

4:27 - Sound Tigers to the PP...Ilya Zubov is going off for hooking...

4:29 - Frans Nielsen is playing the point on the PP today...

4:30 - Colliton set up Sertich in front...shot missed the net...and now Zubov is out...no shots on the PP

4:31 - KO just got knocked down...welcome to professional hockey

4:32 - This has been a very offensive-less period...lots of shots, not much hitting the net...and now the Sound Tigers are going to the PP...Brian Lee (BNG) for interference

4:35 - Bentivoglio pulled a Bobby Bourne going entd to end and almost created a scoring chance passing off to KO.

4:36 - Lee is out of the box...only one shot on the PP with the Tigers adding another one just after he left the box

4:39 - This has been quite the yawner of a period...

4:40 - I'm excited to see a shot on goal....one minute warning

4:42 - END OF PERIOD 1: Honestly, that was quite the yawner of a period...not much offense generated as the shot totals are 7-4 BNG. Let's just hope the second period is a bit different...

4:58 - And we're back...ready to start the second period...

5:00 - KO tried to lead a pinching Spiller for a close-up shot, but we're dealing with a D-man here so that didn't work...

5:01 - Good to see MacDonald's glove hand is working right now...

5:02 - There's something about these seats in the Bridgeport press box that make my back hurt...

5:03 - Ohhh a close up flurry! Exciting...but we've got a Sound Tigers penalty...Brennan called for hooking...

5:04 - And five seconds later a shot from the blueline goes in...JoeMac wants that backk....1-0 BINGO....give the goal to Laurence Nycolat

5:06 - It's probably because of the third game in three days, but the Tigers have ZERO jump today...

5:09 - Jeremy Yablonski (BNG) is going to the box...looks like a hooking call. Sound tigers to the PP

5:12 - Yablonski's out of the box...and the Tigers have two shots to show for it.

5:13 - This crowd needs a goal to get into the game here...

5:15 - Smith robbed on a good glove save...

5:18 - Happy Birthday Jeremy Colliton!

5:20 - Delayed penalty on the Sound Tigers here...

5:21 - And it's Matt Spiller going off for the hook...BINGO to the PP

5:22 - Good work on the PK by Colliton stopping the back-door play

5:23 - Spiller's out of the box, and Bingo had one shot...and it was a good one that JoeMac had to kick out late...

5:24 - Corwd is getting restless with a chant "Shoot the puck Tigers, Shoot the puck!"

5:25 - Now the Tigers are starting to generate some chances...it's something at least...

5:26 - Delayed penalty on the Senators and KO just missed on a HARD wrist shot...Scott May (BNG) is going off for hooking

5:28 - END OF PERIOD 2: Sound Tigers got some scoring chances at the end, and will hav a 13 second PP to start the third period off, but other than that, not much excitement is being generated. Chalk it up to exhaustion maybe. Let's see how Period 3 fares...

5:44 - The Sound Tigers are back onto the ice and we're ready to start the third period shortly...

5:46 - Wow, KO just got knocked down and on his knees STILL managed to keep the puck in the zone...

5:47 - Drew Fata with a HUGE hit...and immediately he gets to Sens on him...so we got Fata vs. Matt Carkner (BNG)...Carkner looked to get the best of Fata near the end...let's see how things fare. Carkner is getting the instigator, so we got a Sound Tigers PP

5:49 - Tigers pour the pressure on early crowding the net...nothing gets through though...

5:51 - Great glove save by Bingo goalie Brian Elliot on a Jamie Fraser (BRI) slapshot

5:52 - Zubov (who was serving the extra minor) is out of the box. Three shots on the PP

5:54 - Bingo practically had a goal laying right there in the crease with JoeMac down, but Scott Ford was to the rescue, clearing it out of harms way.

5:55 - And Bridgeport gets on the board!! Matt Keith took a backhanded wraparound that looked to be deflected in front goes five-hole through Elliot's legs. TIE GAME 1-1

5:57 - The crowd is looking for some free chili "We want chili!!" (For those of you who don't know...if the Sound Tigers score two goals, everyone gets free chili at Wendy's over here with their ticket stub)

5:59 - JoeMac needs to be strong down the stretch

6:01 - KO was getting creative there...handling a puck between his legs...

6:02 - Seems like KO is gonna get one soon...he's JUST missing every time

6:04 - Tigers are showing more life now than before...thank god!

6:06 - KO has got great reflexes...he caught a puck on his stick after it changed directions...he had the chance to fire it...waited and got it again only to be napped by Elliot's glove.

6:07 - And the VERY next play the B-Sens Derek Smith get one past JoeMac right over HIS glove hand. Very weak goal in my opinion...BNG LEADS 2-1

6:10 - The air got sucked right out of this arena

6:11 - And that Sound Tigers penalty ain't gonna help either! Trevor Smith is off for hooking

6:13 - Smith is out...penalty killed...2 shots on the PP

6:14 - JoeMac is NOT happy with a waved icing call...and now Matt Spiller (BRI) and Niko Dimitrakos (BNG) are both gonna go for coincidental minors. Spiller for slahsing, Dimitrakos for a charge...4-on-4 hockey

6:16 - 1:30 left in the game...let's track JoeMac

6:17 - 57.9 seconds left: TIMEOUT BRIDGEPORT

6:18 - JoeMac is obviously pulled and we got Colliton, Walter, Nielsen, Okposo, and Keith out

6:19 - And that didn't last long...puck got by Nielsen and was netted easily by Shawn Weller. BNG LEADS 3-1

6:20 - JoeMac's out again...but this won't help much...it's a foregone conclusion...that's all folks!! FINAL BNG 3-1

6:21 - Three Stars of the Game:
1. Derek Smith, BNG
2. Brian Elliot, BNG
3. Matt Keith, BRI