Healthy Scratch

As my time in Buenos Aires draws to an end the Islanders embark on a long west coast road trip that represents just the beginning. All of the good vibes and promise generated with a 6-3 start to the season will either be validated or exposed in the next two weeks. It will signal to the league and their fans that they are really playoff contenders or provide another bitter taste of reality that they are just regular season pretenders. Just because the names change on the back of the sweater does not mean that the record for the team on the front gets any better.

The previous four Novembers have been a disaster for this team and each of those previous fall months have put the Isles in a hole that they could not dig out of. The only exception was the year before last when the Islanders made the playoffs, but being that it happened to be a strike shortened season there really wasn't a November to worry about. Technically today the calendar still said it was October, but what is a couple of days amongst friends. What laid ahead was still a concern and still a very formidable challenge.

My international data on my iPhone ran out today. That meant as the audit team went out for a final dinner here in Argentina that I would not have the ability to get constant updates of what was happening in Colorado. The boys were on their own and their would be no way for me to be there to provide real time support. Whenever I cannot watch, listen or follow a game there is a feeling that I have let the team down. Its almost as if I am sitting on the bench with the rest of the Islanders and contributing in some way. For this evening I was a healthy scratch.

The best I could do was a couple of iPhone refreshes after the game started to see what was going on. After the the appetizer and salad I glanced at my iPhone and noticed it was 11pm. I decided to check on the game. I knew I would be paying for extra data but I could not go the entire evening without knowing what was going on. It turned out that Colorado was on top 1-0 at the end of the first period. The Islanders did not score the first goal in the game which was not surprising or concerning because they had done so in almost every game up to now.

Now that the cat was out of the bag I checked a couple more times in the second period. In what seemed like a matter of minutes it was 2-0 and then 4-0 Colorado as the period ended. All the air was out of the balloon. The Islanders lost to the Avalanche 5-0. It was almost like they did not show up to play. All I knew pre-game was that Capuano started Chad Johnson in net. That was surprising because Halak is the clear #1 here and Johnson had been adequate at best in his three wins. Without seeing the action I once again could not tell you if the issue was defense or goal, but what I do know is that when you get shut out it does not bode well for the offense.

I think the best thing to do here is to forget that this game ever happened. No need for analysis and no need to try to break it down and place blame. I will be flying home this evening and in front of my television tomorrow. This road trip must be a success and I need to be there for morale virtual support. There will be no need to worry about distractions and there will be no barriers to overcome. We need to stop losing streaks before they start. There are no upper body or lower body injuries. There cannot be any more healthy scratches. I need to be damn sure I am in the line-up.

The Dreaded Club Sandwich

I did not have a very productive day today in Buenos Aires. Retired to the hotel to get room service, get some work done and listen to the Islanders play Winnipeg at the Nassau Coliseum. It's funny, but others probably think I live the lap of luxury staying in nice hotels and eating out in fancy restaurants, but let me tell you it gets old very fast. It does not matter how good the food is you get tired of it pretty quick because the menu does not change...ever.

It's almost three weeks here in Argentina and it would be great if I could fast for the rest of the trip. But a man has to eat something. I would kill for a couple of buttered bagels in the morning and some of Kellie's home cooking. However, I am afraid that is just a pipe dream at least for a couple more days until Saturday. Tonight I passed on the pizza, the hamburger and the Caesar salad with grilled chicken and settled on the Park Tower Club Sandwich sans ham. They put ham and dulce de leche on everything here in Argentina. I am surprised that they do not have a puff pastry dessert with ham and dulce de leche. Even though my stomach was turning sideways at the thought of room service, it was also grumbling because it needed something. The club sandwich was ordered and on the way..

Tonight was the Islanders last home game before heading out on a five game two week west coast trip. It was imperative for the Isles to get a win before leaving town, but it was not to be. Normally hearing "Jets Win!" is music to my ears. However, this year the New York Jets are an embarrassment with only one win in eight games (I could write a novel on the state of the green and white nowadays but I will spare all others from such torture). Unfortunately hearing "Jets Win!" on a Tuesday night referred to the Winnipeg Jets (who used to be the Atlanta Thrashers).

The Islanders started out once again with the first goal, which they have done with what seems like almost every game this year. Brock Nelson got his team leading sixth goal just a couple of minutes into the game. On my iPad it sure sounded like the Islanders were flying around the rink in the old barn as they maintained a one goal lead at the end of the first period. It was about this time that there was a buzz at the door. Every time someone comes it always a buzz instead of a knock. Every time I jump to my feet like I was shocked for getting a wrong answer is some science experiment. When I opened the door it was room service. My club sandwich finally arrived along with a desert and a ice cold bottle of Coca Cola.

Before the second period I lost the Internet connection on my iPad and it took a good ten minutes to get back to the action. That seemed to be the ball game right there. I should have turned it off at that point. During the outage, Nicolay Kulemin took a five minute major penalty and the Jets scored two goals to take a 2-1 lead. They would eventually stretch it out to 3-1 and things were not looking very good. However, before I finished my apple crumble (which by the way did not contain anything resembling ham or dulce de leche) the Islanders struck back with a goal by John Tavares and then tied the game on a beautiful rush by Mikhail Grabovski before the end of the period. It seemed the momentum was shifting as the teams headed to intermission. Dinner was over and it seemed like the Isles would take control in the third like they did last game against the Dallas Stars.

It was not the case.

Early in the third period the Jets took a 4-3 lead and that ended up being the final score. With tonight's game the Islanders officially the move to the top of the heap as the highest scoring team in the league. Offense is surely not the problem. The Islanders are giving up a lot of goals and their penalty kill is still one of the worst in the league. I really do not understand it because there have been a lot of good changes to the back end this year. Without being able to watch the games it is hard to say if it is due to defensive breakdowns or goal tending or a combination of both. What ever the problem is it needs to be fixed.

It was disappointing to say the least. I would be more upset, but work has me totally consumed right now and I am very tired from a long day. Time to hit the hay.

For the Islanders it is now off to Colorado and the dreaded month of November. The Islanders have pretty much ruined each of the last four seasons with a poor performance in November. I would like to think that this is a different team and that they can be successful on the road this year. If they can at least stay above .500 for the month it would be a major accomplishment. They seem to play better on the road. I am expecting good results. It will come down to the defense and goal tending. I have my fingers crossed.

It was nice to hear "Jets Win!" again tonight. It has been two months since I have heard it. I forgot what that sounded like. It was just on the wrong day of the week and it was the wrong sport. I only hope that I will hear it again before the end of the year and next time hopefully on a Sunday afternoon. One thing for sure, next time when I hear or read those words I certainly will not be sitting down to have a club sandwich from room service.

Great Dane

Had a free Saturday night in Buenos Aires so there was no better way to spend it than to listen to the Islanders - Stars game from the Old Barn on Hempstead Turnpike in Uniondale. I am sure going to miss the Nassau Coliseum after this last season is over. I worked earlier today and then went out with the team to Recoleta to eat lunch and do a little shopping at the flea market. I was not hungry when we returned to the hotel so I said good night to everyone and retired to the room. Hockey was on the agenda.

Before the game I watched the ESPN special on Travis Hamonic *In The Name Of the Father*. It chronicles his childhood in St. Malo, Manitoba growing up on his family farm and the tragic experience of losing his father at ten years old of a heart attack. He was only 44 years. It hit Travis hard. The family eventually moved to Winnipeg and Travis focused on hockey. He was drafted by the Islanders at 17 years old and then quickly moved up to the NHL level. He said in the piece that "he would give up every game that he has played and every game that he will play to have his Dad see him play one shift and then be able to talk about it afterwards". He was close to his Dad and before every game he takes the time to look up to the rafters on the left side of the arena, because that is where his Dad would always sit to watch him play, and says a little prayer for his father.

What makes the story so special is that Hamonic knew how difficult it was to deal with losing his father at such a young age and he knew that there were other kids out there "in the very same club"...one club that they really do not want to be in. Every home game, win or lose, Hamonic hosts a young child that has lost their father and meets with them after the game to let them know that everything will be alright. He also shares with them his email to let them know that if they ever have to talk to someone that he is there. What a special person. I am proud that he is an Islander and that he is part of this core group. I only hope that one day Travis can skate on the ice with the Stanley Cup over his head. Then he can look up to the rafters on the left side of the arena so his Dad can see his son win a championship. Whether that happens or not, one thing is for sure...Travis already is a winner.

As far as the game goes Chad Johnson started in net after the Boston win. Capuano wanted to play the hot hand. The first period was high energy. The Islanders got on the board first (which has become a trend of late) with a goal from Anders Lee who was just called up from Bridgeport. The kid just seems to have a nose for the net. That was his 11th career goal in only 28 NHL games spread over two seasons.

The Stars tied it and then Nikolay Kulemin (his first of the year and first as an Islander) gave the Islanders a 2-1 lead with a short handed goal. Brock Nelson then extended the lead to 3-1 with his team leading fifth goal of the year. He had not scored since the beginning of the year so it was a good sign going into the second period. Ryan Strome got his seventh assist of the year in his eight games played. He has been quietly having a very good year even though he has not lit the lamp all that much.

The Stars stormed back with three unanswered goals to take a 4-3 lead. Chad Johnson must not have been very sharp. Seems that everything near the net was trickling in. Only a minute or two went by until Lubimir Visnovsky got his first of the year in only second game back from injury. The crowd got loud as the game started to take on the feel of an arena football game.

The first half of the third period was quiet, but the Islanders took a 6-4 lead on two separate rushes that resulted in two Nielsen goals from Grabovski. The Stars would get one back with about five minutes left, but the Islanders hung on with Nielsen getting an empty net goal at the buzzer to seal the 7-5 win. It was the Great Dane's first ever hat trick in the NHL boosting his total to four goals this year. It must have been a great sight seeing all the hats on the ice at the end of the game. One interesting fact is that the Islanders scored seven goals without one single John Tavares point. That is depth my friends.

The win left the Islanders at 6 wins and 12 points in 8 games which leaves them in first place. This is the best start in Islanders history since the last time they won the cup. Even though defensively it was a tough game, the Islanders played well, fought back when they were down and won on home ice. It was a rowdy crowd of over 15,000 that helped the team to the win. Next up in the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday night at the Coliseum. Then it is a grueling five game west coast road trip which will tell us if this team is for real. It was a great dane indeed.

Back On Track

Tonight was another conflict between work and hockey in Buenos Aires. I had to go out to dinner with the team again. However, dinner was not until 9PM so I had an opportunity to hear the beginning of the Islanders - Bruins game from the Gahden in my hotel room. Laying down on the bed I heard Frans Nielsen get the good guys on the board first. You always want your team to score first. However, all I could think of was "here we go again". We scored first in Pittsburgh and also the other day against the Leafs and lost both games. Would there be a third loss in a row? It remained to be seen. I finished getting ready and went downstairs to meet the team to go out for dinner 

In the taxi I fired up TSN on the iPhone and started "refreshing" every couple of minutes. I kept my phone on the restaurant table and did not shut it off until the game went final. The Bruins tied the game, but the Islanders scored two straight goals to take a 3-1 lead heading into the third. Okposo got a feed from Tavares and then Clutterbuck and the fourth line got the eventual game winner. The Bruins made it close but the Islanders stood tall with Chad Johnson in goal. It was a good idea to start Johnson over Halak because he was undefeated in the Boston Gahden all last year. He made some key saves and the defense did not panic. It was an emotional game not only for Johnson but for Johnny Boychuk as well. It was his first game facing his old team after the big trade a couple of weeks ago. 

With all that the Islanders hung on with a 3-2 win. This was another good sign that this team is different this year. Last year the team would have faded in the third period and lost the game outright. The fact that they are more composed and confident with a slim lead is very positive. I did not watch or listen to the game but it read like a solid effort. Next is a home game against Dallas before a couple of games on the road. Need to keep the momentum going before that west coast trip in November. Just one more week before I leave Buenos Aires and head home to Atlanta. Can't wait to sit in my chair in the basement and see a live hockey game.

Leafing With Loss

Hockey and Business Travel are not a very good mix. Trying to watch or listen to hockey games while traveling for business is not the easiest thing to do. As much as I would like to get room service and listen to Chris King call a hockey game, it is important as the leader to rally the troops and go out to dinner with my staff and co-workers.

Don't get me wrong. We always have a great time and it is enjoyable. The food is usually good, the company is always engaging, and it is relaxing to get away from evaluating data analytics and trying to resolve business issues. But when I dig my knife into a New York Strip Steak and as I take sips on my glass of Malbec, part of me still wants to hear the uplifting, optimistic, and energetic voice of Chris King yell “Score…Islanders Goal!” Is that so wrong?

We walked north from the hotel to an area of downtown Buenos Aires called “Puerto Madero”. It is an area by the water with lots of restaurants and shopping next to a large canal. We ended up at a place called “The Happening” which I first experienced in Santiago, Chile a couple of years earlier. I knew it would be good.

As soon as I sat down I figured out what I wanted, ordered a bottle of wine for the table and took out my iPhone to click on TSN to check on the game. Just like last Saturday against the Penguins, the Islanders scored first on a goal by Leddy, his third of the young season. I immediately felt good about the game, just like I did on Saturday. I did not realize at the time what would transpire.

During dinner I frequently checked the score. I know it is rude to do that when out with others, but everyone else is on their smartphone too. The only difference is that while others check their email, I am staring at my iPhone secretly hoping for an Islanders goal. Unfortunately, the Leafs tied the game, but Tavares came right back with a quick power play goal to give the Islanders a 2-1 lead going into the second period. I still felt good about the game.

We finished up dinner and left the restaurant. Even thought I missed most of the game I felt relieved knowing I would be able to at least hear part of the second and all of the third period. However, maybe that was not the best thing. The Leafs scored four straight goals to take a commanding 5-2 lead at the end of the second period, which ended up being the final score. Halak was pulled going into the third period and was replaced by Chad Johnson. It is hard for me to comment on what went wrong being that I did not see the game and heard only a portion of the game. However, there seemed to be too many defensive mistakes in the Islanders half of the ice.

I was hoping the Pittsburgh game was an a one-off freak occurrence, but the result of this game was troubling. As the captain said after the game “We were not going to win the cup after six games anyway” (or something to that effect). He is right. Need to look at the glass half full. The Islanders are still 4-2 and can right this thing now to continue their momentum.

My business trip is halfway over. I know when I watch the games I feel that I have a vested interest in the result. Just need to have the team weather the storm the next week and a half until I can get back home. Business travel and hockey are not a good mix. The business travel will soon come to an end, but the hockey season is just starting. This is the best time of the year.

Streak Of Won

I worked all day in the lobby of the Park Tower Hotel in Buenos Aires today. The plan was to watch the Volunteers play the Rebels of Ole Miss and monitor the Islanders game. However, that plan changed,. After a sub par steak and a glass of Malbec, I went back to the room to listen to the Islanders take on the Pittsburgh in search of their first five game winning streak to start the season in team history. As I was walking back to the hotel I saw that Hickey scored the opening goal and that made me immediately feel like history was in the making. I was wrong.

The Islanders lost their first game of the season 3-1 to the Pittsburgh Penguins. I cannot think of one Islander that played halfway decent tonight. In fact the game can be summed up with special teams. Islanders were Oh for 7 on the power play including a golden opportunity with a two man advantage with a one goal lead. If they had converted it could have set the tone for the rest of the game. Unfortunately, they did not score. Then in the second period the Pens had their own two man advantage and scored two goals to take the lead. Disappointing, but on the bright side they are still 4-1 on the young season. It is still early.. They did not get outplayed, they simply did not execute on the power play and gave the Penguins too many chances to get back in the game.

It is encouraging that they played so poorly and still were in striking distance. It is only one loss, but streaks always start at one. The next couple of games will be telling. They are home for Toronto on Tuesday evening and then go to Boston on Thursday before playing the Dallas Stars at home on Saturday. Another tough week with quality opponents. Will they turn it around and dominate on offense again? Will they solve the problems on the penalty kill? Will they get balanced scoring? Will they show more energy that they did in Pittsburgh? It remains to be seen. However, they need to pile up as many points as possible, because November is approaching and that usually is a barometer on where the season goes.

Its funny, but one loss seems like a long losing streak. Some of the air has been let out of the balloon, but there is still plenty of air left and the Islanders need to fill that balloon up again because it is a long season. Streaks always start at one. The question is where do they go from there. Hopefully the Islanders can win on Tuesday and start a new streak. Its always better when streaks start at won.

Shark Attacked

The Islanders kept on their roll and beat the San Jose Sharks 4-3 in a shootout. In other local sports action, the Jets were also playing the Patriots tonight, but I focused all of my attention on the Isles. The Jets eventually lost to the Pats 27-26 even though they played well. Their season is over with as they are 1-6. It is getting to another situation (kind of like the Knicks and Mets) where I like the coach and some of the players, but the General Manager and Owner are ruining the team. Anyway, on to better things.
 
This hockey game was a classic trap game. The Islanders had won three in a row, they were playing one of the better teams from the west coast and were expected to lose to end all of the goodness that was going on with the team. It was a nip and tuck game with the Sharks getting out to one goal leads on two different occasions. It was 2-1 and the feeling at the time was that the Islanders were going to come up one goal short and lose as they always do in these situations. At least that is what usually happened in past seasons. That was not to be.
 
Kyle Okposo scored the tying goal and Josh Bailey the go ahead goal in the third period. That was unlike the Islanders. The Sharks eventually tied the game on a controversial offsides call and it went into overtime. Just to get a point from this game was huge. In the overtime it was pins and needles as the Sharks threw everything but the kitchen sink at Halak and the Isles were totally gassed. It went to a shootout which gave the Islanders a fighters chance.

Again, this is a situation where the Isles normally fall short. The Sharks got out to a lead in the shootout and had two chances to end it. 

Halak came up big with four stops and Okposo and Taveras netted the shootout goals to win the game. The Islanders have won their first four games of the season for only the third time in team history and go for a record setting fifth in a row at Pittsburgh on Saturday night. In fact, if you go back to last season they have actually won seven in a row because they closed out last season on a three game winning streak.
 
Okposo was the best player on the ice as he was able to get his second goal in as many games. Taveras logged two assists to give him the NHL scoring lead at 9 points. He has had multi-point games in four straight games (Bossy has the team record at seven). Halak was a little above average but came up big in the overtime and shootout. Leddy got his second of the year. Another great team effort.
 
There is something different about this team. Their confidence is at a peak and they feel that they can beat anyone at anytime. The fans are really behind them and eve the media is started to say good things about them. I really think that they can keep this going. 

It's about time that the good times are finally here.

Pinch Me

Today was the first day of a three week business trip to Buenos Aires. It is hard to travel during hockey season, however there is nothing I can do about it. I planned to watch the Islanders vs. the Rangers game tonight on my iPad, but I could not log in to Dish Network. For some reason it is not working here in Argentina. I decided to move to my laptop computer and was able to log on, but the game did not show up in the viewing guide. Just my luck. I ended up listening to the game on the WRHU Radio (the Radio Hofstra University Network). That actually made it more enjoyable. First, I always like listening to Chris King call the game because he is very good at what he does, is a big Islander fan (which helps a lot) and is a relative unknown to anyone outside of Islanders Nation. Secondly, and most important, is that the television game feed would have most likely come from the Rangers camp and their announcers are very annoying.

The first two periods were evenly played. Boychuk got the Islanders on the board first and then the Rags scored two straight before Tavares knotted up the game up at two apiece by the end of two periods. Then in the third period the Islanders exploded with four straight goals in a span of about ten minutes to breeze to a 6-3 win. The third period goals were netted by Okposo (his 100th in his NHL career), Nelson (his third in three games), Grabovski (his second of the year), and Leddy (his first as an Islander). Oh and by the way, Halak had 40 saves on 43 shots, which was no small feat in the Garden. I wish I could pick out three stars, but it is hard to do that when you listen to the game on the radio and six different players score. It was a true team win.
 
I could not be more happy about this team right now. The Islanders are 3-0 with a potent offense and a better than average defense. They can play with anyone right now. Need to keep the streak going. Thursday they are home for San Jose and then Saturday they visit Pittsburgh. It is one thing to beat the hated Rags at the Garden, it will be another if they can play well in their next two games against quality opponents.
 
It is a special season. Pinch me...I must be dreaming.

Beginning Of The End

Tonight was opening night of the final season at the Nassau Coliseum. I didn't think about it until this very moment, but I should have been there. From what I read and heard it was electric. The atmosphere rivaled the Pittsburgh playoff series from two years ago when the Islanders took the Penguins to six games. The building was sold out and it was rocking. The fans started tailgating in the parking lot early in the early morning. A lot of the players noticed it when they drove into the Coliseum for the game. The fans even disrupted Johnny Boychuk who was staying at the Marriott. Those very tailgaters provided a convenient 10am wake up call. It was something special.

When the players came out of the Nassau Coliseum tunnel they didn't go through the normal introductions. In almost every other year and every other arena what usually happens is that the players come out one at a time and they are introduced to the crowd. Someone came up with a brilliant idea (I am not sure but through different sources it may have been either Josh Bailey or the Coliseum Operations crew).

With the lights out in the entire arena all the players came out in full circle in the middle of the ice. Then after the spotlight was turned on the Islanders logo and simultaneously on the players, all of the fans turned on their cell phone lights in unison. Josh Bailey said that the idea was to honor the Nassau Coliseum by showing that the fans and players were united as one. It was a great idea. I wish I was there to see it. Unfortunately, I have to go to Buenos Aires tomorrow, so in reality even if I wanted to, there was no way I could attend.

I had been away all day today in Knoxville attending the Tennessee Volunteers football game. They trounced Chattanooga 45-10. It was not even close. Kellie and I left at the end of the third quarter. I tried to listen to the game on the way home from Knoxville in the car. However, the "Tune In" app was not working very well on my iPhone. Every time if finished buffering my phone would fast forward through the game and it was hard to follow what was going on. So I ended up basically following the game on Twitter. It's not fun following the game waiting for a stream of Twitter messages, but it was the only option that I had.

The Islanders won 4-3. From what I could read they played an all-around great game. The standouts were John Tavares again (surprise, surprise) who had a goal and assist and Josh Bailey who played a great overall defensive game, had a key goal, and may or may not have had the great idea for the opening ceremony. It was long overdue for Bailey as he is on the bubble. If he does not show consistent improvement then he could be on the way out when Michael Grabner returns form his sports hernia surgery. Its good to see the fans cheer for him. Bailey needs to continue the trend. He ha talent, he just needs to keep a positive attitude, maintain confidence and he will break through. Its always satisfying pulling for the underdog.

What can I say? The Islanders are 2–0. They have three players among the league leaders in scoring (Nelson, Tavares and Boychuk). The Islanders are playing together as a team, they have the fans behind them, and that always translates to winning. I will say it again. This is a special team and there's a special feeling that this is going to be a special season. It's the final season at the Nassau Coliseum. There needs to be a proper ending to this fairytale. It's about time.

The Journey Starts Today

Today is a very special day. It's a day that we forget all of our past disappointments and remember all of our uphill struggles. It's a day of optimism and hope. It's a day where we all have the same dream. It's a day to remember that everybody starts out on the same playing field. No one is better than anybody else. It's a day of high expectations, but the truth of the matter is that in the end only a few will exceed those expectations. It's a day for all the nonbelievers to believe. Nobody can ever say that "you can't", because on a day like today "you can".
 
Today everyone has the same goal but some will work harder than others to achieve it. The harsh criticism and the half truths of the past keep all of us driven and focused. Earning back respect has to start somewhere and today is that day. It's time to prove people wrong.

The journey starts now. It's a long and winding road. We will have to work harder than we ever have in our entire life to get to the end. But it will be all worth it. Success will never taste any sweeter. We will be more satisfied and content than we have ever been in our entire life.

It's hockey season and there is no better game on this earth. Good luck to all but best of luck to one. Bring the cup back to where belongs. The dream is alive. We all envision "91" lifting Lord Stanley high above his head at center ice in the Nassau Coliseum. No one can tell you today that it can't happen...because it can. All you need to do is believe and work hard. 

Time is running out. The journey starts today. It's hockey season.

We are the one. We are all Islanders!!