Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Peepin' Foes: New York Islanders

The Islanders make their first visit to MSG this season on Wednesday night, as they face the Blueshirts at 7 p.m.

Where We Are: We got a point last game! And we have to be thankful for it as the Rangers are tied with Philly, Tampa, Toronto and the Isles with 31 points - the second worse total in the conference to the 20 point Whalers Canes.

Where They Are: The Isles have played one more game than the Rangers and have the same 31 points. They have just two wins in their last six games something I would love to mock but the Blueshirts have one in eight. But the Isles got absolutely destroyed by the Panthers 7-1 about the same time the Rangers were inflating Johan Hedberg's save percentage so the lesser NY team will be out for vengeance.

Who To Watch For: The way the Rangers are playing? Everyone. Even Brandon Witt could score the way things are going and Witt has six goals since the lockout - 310 games. Of course, he also took out an SUV, but they don't track that kind of thing. Nate Thompson made life hell for the Blueshirts in the first meeting this season (the 3-1 loss at the end October) but the real stars are John Tavares, his boyfriend Matt Moulson, Kyle Okposo and Swiss miss Mark Streit. Big forward Jesse Joensuu has a big future, sadly, and scored the lone goal in the loss to the Panthers.

What To Watch For: The Rangers to show any of that "jam" that Torts constantly talks about - if they don't in this one, they never will. Chris Drury to show up on the scoresheet as this is the only team he seemingly manages to do so against. Islander fans to invade the Garden in force and, quite likely, provoke a fight or three in the stands. Brash to chase after Tim Jackman, as Jackman isn't very good and Brash hasn't done much of anything lately. Richard Park to jump all over any Ranger mistakes.

What We'll (Hopefully) See: Chris Higgins trying to score ... and succeeding. Someone absolutely destroy Sean Bergenheim for his cheap play. Tavares to be marked closely by Marc Staal. Gabby to stay far the hell away from big Andy Sutton. Brandon Dubinsky to play the part of Nathan Horton and light up Rolo for a hat trick. Man, I would love to see a hat trick in the Garden. I can't remember the last one I saw.

Also Check Out: Mike the Islesblogger, Dee the obsessed Isles 7th Woman, Chris Botta the Point Blank PR shrill and Lighthouse Hockey, the mandatory SBN blog.

5 comments:

Cbenny81ct said...

THEY NEED TO SIGN COLE and that other waiver off of Carolina. They need big checking defense-man but Torts and Sather are oblivious to that theory and will probably let another team get to them first. I think it's going to be a split between the two teams. Or the Rangers will lose them both and the season will be lost. I'm giving it only a 10% chance that we sweep

Anonymous said...

What has Bergenheim done btw? I don't remember, but i'm interested.

Pete said...

Does anyone else think it was a big gamble sending P.A. down and having him have to clear waivers?

Anonymous said...

yeah pete, big gamble letting a career AHLer be put on waivers (which he cleared)

you ride the short bus to school, right?

Scotty Hockey said...

Anon - Bergy ran Hank twice last game.

Pete - PA doesn't have to come back through waivers, we won't lose him. As per Andrew Gross ...