Isles honor my mom, win big

It was a perfect night at the Nassau Coliseum. I celebrated my birthday, the Islanders beat the Rangers and my mother was honored during a ceremony in the first period.

About six weeks ago, I submitted my mom Annmarie's cancer-survivor story to the Islanders for a program they were running. She beat leukemia better than the Islanders could ever beat the Rangers. The best stories were selected and the survivors were honored last night at the 14-minute mark of the first period. It just so happened to be a game against the hated Rangers and fell on my birthday - making it a great time. There were about 10 guests, who stood where the zambonis enter and exit the ice, and waved at the camera as their names and hometowns were said over the loudspeaker. It was nice.

But, with the Islanders owning a less-than-stellar record thus far, the prospects of winning the game were slim. Things started gloomy in the first period when "Lets Go Rangers!" chants echoed through the bowels of the decrepit mausoleum.

The hits were good, the crowd intensity seemed acceptable - even with Game 1 of the World Series going on at the same time - and by the end of the second period the Islanders had a 2-1 lead. Lead, however, doesn't seem to be a word in the Islanders vocabulary because they regularly let up any inkling of winning in the third period.

The new Golden Boy, John Tavares, scored one of the biggest goals in his young career, giving the Islanders insurance and a 3-1 advantage with minutes remaining. As the seconds ticked away on the clock and Rangers fans everywhere bowed their heads in shame, the night turned out to be magnificent.

(Photo: Myself (l.), mom Annmarie and brother Bryan)

Higgins still goaless for NYR

Through 11 games this season, new Rangers forward Chris Higgins is still scoreless. Though this blog is mainly about the Islanders, I will write about things pertaining to Long Island hockey and since Higgins hails from Smithtown on Long Island, it's worth a mention that he has not scored with his new team, yet.

He has registered two assists thus far, but he is barely noticeable. So much so, that Rangers coach John Tortorella dropped Higgins to a lower line last week. He's in a new setting, closer to home, on a better team. There aren't many excuses for the fifth-year vet. He averaged 20 goals or more in his first three seasons and scored 12 last year, but missed most of the season with a shoulder injury.

On Wednesday, the Rangers will play the Islanders at the Coliseum. Maybe a trip further east will do the Long Island native some good.

Isles go digital with programs

Like many sports affiliated organizations as of late, the Islanders have gone completely digital with their game programs. It's a cost cutting move that has the old school fans flustered.

For those who can actually use a computer, it's unique. You can turn the pages of the digital program and it's laid out just like the old programs. If you happen to go to the Coliseum anytime soon, there are still a few of the last printed programs laying around. It's the May/June edition that has photo features from the 2008-09 season. Normally they are $5, but these are free. I grabbed a few the other night - could be a collectors item when the team is playing in Kansas.

The digitalization is not a bad move - it makes the team look smart for a change. Now if they can just win a game.

Islanders to Suffolk County now, too

As I eluded to in a previous post, more and more viable (and not so viable) locations for the Islanders will be thrown into the news every so often, with the Lighthouse ordeal in limbo. This week, Newsday featured a story about the team moving to Suffolk County, which would be a home run for me and all of us in Eastern, Long Island.

"If it does fall apart in Nassau, we would pursue it," Suffolk County executive Steve Levy told Newsday. "If [Charles Wang] is ready to talk to us, we'll be willing to work with him very vigorously. If you change the personalities on the local level, it could make all the difference in the world."

Levy said there are "three or four" possible locations for the Islanders, but did not mention where. Many figure the Pilgrim State Psychiatric Center property in Brentwood could work. It's been rumored that the county has been interested in bringing a minor league hockey team to Yaphank, also. I highly doubt the Islanders would go that far out onto the island, though.

There is also Kansas, Oklahoma, Quebec, Queens and Brooklyn as possible locations. More to come as the story expands in the coming months.

(Photo from Newsday, of Steve Levy and Lighthouse diagram)

Wang, Lighthouse still on

Charles Wang has not made up his mind yet - as many expected would be the case after Nassau County abused the October 3 deadline he set for the Lighthouse Project.

He released a statement yesterday that explained his current situation with the project. The statement came as a result from an article that appeared in the less than glamorous Long Island Press about Wang's plan to abandon the project altogether.

“Yesterday’s report on the Lighthouse Project which appeared in the Long Island Press is untrue. There are no plans to abandon this project which is so vital to the future of Nassau County and Long Island as a whole," he said. "As far as the status of the Lighthouse project, we have submitted to The Town of Hempstead and Supervisor Kate Murray all the studies and required documents. A lease has been negotiated. Supervisor Murray and the Town Board need to make a decision on the zoning."

Furthermore, Wang said, "Long Island stands in this defining moment waiting for an answer. Yes or no. Moving forward, we will not discuss any meetings in the media. Any reports of meetings should be considered untrue. My heart is still on Long Island. I love Long Island. This is where the Islanders belong. Let's play hockey."

This soap opera song and dance will continue some more - let's up the ending is more happy than dramatic.

Dipietro makes big stride

It's sad when you all you have to look forward to is your injured goalie's rehab schedule. But that's the case for most Islanders fans early in the season. John Tavares is great to watch, but he's no Rick Dipietro - not yet, anyway.

For a short time, Dipietro was just taking shots on one end of the ice in a controlled environment from one teammate at a time. Yesterday, he took live shots with six skaters on the ice. He took breakaways, random shots from all over the ice and was flawless, according to Newsday reporter Mark Herrmann.

"It's your job as a professional athlete, when you're coming off an injury, to do as much as possible without setting yourself back; giving yourself the best opportunity to come back better than when you went down," Dipietro told Newsday. "I personally am not going to be satisfied if when I come back I'm not playing at the level I'm accustomed to be playing at."

Killer B's keep Isles winless

Another game, another overtime bout and another loss for the Islanders. They started off strong against one of the Eastern Conference's top teams, but Long Island's gang had a terrible finish and was forced to play into overtime and lost again, for the third time this season in three games.

In her Newsday blog "Isles Files," Islanders beat writer Katie Strang had some interesting quotes from the team about the latest loss. They're optimistic to say the least.

"Where it was eight minutes this year," head coach Scott Gordon said about how long the mishaps took place, "it would've been 45 minutes last year. And worse."

Team captain Doug Weight said he and his teammates visualized an attack on the fight home, which involves aggressive forechecking, backchecking hard up the middle and smart decisions with the puck in the offensive zone, Strang wrote.

They may be losses, but the Isles did grab three points in three games. It's better than getting creamed 5-0 and losing in the first period.

Another close battle

There's something about the Senators that makes me nervous. Ever since I was younger and the Islanders went years it seems without beating the boys from the North, I've had a sour taste in my mouth. So much that losing to them now is just a numbing experience. I'm indifferent about playing them today.

Last night, however, things changed. Down 2-0 and looking like the Islanders of old in the second period, Kyle Okposo, the young and brazen leader of this team, scored his first goal of the season. Matt Moulson tied the game at 2 in the third period and the Isles escaped regulation with a tie for the second time this year.

Ottawa's Mike Fisher scored just 32 seconds into overtime to leave the game with a 3-2 outcome.

It shows that the Islanders are willing to battle and stretch the ice, to protect with a deficit and be conservative with a tie. If they are playing this poised at such a callow point in the season, then in time good things will come.

Notes:

-Doug Weight made his season debut

-Martin Biron started in net for the first time this year

-Rookie John Tavares had an assist on the game-tying goal (1g, 2a for the year)

Isles to Queens?

It's just a possible situation - the first of many to come over the next month or so- but Charles Wang already has one offer, just days after he told Kate Murray and the Town of Hempstead to pounce off.

The plan, presented by Queens Chamber of Commerce Executive Vice President Jack Friedman, would have the Islanders playing in Willets Point, Queens, close to where the Mets play at Citi Field.

"Option number 1 should be Queens," Friedman told Newsday. "We are ready for him. You're talking about a property that has access to the Long Island railroad, the subway system, the airports. It already has a huge parking lot because of Citi Field. It already has the parkway access. It's so ready for a development like this. The Lighthouse project would be a perfect fit.""

Friedman believes a potential new home for the Islanders would fit perfectly as a centerpiece in the city's plans for the Willets Point area, he told Newsday. If the plan was accepted - which is a longshot right now based on the entire situation, which is turning out to be a debacle - then it would not have an official ground-breaking for a few years. This is fine since the Islanders have a lease agreement at the Nassau Coliseum until 2015 anyway.

The positives are that fans from Suffolk County still have about a 45 minute drive to see the Islanders - it's just straight down the LIE, instead of taking Northern State to the Meadowbrook to Hempstead Turnpike. It's also nice for Mets and Islanders fans to house both of their teams in a similar area, like many other cities do. If only the New York Jets played in New York - that's an entirely different story, for an entirely different blog.

(Photo on StadiumPage.com - shows a revitalization shot of Willets Point with Citi Field on the left and a fictional stadium for possibly hockey on the right)

Dipietro left out of opening day

For those Islanders fans wondering why Rick Dipietro's name was not mentioned during the introductions for the home opener on Saturday night, it's because team officials made a mistake and left him off the list of injured players.

There were a handful of players wearing suits, who stepped onto the ice and gave a wave, including captain Doug Weight, but Dipietro was not one of them. According to Newsday's Katie Strang, "Rick DiPietro absolutely did not decline to be a part of last night's introduction ceremony."

Islanders president Chris Dey told Strang, "We made a mistake and left Rick out of the introductions. It was nothing intentional, but we are glad to hear that fans wanted to hear him introduced by the team. We are all looking forward to his return to the lineup."

It's a minor mistake, but many fans were curious about their beloved goalie.

Isles opener a thrilling contest

It's only Game 1 and it resulted in a loss, but the Islanders put on a good show for opening night at the Coliseum.

John Tavares had a heck of a debut, scoring his first career NHL goal and recording his first assist. He also missed a key breakaway, flubbed a shot in the sudden death shootout and whiffed on two shots from the left flank on power play situations. The good thing is that he was able to get himself in those situations and through time, he'll make good on those opportunities.

The crowd was electric - more so than any other regular season game at the Coliseum in the last five years. That was expected.

As for the game, no one was expecting the Islanders to pull out a win, but for most of the contest- all while surprisingly being out shot - it seemed like they were going to prevail. But just when the win started to sink in, with 3:45 left the Penguins scored to tie it at 3. And so it goes, the Islanders will have a long season as always. It might not be as bad as last year, but don't expect fireworks.

On a positive note, Kyle Okposo looked great - no signs of a concussion from two weeks ago. The team's physicality was remarkable, especially after many ripped the organization for not going after tough guys in the off-season. There were two fights, two scrums that were almost fights and numerous big hits from Islanders.

During the game I got an email from the organization saying weekend game tickets are buy one, get one free for the first half of the season (Only if you received this special email). I don't know if that's a good thing to see, or not, but if every game was like last night's I'll be happy.

The Lighthouse

Charles Wang announced that he'll be looking into other options for the Islanders, officially after not hearing by the October 3 deadline about the Lighthouse Project. Town of Hempstead Supervisor Kate Murray said she will be having a discussion with Wang on Monday afternoon to talk about amending the proposed plan. Wang was not happy and 2015 could be the last year of the Islanders if something doesn't change drastically.

Opening night, deadlines loom

Tomorrow is the deadline for Charles Wang's Lighthouse project - which just so happens to be the opening game of the 2009-10 season for the Islanders. It's day that could possibly live in infamy for Isles fans. Only time will tell.

A day after a lease was announced that will keep the Islanders at the Nassau Coliseum until 2030, Islanders fans and Long Island enthusiasts are anxious to see what will happen by tomorrow. Will the Town of Hempstead wake up and come to an agreement with Wang? Will Wang become angered and do something drastic if Kate Murray says the Town is not interested in the Lighthouse?

Here are some key points about the deadline and what Wang may or may not do:

-He could sell the team, but the Islanders would have to remain at the Coliseum until 2015, the year the current lease expires.

-He could move the team after 2015. According to Newsday, he has about eight offers to house the team from places like Queens, Brooklyn and Kansas to Hartford and Hamilton, Ontario.

-He could take a punch to the gut, do absolutely nothing and wait for the Town to make any sort of decision.

Stay tuned for a weekend post about opening night on Saturday against the Penguins. It should be a fun time - win or lose.