Rolling in the right direction

The Islanders may not be winning the Stanley Cup or even qualifying for the playoffs anytime soon, but the boys from Long Island are playing like a decent hockey team right now.

After a monumental 3-1 win over the Rangers on October 28, the Islanders have rattled off three more wins, bringing their streak to four straight.

They're tied for fifth in the powerful Atlantic Division and are sixth in the conference. If the playoffs started today, they'd actually be a part of post-season festivities. Obviously, it's still very early and fans aren't expecting much, but the wins are nice and a reminder that hockey still exists on Long Island.

Every aspect of the team is coming together nicely ... special teams, offense, defense, goaltending - it all looks good.

The action continues in Buffalo tonight and in New Jersey on Friday.

Rookie Watch

John Tavares is tied for the team lead in points (11) with Matt Moulson. He is also second with five goals and six assists.

Fisherman jersey one of the worst

For Halloween this year, ESPN ran a top 10 list of the worst sports jerseys ever. Featured on the list was the Islanders' fisherman jersey from the 1990s - it was No. 8. I actually own one of these jerseys and have not put it on in over 10 years.

No one really knows why the organization chose the Gorton's fisherman as its mascot for those select group of seasons, but the chant "fishsticks" really stuck after that. Taking the top spot on ESPN's list was the Vancouver Canucks jersey from 1978-1985. There was a huge red and yellow V, for Vancouver, on the chest.

For some great info on NHL jerseys, check out NHLUniforms.com.

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.