Live Blog, Observations and Pictures from a Magical Night
Scene from the Blog Box
All fairy tales start with: Once Upon a Time. Well, let me tell you about a fairy tale that each Isle fans just had just this past night . . .
Once Upon A Time
Once upon a time, Isles fans forgot the magic. That magic that sizzled under the surface of Long Island during the heyday of the dynasty. And those who had forgotten were quickly reminded as Nassau Coliseum rocked, rolled and recaptured that magic.
The night was electric, and there was not a soul who could not feel it. And at the end, the Isles put forth a ceremony after a great Islander comeback victory that will be one of the highpoints of my hockey experiences.
The result of all this, besides Al Arbour's 1500th game coached, and 740th win, is that this night might have opened some eyes to those fans who lost touch with a team that was in turmoil after Arbour left, and only now has begun to right itself. And, allowed that Isles vaunted tradition to seep back into fans consciousness. It was high-time the Isles shed that skin of the infamy that hockey news outlets loved to gibe about over the years of ownership and GM debacles. Instead, Ted Nolan channeled the Islander gods, who came back to coach, and others to celebrate, this momentous occasion.
LIVE BLOG FROM THE GAME:
The Coliseum is already buzzing, and I am here early. I am taking shots with my nifty Panasonic Lumix lens camera. Our cool Isle moderator HUNTERRULES is also here taking some video.
Along the walls, between sections, are ARBOUR 1500 banners. Those same banners, miniaturized, are being given out to ticket holders as they enter the building. Behind the bench for the Isles is a testament to this special evening. A chair sits there for a man who needs no introduction.
The chair for the big man
Beware The Penguins!
Isles Warming Up
The Man, The Legend, and once again, COACH
On his way to the bench
On the bench
Another from the bench
Isles are ALL over the Penguins. 5 shots to 2. This team is charged up, and it's a great and crackling crowd tonight.
Well, that couldn't last forever. Gervais gets snagged. PP goal by Malone, who always seems to have the Isles number.
I just realized, after watching a video vignette, that Chris Simon sounds like The Kurgan from the movie, HIGHLANDER.
THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE, HOLLWEG!
Period ends, Isles fail to score, and definitely lost a lot of momentum after buzzing for the half of the period.
Period 2 is about to start. Took a few more pics. Might not take much more because doing downloads, uploads, photoshopping, color correction and warping the space-time continuum is taking away from actually watching the game.
Walk back from lockeroom for 2nd period
Coaches walk
Another from the bench
Another from the bench
Well, we all thought it looked like a goal, but the ref waved for play to continue, and Penguins indeed get that goal that was under-review. 2-0 Pitt.
But finally...and Isles goal. Thank the lord! Fans are back in it.
Trent Hunter with that score, assist by Mr. 1001, Mike Sillinger.
A goal. A goal. Thank the lord...a goal.
Faceoff after the Isles goal
Almost Part 1
Almost Part 2
Highsticking major called on Boy Wonder, Sidney Crosby on DiPietro. DP is replaced by Dubie. Couple close ones, but no cigar just yet. Isles unable to convert on PP.
No Cigars, 1
No Cigars, 2
HUNTERRULES and I wanted to try our hand at a few video blogs, but it's loud and just too much bustle. We'll try it another time. However, we should have some post-game stuff.
Ok, here we are for the 3rd period. Rick still out. Dubie in goal.
One is the loneliest number
Vasicek falls, yet can get the long pass from Sutton and gives the puck to Satan. GOAL! Tie game. This place ERUPTS worse than a 16 year old's face.
Fans are loud, boisterous, and wants that go-ahead goal. Unless of course Crosby plans on aiming for Dubie's eye-hole.
Ladies and gentlemen...and of course, my loopy Ranger fan brother . . . a man with the same vocal cords of Chris Simon . . .
Malkin with a hooking penalty. Isles need to be more productive on the PP. They have been very good in 3rd periods, and this one needs to be no different.
Satan with another goal. Unbelievable comeback by the Isles. The crowd is simply going NUTS. I haven't heard a crowd like this in the Coliseum . . . well, ever. I watched the dynasty on TV. But I think tonight I think we had a glimmer of what it must have been like. Electricity is in the air. It's thick with magic.
The final set of pics . . .
Holding on at the very end
The coaches
Victory!
On the big screen
Watching the Tribute
Ted Nolan brings Al Arbour to under his old banner on the ice
Old banner coming down
Isles alumni bring in the new banner
Up with the new!
Scott Bowman
Al Arbour meeting the press
Eye Chart
Two different stories seem to be hitting the circuit on Rick DiPietro. Both are that he avoided any serious eye injury and should be back soon.
Isles Statement: He went to the hospital but will be fine. Stick did go through the eyehole but did NOT hit the eye itself. Should be ok. Day to day. To be re-evaluated on Monday.
BUT: What I am being told is that he did suffer a slight hit to the eye, suffered blurry vision out of it and wanted to return to the game. However, he was sent to be checked out instead.
So back to our fairy tale:
So, here ends an magical night, a magical win, and a magical coach who came from his sleepy days of rest and relaxation to do something special. He coached, got a win, and gave a new generation of Islander fans and players an experience that will last a lifetime.
Kudos to the Isles organization for not only coming up with this idea, but actually executing it wonderfully. Kudos to an Isles team that dug deep and as Ted Nolan said during the press conference: "Willed a win". And thank you, Al Arbour, for showing us from where we came, and where we seek to go again.
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