Friday is a big game at the Barn, especially for the fans who have the Coliseum sold-out. It's the last home game of the regular season. Well actually, it's the last home game until October. It's fan appreciation day too. For years, the last home game has been very emotional for everyone. This year there are some added factors. The Isles will be playing the Penguins again and the entire hockey world will have one eye out on them since Fight Night on LI and Trevor Gillies became a marked man.
Okay, let's talk about that for a minute. Whether Rick DiPietro is in net for the Islanders or not, I still take issue with what Brent Johnson did that night. Super stat guy Stu Honing and I have discussed that night at length and we both agree, Johnson was wrong and there was nothing Rick could do but exactly what he did. (Although he should have realized which hand he was going to get clocked with.)
A goalie can tap his stick on the ice to count down a penalty, but what Johnson did was tap out an invitation. His team was embarassed by the score*(Of the previous game? Thanks Vokuta for pointing out that I've blurred the games together. Actually, I think the one with the 72 fights I watched with my eyes closed, so this is possible).
Any way! Whichever Pens vs. Isles game the Brent Johnson/Rick DiPietro take down occurred, in my eyes, it was disrespectful. In Rick's eyes, answering the call was what he HAD to do. Johnson knew he would.
I'm hoping that nothing like that happens tomorrow night. There's no need for it. Play hockey, make the fans happy, then let the Pens leave the ice so the team can salute their fans who have supported them this season.
And for all those hoping that Gillies isn't in the line-up, that is yet to be determined as we haven't heard of any call-ups from Bridgeport and the roster is pretty thin right now.
It's been one hell of a ride. Between the injuries, the losing streak, the coaching change and the bad press, it's hard to believe we have anything to be happy about. But you know -- we do.
Another great season for Matt Moulson, the surprise of Michael Grabner and his 33 goals (3 more than Ilya Kovalchuk), PA Parenteau who is just one goal shy of 20 and John Tavares only two goals short of 30. If either of those two score, the packed house will erupt as if it was a playoff win. It's a shame that Frans has been shut down for the season due to concussion symtoms. It would have been nice to see him play one more game before off-season just to see if he could get an EIGHTH short handed goal on a penalty kill.
With the amazing success of the Isles PK, I asked if one of the Isles PR staff could ask Jack a few questions for me. Dyan was kind enough to oblige.
So Jack, what makes the Isles PK so dynamic?
"Obvioulsy for whatever reason, everybody talks about the power play having to outwork the penalty kill at all times. You're power play is out there for a good minute, minute twenty, they'er changing every 20-23 seconds once they send the puck 200 feet so sometimes you have fresh legs out, some times the power play gets a little bit sleepy. Our success, obviously, with all the goals Fransie and Grabs (7 and 6 goals), they play together, they have good hockey sense and they're pretty deceptive. And then you throw Grabner's speed into that. Pucks are just chipped out into the nutral zone -- like last night when Bailey chipped it out, he tracks it down and beats the defenders. So, if there's an opportunity, obviously, you have to attack. But first and foremost, we're trying to kill the penalty."
I also wanted to know if Jack would be prepare the team any differently for Friday.
"No, not at all. The preparation won't change. The preparation won't change, the prepartion is attention to detail. Our meetings won't change, our PK, our power play, our five-on-five play, our pre-scouts; the way that we've gone about our business all year long will not change . It will be consistent until the puck drops."
Well, it will be different for me. There will be more standing around the concourse. More talking to friends. A few more deep breaths trying to take it all in before it disappears. And there will be more tissues in my pocket because I'll probably end up crying when I leave. I am such a jerk. There's No Crying in Hockey, right?
New York Islanders Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»