Yes! Islanders

I hate when I have a cold, and my voice is just about shredded.  The inability to get a point across about anything is really a bummer.

However, this is one time that I totally enjoyed losing my voice.  I will take this any time.

I have been at the Coli for so many great events.  But in my lifetime, I have never heard the Barn SHAKE like that.  I am sure that the engineers in the building are checking the nuts and bolts, because they HAD to have come loose.

It was a great time to be an Islander fan!

Inside the mind of a petulant defenseman.

The New York Islanders got another magnificent goal from John Tavares, another man-on-a-mission game from Kyle Okposo, and a few more gifts from Marc-Andre Fleury as they won 6-4 in Game 4 and tied their playoff series with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

This result came after each team blew two one-goal leads.

The events were too numerous to recount, but we'll try to record a few for posterity.

HockeyBuzz.com - Dee Karl - Isles Win Game 4 Guaranteeing a Game 6

Okay now bed!

The New York Islanders thrilled fans and drew further attention from NHL observers with their 6-4 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 4, but it may have come at the cost of one Andrew MacDonald.

Well, one thing we knew but had drilled home yet again in Game 4: Neither starting goalie in this series is so hot at stopping pucks. Unfortunately, the Penguins have Thomas Vokoun in reserve, and the Islanders don't.

(If the Penguins don't use Vokoun after this, I'm not sure why they signed him. As Derek Zona of Copper & Blue posted on Twitter: "Since 'his cup' Fleury's save percentage is .884 in 30 playoff games.")

The Islanders look to ride the Coliseum crowd and even the series.

The New York Islanders rightly felt good about their Game 3 performance, what with a quick start and a big comeback book-ending a few letdowns that allowed the Penguins to neutralize the early surge from the Coliseum crowd.

After outplaying the Penguins at 5-on-5 again, the Isles correctly believe they need to continue what worked while also improving their special teams performance.

The main buzz coming out of morning skates before Game 4 between the New York Islanders and Pittsburgh Penguins: The Isles are not expecting lineup changes, the Pens could be expecting two.

Pittsburgh has adopted a not-unusual-but-still-absurd policy of discussing no injuries, no nothing before playoff games. It's something playoff teams do more often than not, and almost makes you wish gamblers had more pull on hockey. (Okay, not really, but still...)

Here's NHL.com on Brooks Orpik and James Neal's possible return from injuries.

And he would know about divers…..

My buddy Chris and I have great conversations about the Islanders.  He is so passionate for his team, and usually when we are talking about an upcoming game, and he is looking for the word to describe either the atmosphere, or the importance of the game, he simply uses one word.

HUGE!

That one little word with such a powerful overtone.  But in this case, Chris is absolutely correct.

It is huge.

It has been 11 long years since we left Uniondale with a smile on our faces.  It is time to regain that pose.

So what do the Isles need to do?

Is it to tone the physicality down?

HockeyBuzz.com - Dee Karl - Game 4: Outside the (penalty) Box

No matter what, this will be a game to remeber.

The New York Islanders rightly felt good about their Game 3 performance, what with a quick start and a big comeback book-ending a few letdowns that allowed the Penguins to neutralize the early surge from the Coliseum crowd.

After outplaying the Penguins at 5-on-5 again, the Isles correctly believe they need to continue what worked while also improving their special teams performance.

We take a breather, for one night, from our nerves and jitters and adrenaline boosts, our squabbles over lines and complaints about officials and laments about dives, and all the other things that make the playoffs, well, the playoffs.

Tonight we put those things, as they relate to the Islanders, in a corner. And watch eight other teams go through their version.

Hop around the site for other on-going Isles discussions. This thread is mainly for goofing off and for observing

Let me start off by saying how proud of the New York Islanders I am. Was I disappointed by the loss? Would I have liked to see the Isles win it in overtime? Of course.

However, the fact of the matter is they out played, out hit and out worked the Penguins through many stretches of the game. They took it to a much highly favored team, and it could have easily been an Islander victory in the end. If you take away a bad ten minute stretch, in fact, the Islanders would have won that game without the need for overtime.

The reality is, the Islanders are giving the Penguins a lot more difficult a fight than the “experts” and, perhaps, the Penguins expected. This has not been and, regardless of outcome, Will Not be a cake walk for the boys from the Steel City. That is what I expected from the Isles, and I am glad that they are delivering the fight, the hits, the competitive spirit and the battle level.

I can sit here on my perch, and spew wax poetic about this.  Believe me, I can wax (my wife can vouch for that).

The game, just under 24 hours ago, was a great contest.  It ended in a way that we the home fan were not glad about, but nevertheless, it was great.

There are many of my friends that are contacting the NHL offices, giving their what for.  They have every right to do that, but in my humble opinion, it is going to get them exactly nowhere, and will not change ANYTHING that is going to happen in Game 4, or anywhere afterwards.  They may feel happier by doing it, and so be it.

Content with their approach if not the outcome in Games 2 and 3, the New York Islanders made it an optional skate today as they recharge between adrenaline-fueled playoff games. Game 4 is Tuesday, and [insert cliche here] it's a big one lest they fall into a 3-1 series hole.

Some updates from the first half of the day (the Penguins are the second team skating, so reports from their camp aren't out yet):

Thanks Don.  You are telling us all what we already know….

Awesome game yesterday afternoon hockey fans.  The 16,170 had the Coliseum rocking and I unequivocally enjoyed the most exciting game at the old barn I’ve attended in a long time.  The 2/11/11 Isles Pens goal/slug fest is a very close second.  I will reiterate what my friend was saying; it was a great game for national television.  I think the team may have the attention of a few more fans across the country.  Read on after the jump for some game notes and observations.

Some quick notes. . .