I received a great email from a reader today, which I think people should see.  He made the following point:
“Campbell said the Richards hit set a precedent. I’ve not had a problem with the NHL’s suspensions and reasons for suspension this season unlike many others, but this one is absolutely ridiculous. There have been a [...]

 
Here’s my favourite call-up story:
As you probably know by now, I’m engaged to Clark Gillies Daughter, Brianna.
At the time of this story, I was playing for the Utah Grizzlies of the ECHL (that’s me on the left, shortly before my coach became the 64th one I’ve had tell me to smile less.  Hey, I like [...]

I always knew the Isles signed an accomplished scorer when Doug Weight came on board.

Hey VS., I think you forgot a number...

No practice today for the boys. Although, I would have liked to see them skating till they puke, but that's not happening.

So here are a few things that I thought of this morning:

1) Please tell me you sent Trevor Gillies on the bus passed the Coliseum and straight back to Bridgeport last night. There is no reason for him to be in the line-up. Call up Matt Martin if you want someone over 6' tall.

2) Looking for information today on the status of Robbie Schremp and his right knee. I'm not sure how it happened, or what happened. But Robbie played a little over 4 minutes before leaving the ice and not returning.

3) With the possibility of Robbie Schremp being out of the line up, did Jeff Tambellini do a happy dance in the press box? That's about the only way he gets back in the line-up.

Well, one period in the books and surprisingly enough, it's 1 - 0 Islanders. John Tavares found a puck on the side of the net when Leighton was otherwise preoccupied and managed to sneak it in on the side of the net.

Sim has been a nuisance to Pronger and Trevor Gillies actually was let off the bench. I swear, it will snow in Boca tomorrow.

@DNFlyers Tweeted: Flyers locker room is a MASH unit... in the middle of the 1st period! Krajicek = shot to face. JVR = shot to face. Carcillo can't even walk

It has been messy.

Hopefully the Islanders remember this is a 60 minute game, but they managed to come out with the jump that Scott Gordon was hoping for in the first. That is 20 minutes they didn't waste. They have 40 more to go.

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New York Islanders (26-31-8, 28th) at Philadelphia Flyers (34-26-4, 6th/E)
The [it's like a bank or something] Center
7:30 p.m. on VERSUS [a.k.a. "All Flyers-Pens, all the time"], radio

 
Not that my blog is particularly focused in the first place, but I’m due to unload a whole crapload of half-baked thoughts.  Some may be on the same page as you, some may be a complete waste of seconds of your life, but hey – I’m pretty sure it was the variable interval schedule of rewards that [...]

 
Interesting timing – I was going through some columns that I had deemed unfit to release from a few months ago, and found this one about what David Booth can do to avenge getting his brain shaken by Mike Richards (short answer: nothing).  But after Matt Cooke played the role of Richards in a recent re-enactment with [...]

This is something that is probably best done after (or rather before?) the season, but timing and planning has never been the way of things here -- no sense starting now.

A sampling of Islanders fodder for a Sunday...

... A nice New York Hockey Talk is lined up by Rob Kowal tonight at 9 p.m. on WGBB 1240, with Al Arbour and Kyle Okposo among the guests. Brendan Shanahan, too (okay, so he was a Ranger/Devil, but he's always good for a quote and a yarn).

*Note: Isles vs Flyers preview on Versus Website Here.

It’s been a week since the Gold Medal game in Vancouver. Everyone has gone back to their pre-Olympic lives including NY Islanders’ head coach Scott Gordon. I was lucky enough to be able to catch Gordon in his office between practice and a 1:45pm team meeting to ask a few questions.

Well, had they played 60 minutes, they may have won, but the 3 - 2 score in favor of the Bruins stood after I packed up at the five minute mark. I thought if I did, Kyle Okposo would have tied it up and sent it to overtime and I would be kicking myself for having packed the computer. No such luck.

But I did get a few minutes with call-up Dylan Reese who is very familiar with Matt Moulson's scoring touch. Postgame here at HB. Scott Gordon had some strong words in today's post game regarding dissapointment and mental mistakes. The frustration level is evident.

Blake Comeau was escorted off the ice and didn't return, but Gordon said it didn't seem like there were any concussion symptoms. We hope that's true. We'd also like to see if any rulings come down for the hit.

3:27 left and I'm calling for a kyle okposo game tier. I hope.
But I have to pack up now.

later for postgame from the couch.

10:02 According to IslesNation According to islanders spokesman. Comeau is "fine had facial lacerations and kept out for precautionary reasons." That's more than i got up here.

Great shift by the Islanders with nothing to show for it on the score board.

14:00 of the third, and just as I expected, Matt Moulson cuts the lead to 3 - 2 with the Islanders now leading in SOG by 3 at 32 to 29.

One more and we get Wendy's Chili!

Period 3: With a less than 2 minute power play available to them, and in front of 14,587 fans, the Islanders had better come out firing on all cylinders in order to get this game back on track. They are only down by 2. Completely doable.

What a beatuiful afternoon.. Snow is melting – crocuses should be blooming soon.  Spring is coming. 

But it is a hockey game in Uniondale today, and I am here in the Blog Box (FOR A CHANGE), to cover the game.

Warmups notes

No sign of Tambellini… Are you surprised?  Not me; and  I was always one to defend him, but his play, in a word, STUNK!   He needs to make a decision as to what direction he wants his career to go.  Rob Schremp did, but Tamby has not done that.  Hence, a return to the press box.

Rollie shouold be in net – as he came out first.  I believe that Tim Thomas is between the pipes for the B’s.  Thomas’ stock has declined more than AIG since the Winter Classic.  Boston has struggled mightily, and the play of Thomas has not helped their cause at all.

LOTS of Black and Gold in the stands today.  Should be interesting to see how loud it will be if the Blues get one in the net.