MAJOR/MINOR LEAGUE MASHUP
Game Two at the Coliseum Tonight
Written by Kevin Schultz
Last night’s Sound Tigers’ game at the Coliseum seemed a bit odd, like out of some kind of alternate dimension where the NHL employs a relegation system similar to that of European soccer (over there, the worst couple of teams in the league standings get bumped down a level, while a few teams from below move up). In fact, it was almost an exact set up of what that alternate reality would look like.
The Islanders, coming off a last place finish in the NHL get bounced down to the AHL and played host to the W-B/S Penguins. The Coliseum is about a quarter full with the fans in attendance loud and passionate. A handful of concession stands are open and a good chunk of the home roster are familiar faces to the Coliseum crowd. It was all out of some kind of odd sports/sci-fi novel.
Of course, that’s not exactly what happened and the NHL would never employ a relegation system since the teams in the AHL act as feeders to, and many times are owned by, their NHL counterparts. But I’m still allowed to have a bit of an imagination.
Now, don’t get me wrong. Last night wasn’t a bad experience and was a great chance for Islander fans to see a team they may not get a lot of looks at otherwise. It was just that the way things have gone this season, it was an all too familiar sight. During the second period, the arena host of the Sound Tigers — they brought everyone and everything with them, even the goal horn — asked a fan a trivia question: how many players have suited up for both the Islanders and Sound Tigers this season? Twenty. That’s almost an entire roster.
You’re Welcome, Pittsburgh: Former Islanders captain Bill Guerin is still hard at working helping his old team. He had two goals last night against the Flyers including the overtime winner to put the Penguins up 2-0 in their first round series. If the Pens can win two more games, the Islanders conditional pick obtained for Guerin at the deadline will turn into a third rounder.
Comments.
28 Responses to MAJOR/MINOR LEAGUE MASHUP
Game Two at the Coliseum Tonight
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19 ISLE in NJ 22 says:
Yeah Staten Islander … or at least a 2nd rounder if the Pens get to the Semi-Finals … and 1st rounder if they get into the finals. The Pens were fighting for a playoff spot before Guerin after all … and he’s a big reason they’ve been hot.
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cusi says:
i was thinking the same thing. even if it was the pens win a stanley cup and guerin gets 5 goals in the playoffs it turns into a 2nd or something. wonder if that was even talked about?
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Booten says:
agreed. If all the conditions were moved up a slot i’d like that trade a whole lot more (i.e. originally a 4th, 3rd for playoffs, 2nd for series win) but no complaints with an extra 3rd rounder if that’s the case.
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StevieL says:
Plain and simple, Guerin was dumped! The guy is playing first line with Crosby and the Power Play. He is a team leader for them and is scoring and winning games for them! A perfect match! Once again we are on the wrong end of a trade! Big whoop! We get something like the 80th player in this years draft! Please!
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Coach B says:
What did Guerin have 4 goals in his last 25 games as an Islander? He did not have much trade value at the time.
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So those of you who are unhappy think that the team would be better off without the 3rd round pick and if Guerin was playing golf right now as an Islander?
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I’d argue that Guerin wasn’t able to reach his full potential on the Isles since he didn’t have a dynamic center like Crosby to play with. Guerin made a lot happen at times on the ice (slow as he may be) … that opened things up … but to no avail…. when he was lined up with Weight and Dougy was healthy Guerin was able to do a whole lot more. Lets not forget … he led the team I think with 15 goals when he was pulled from the lineup .. not a lot … but it says a whole lot about the team’s offensive prowess.
Guerin is renewed under the Pens … I wish him luck.
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Kevin .. BTW .. enjoyed your piece there … I can fully appreciate the surealness of last night’s game… tonight you can write another piece about the game with a lil Steve Serling flavor to start it off… ala the Twilight Zone.
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isles72 says:
billy said all the right things as captain of the isles but to be quite honest its a 2 year span of islander history not worth remembering
kudos to snow for making the deal escalate to a 3rd rounder if pens advance to the next round .who knows , maybe its that pick + sanjoses #1 pick combined that allows the isles to move up a bit in the draft
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hale says:
from a b’port season ticket holder…it took me 2 and a half hours to get their because of traffic…my seats were supoose to be comprabable to my b’port ones and i ended up no where close with obstructed views and it totally felt like a road game for us..i hope tonight is better
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lefty says:
No ChrisTMC, many of us wish Snow would of gotten more for him. Snow is no master of trades, that is for sure.
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Lefty- I didnt even really want to trade the guy, but I just dont see the huge difference in all this when all is said and done. If Garth had gotten a 1st, 3rd, and McAmmond for Comrie, Camps and Guerin I think everyone would have been OK with it. Well, ultimately that is what happened. You always wish you got more for someone, thats totally natural. But a this is not robbery or unfair or anything to get mad over IMO, it just- is.
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sec301 says:
did anyone see the tsn off season report on the isles? scott gordon said himself that the isles dont have much fire power upfront i think with that being said he wants tavares i just hope that snow isnt as thick headed as we think he is
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Blizzard says: Good for Guerin a class guy. And lets remember that his value was minimal at the deadline. He was not part of the rebuild but draft picks are. Looks like a third rounder which is fine with me. I cheered when he scored the OT winner! As for Gilroy…..who cares really. How quickly everyone forgets that Snow signed Striet. Watch I know snow will do it again. In my eyes he is developing into a fine GM. Classy rebuke to Burke, and holding his cards close to his vest.
The future looks bright, I can feel it.
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Merrick says:
Guerin is a class act. In the Versus post-game/on-ice interview he said he enjoyed his time on Long Island and understood the Isles were going in another direction.
For those at the game last night, even though the AHL is one of the best leagues in the world, isn’t it amazing how much faster, crisper, and better play is in the NHL–even if it’s the Islanders.
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Heineken says:
Guerin is a deff fit for pens, He will sign there for 1 year. Hopefully the s.tigers win tonight!
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Joe says:
CB- just saw this posted on a message board:
http://torontosportsmedia.com/sports-and-toronto/john-tavares-property-toronto/
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It bad enough that we are out of it. Now the Rangers are up 2-0. The Queen with a 1-0 win in Washington this afternoon.
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bob says:
You can’t tell me that the Rangers with Dubinsky netting the winner in Game 1, Callahan netting the winner in game 2, with a young in the Queen starring, with two young d-man gaining more valuable experience in Girardi and Staal, with Blair Betts and Sjostrom coming of age with the team leading a terrific (if not the best in the league) penalty kill duo…. would have been better off tanking the season like the Isles did, and picking first in the draft.
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db says:
19 bob the isles didnt tank they just werent good. although the funniest line was betts and sjostrom coming of age that is laughable. dubinsky with all of his 2 goals the last 40 games of the season. you better keep winning games 1-0, 2-1 because you are not going to score more than 2 goals a game the rest of the series.
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isles3113 says:
did neone else who watched the capitals game realize that they did the chicken dance song and the fans chanted “the rangers suck” just like we did??
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The strongest aspect of the Rangers game is their terrific penalty kill, and it is led by the relentless effort of Betts and Sjostrom. In my opinion they are the unsung heroes of that team. I mean, the number ranking speaks for itself. And I’m not a Ranger fan, I am an Islander fan.
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Outside says:
im pretty sure the majoirty of east coast teams use the raggies suck chant.. you can hear it many times.. its been done in boston,nj,philly,pitt,wash,carolina as far as i know…
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themass says:
Damn…only 4k+ showed up… Maybe they should have just kept the game at Harbor Yard. No wonder the team came out flat for the first half of the game
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Sesame Street on Ice invaded Harbor Yard even though the Sound Tigers requested these dates to be blacked out. They’re at the Coliseum because they had nowhere else to play.
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isles3113 (21) You mean like we used to before we werent allowed to anymore? Isnt it something that the Caps are allowed to rag on the Rags and we arent!
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Lefty says:
Chris TMC,
What do you mean you weren’t allowed to?
I’m beginning to think that that pick for Guerin should have been a conditional 2nd round pick instead of 3rd