On the Islanders Beat

Your right..It was a goal and there's a huge conspiracy against the Islanders....Too bad,so sad.

Boo Hoo!

You know we're going to win that cup, me and the Buffalo Sabres, yeah,yeah,yeah.

We here in Buffalo have not seen this so-called video that supposedly exists regarding the controversal "no goal." Everything we've seen exonerates the official. I'd like to see the proof, otherwise quit whining.

The video was shown on television, if you Tivo, open your eyes and watch it again. You won, congrats but do not play stupid. The NHL did a disservice to everyone by sucking the life out of a very exciting game and a memorable finish. Admit your mistake, otherwise you look like liars who are covering up. Just admit it and let's all move on. Buffalo is a great team, if this GOAL was called correctly, it would have been an exciting finish to say the least and anything could have happened! So livid, so disappointed - feel cheated :-(

I heard that Geroge W. Bush was behind this. Better get Al Sharpton involved quickly.

If I saw the video I'd readily admit the mistake, god knows we've been victims of horrendous calls over the years.But to state I'm a liar or covering it up proves what a jack ass you are. You're right, if the goal counted the game goes to OT and anything can happen. Next you're probably going to tell me that Vanek's goal in game three never went in either and I actually saw the proof in that case.

Jeff,

Just wondering if you have been able to see the replay from in front of the net which in my opinion the goal is pretty clear.....watching the highlights on espn, nhl.com and tsn and they never show that replay...espn and nhl dont even show the incident at all, like it never happened..tsn highlights just show the overhead view which I thought was inconclusive

i agree an explanation that makes would be nice but its too late now...on to game 5...

What's up everybody. Good to read all the comments of the regulars - well stated. And great comments from the newcomer d. islanders. Great stuff.

My 2 cents has to do with what should be the perspective of a Sabres fan. If you're a Sabres fan, you should be outraged. Why? Because you have a great team - speed, skill, strength, goaltending - all the ingredients to win the cup. And you might very well win it. But if my team was sitting as #1 seed and playing the #8 seed, and if I saw just how competitive and close this series has become, I would certainly want to make sure that no one could ever make the claim that my Stanley Cup winning run was tainted. But to any objective observer - yes, that's right, objective - who saw the no-goal call in the Ranger game in March, who saw the no-goal/goal call in game 3, who saw the minor rather than major penalty and game misconduct after Blake was pile-driven from behind into the boeards, who saw the no-goal call last night and witnessed the contradictory and non-sensical statements from the referee and the league in the aftermath... this would be a tainted and suspect victory for the Sabres if they indeed do go on the next round. If the Sabres were MY team, and my team won the cup, I want there to be no doubt about its legitimacy. Well, any chance of that went out the window last night. You can now claim to have been robbed almost as badly as the Islanders. The evidence is clear and it's out there. It can be reasonably argued that your number one seeded team won the cup because thay got a first round by against a number 8 seeded team that gave you all you could handle - and more. And that you needed "breaks" to get past them. Yes, you may have won anyway. But the evidence and doubts will always be there.

So if I'm a Sabres fan this morning I'm pissed off. The league has destined that my stanley cup, if won, will forever be tainted. It's a shame for the Islanders, it's a shame for the Sabres, and it's even more of a shame for the sport of hockey.

I know isles tv has the highlights of the game that shows the angle I was referring to earlier...anyone know if it is possible to post that link to this?

Thank you Garth- us fans need to know your doing what you can.

and 5 on 5- goals being called goals

penalties being called fair

we all know how the series would end...

shame the sabres need the NHL to help them win

Should the Sabres win this series it wouldn't feel tainted to me. I'm sure when the Dallas Stars won the cup over Buffalo in '99 when Brett Hull had his skate illegally in the crease, those fans don't feel tainted. I'm sure when the New England Patriots won their first Super Bowl, when they got that crazy it wasn't a fumble but rather a "tuck" they don't feel tainted. But to the point - All I'm saying is I'd like to see the replay that the Islanders are referring to, that's all. If the official blew it then he blew it - I just want to see it, that's all. As for this series, I give the Islanders a ton of credit - they've played well, I was at game 2. But for the Sabres to win the cup they will need to play better - and I'm sure we won't feel tainted!

Next year the NHL should just go with 7 playoff teams and the #1 seed can get a bye into the second round. It seems that the NHL wants to do whatever it takes to ensure that the #1 seed advances after last year's embarrasment in the Western Conference. The NHL wants to believe that the regular season has meaning, but if the lower seeds continue to beat or even annihilate the higher seeds (ie. Rangers v. Thrashers) it confirms the limited meaning of the regular season. PS The Sabres have never won a cup and will not do so with this lineup. A well designed gameplan by a physical team will take them out easily.

Irate-

What makes you say that? A controversal goal? - Happens all the time. As far as your prediction - You may be right, we shall see.

Islanders TV has a clear video (front angle) of the loose puck sitting there and witt knocking in the puck between miller's pads and into the back of miller's pads before anyone hits miller. While it is tough to see the redline in the video, right before it, isles tv shows the overhead view - you see witt hit the puck, miller go into the net, and the puck come out towards the back of his pads. It is clear that that portion of the pads was in the net when Witt struck the puck - hence goal. If they give Vanek a goal by saying there was no way it couldnt have gone in even though there is no picture of it actually crossing the line, this fits the same description.

Amazing how all of the highlight reels (NHL, ESPN, TSN) are barely showing this. The NHL knows it really screwed this one up.

This sis from the Buffalo News...

Twenty years to the day he scored in the fourth overtime to give the Islanders a victory over the Washington Capitals in the Patrick Division semifinals, Pat LaFontaine returned to Nassau Coliseum — this time as a guest of Sabres owner B. Thomas Golisano.

LaFontaine, who resigned his position in the tumultuous Islanders’ front office before the season, watched Game Four from Golisano’s suite.

I felt betrayed by LaFontaine when he quit. I think I feel worse now. This is pretty insulting.

Even if the goal was allowed, I doubt the Islanders would have won anyway. The way I see it, they are playing a very passive game. Where's the hitting? Why do they just stand there in front of their own net, and not even try to crowd the Sabres forwards?

The third period was pathetic - the Islanders couldn't keep control of the puck. As soon as they had it, there were two Sabres on top of the puck carrier, who immediately went into panic mode and tried to pass it, usually resulting in a turnover.

Even the teams grinders weren't grinding.

agree SD...

this may work...copy and paste into browser..

http://iptv.newyorkislanders.com:8888/IslandersTV_VOD/Islelights_BUFgame4.wmv

Hockey must be a great game to have survived all the jackasses at league headquarters.

Screwed? GMAB. Series is even up all the way around.

Game 2 was the Ronaldo goal non-review and stick-hold/hooking call. +1 Isles.

Game 3 was the Vanek goal overrule (looked a lot like the Cullen goal yesterday, didn't it?) and penalty against Afinogenov (which was an automatic call, arm was in the air for the hook when Poti's stick came up and drew blood). Even if had been two instead of 4, the 5-on-3 still cashed and the additional PP did not. No difference. Still, call it +1 Sabres, with much wailing and gnashing of teeth from Nolan et al.

Game 4 was phantom Vanek penalty leading to Isles goal (+1 Isles), and no goal call upheld on the ice (+1 Sabres). Blake penalty was not a major, Numminen was angling to boards toward Blakes right and Blake veered to block Numminen off and went off balance. 2 minutes is the right call there. Isles cash the PP anyway. Just the same, cue wailing, gnashing of teeth, and vast conspiracy theories from Nolan et al.

So the balance of the series is: Isles got beat in Game 1, and lost Game 4 because they couldn't clear their zone for two-thirds of the game, and because Bergeron showed why he got traded. Chalk one up to reffing for each side in games 2 and 3.

Don't judge the balance of 'breaks' simply by the amount of noise being made by the respective coaches.

Someone above mentioned that Buffalo fans should be PO'd that the series is so close - but in fact, that's the way the whole year has gone for the Sabres. Most of their wins were tight games, many in OT or shootout.

Also, we in Buffalo remember Ted Nolan, and how well he can get a team to play to its maximum potential. We're not surprised nor are we disappointed.

I really like Ted Nolan's style, and if he were not playing the Sabres I'd be rooting for him.

None of us in Buffalo saw the replay you are referring to (the one across from Miller that apparently showed the puck loose). Every replay I saw was inconclusive at best.

Is there an online version of this view so we can see for ourselves?

see link above Mike...

Oh, nevermind, I saw the replay link posted above.

It's tough to tell with this version of the video (which is heavily compressed) but I still don't see *conclusive* evidence here. The puck was loose, but I didn't see it go in. A mass of players blocked the view just after Witt poked at it.

Maybe the high res video shows more? Why didn't the NHL have this view?

To Mr. McBeef:

Ronaldo goal non-review and stick-hold/hooking call? Phantom Vanek penalty leading to Isles goal? You've gotta be kidding, right? We can play that "should've been called" / "bad call" game all day long. That stuff all evens out. It's the video review of goals/non-goals that doesn't even out when the criteria for whether or not an on-ice call is overturned isn't applied consistently.

Chalk game 4 to the Isles not being able to clear their zone for 2/3 of the game? You're groping for a legitimate reason for the victory. You're trying to make yourself feel better about the gift you were given with 1:30 left in the 3rd period. And if you really think the hit on Blake wasn't a "hit from behind" as defined in the rules, you're either sight impaired or you just don't understand the rules of ice hockey. If that had been Briere's head hitting the boads you'd be screaming bloody murder.

The only sound of weeping and teeth knashing is coming from you're weak attempt to somehow justify the ineptitude of the league as it handed you a regulation time victory.

Score more goals and this wouldn't be an issue.

Hey Tom... the fact that your statement can be applied to either of the teams shows that it's meaningless and irrelevant to the issues raised. Nice try.

Jeffrey P. DePasquale, you are a jackass, learn how to read. I said the NHL should admit their mistake, not you. Relax killer, you won.

Listen this arguing can go on for days. The NHL has got serious issues with the league, the replays, the decisions and the officiating all around.

The changes that have been made to this game for the last few year are hurting not helping. The two refs, making it harder for them and the fans. How often do you ever see both the refs raise their hands at the same time? ALMOST NEVER!

How often do you see the call made by the guy by the red line not the one 5 feet from the play? TOO OFTEN!
How is it that a penalty for tapping a guys thigh is two minutes, yet people get boarded and thats two as well. The new rules to stop the clutching and grabbing subtract from the sport.

The battles in front of the net? Ask any old time player what it took to score a goal in the goalies kitchen. IT TOOK A BEATING!

What are the things that attract us the good fans to the sport? OLD TIME HOCKEY!

I sat there last night in the Garden watching the video that lead the Rangers to taking the ice. Things you see in that video. GOALS, BIG GOALS THAT DEFINE THE SEASON, HITS, BIG HITS, GUYS BATTLING AND GUYS LIKE SHANNY DROPPING THE GLOVES WITH BRASHEAR.

The new European look and feel to the NHL hurts! Another thing I don't like about the playoffs this year. I don't know if you guys have seen it in the Islanders series but, the refs in the Rangers series have done all they can to take the fighting out of the playoffs. Anytime there is a guy on the ice with the potential to drop the gloves the linesmen get right by his side at the sound of the whistle and almost escort him off the ice.

Sad times are coming for our sport if they don't stop all the changes and go back to the way things were.

Also to the Buffalo fans.

I am a Rangers fan and call it bias if you want. Buffalo does not get engraved on the cup this year.

No Way!

I am not saying that because the Rangers swept and are moving on. The team is not built for it. There is other teams that will have your number for sure!

I watched all the videos Cincy. Vanek goal, Cullen goal, Witt no-goal. Here's the score.

1. Vanek goal. You can see the puck in, across the line, on the Vs feed.

2. Cullen goal. You can see the puck in, across the line, on the overhead.

3. Witt goal. Even with the ice level, you cannot see the puck in, across the line, until it pops out from under Miller AFTER he's been shoved into the net. You see it loose, you see Satan and Witt swipe, and you see the puck disappear as Miller closes his legs.

Believe it or not, there is a rule that you can't just shoot a puck into a goalie and bullrush him into the net while he's got it covered, or everyone would do it every time.

There is no view that shows a loose puck in the net, over the goal line, before Miller gets shoved in.

That's what you need for it to be a goal and it didn't happen. Period. Case closed.

Now go get your ****in' shinebox.

Homerism is fine. Homerism in defiance of logic and plain facts is, well, what y'all are doing.

DP, congrats no the Rangers. Very impressive series. Good luck round two. I can only hope the Isles pull something out of the air against the Sabres that maybe allows us to meet you guys later on. Great points about old time hockey. You are absolutely right about the two ref system. What I do not understand is why the second ref cannot consult with the ref behind the net and tell him his POV. It was clear on the angle in front of the net that Miller was not pushed into the net until AFTER the puck crossed the goal line. I am probably wrong and do not know if the trailing ref has any say in a situation like that, but I cannot get that out of my mind. That being said we just have to think about game 5 and move on. All you Sabres fans who think they have a clear road to the cup think again. If you think the Isles are going to roll over and give you the series think again. And if you guys think that you will coast through the next rounds (being you get that far) think again. LETS GO ISLANDERS!!

Uhh, Cincy, that statement can't be applied to the Sabres. They obviously scored enough goals to win, so your rebuttal is meaningless.

I guess I'll add my two cents here.
I can really understand the Buffalo fans not wanting to hear the Isles whining about all of the bad calls. As an Islander fan I don't want to take anything away from their victory, any of the three. But also as an Islander fan this SEASON has been tainted from the get go. You can go all the way back to the Avery (as a King) spearing... and just roll it forward. Year after year the Isles are teh most penalized team in the league. I just don't see it.
To me the biggest call of teh year was by Campbell and that ridiculous and precedent setting suspension of Simon. There was something much deeper to that call than the on ice infraction. Hollweg wasn't even hurt.
I won't even use a historical reference... just the one that Nolan used. WHY??? Why aren't these morons held accountable for their actions.
Now we've had three controversial goal calls that have had important roles in our season. ALL THREE WERE RULED AGAINST US. WHY???
Why is there even a Toronto. Does the NFL go to NY to make it's replay decisions? Does teh NBA... major league baseball... THE NHL is a MICKEY MOUSE operation, run by GOOFY!
BETTMAN SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE for making the third sport in north America a non-issue.
He's got to go!
He wants a franchise in an unfilled market he's doing everything he can to get it there... Pittsburg... now the Islanders... WELL FU Gary Bettman.
You'll be going back to your job as the hose cleaner at the zamboni factory before the Isles leave NY.
What has he given the NHL, let's see:
A LOCKOUT
AN NHL where Eastern Fans get to see western Canadian teams once every presidential election cycle. Why don't we just play 82 games against one team...
Oh yeah.. and the Nashville predicates can play the columbus blue bonnets all year... would anybody even know.

Hockey in:
Atlanta... I guess the dismal attendance of the flames didn't prove anything. Southerners love their hockey now...
Carolina...which does excellent TV numbers competing against 200 NCAA basketball teams in a 50 mile radius.
Columbus, Nashville, Tampa, Anaheim, Dallas and Phoenix… why, why, why, why, why, and why?

And then there is TORONTO. Is “TORONTO” even in Toronto, or is it just the transgendered lover of Gary Bettman that answers his phone. Is that his/her first name, or it’s last name… and when it’s refered to as “the league office in ‘Toronto”’ I think we can safely assume that the “league office is what gary calls little gary.

Okay… that was at least 8 cents… but I’m done.

If you get past us, good luck Buffalo fans. You definitely have on helluva team. Sorry you had to be part of the sh!tstorm…

JP: "To me the biggest call of teh year was by Campbell and that ridiculous and precedent setting suspension of Simon."

So let me get this straight: you're defending swinging a stick at a guys' face in retaliation for taking a check? Nice.

Want precedent? Look up Brad May on Steve Heinze.

Joe,

Like I said before I hope they bring it home to the Coliseum so you guys can get past all of this and let the team know how you feel about the season. Just like the Rangers this year after what happened in the first round last year the Islanders will be a stronger team after all of this next year.

Honestly, with being at the Garden I have not seen this goal so I won't comment or pretend. I am talking more about the penalties.

I personally would rather see one ref. Like the old days. No meeting between refs.

Buffalo will meet their match just like the Rangers. But, like they say you got to beat the best to be the best. Nobody gets handed the cup!

Can fault the Sabres or their organization, they played hard and had nothing to do with a bogus none-goal call. Can't fault their fans, who support there team much like we support our Isles. Can't blame the League for the blown call, as it left it up to the ref to make the descision-but we can blame them for not admiting it was a blown call. The fault is squarely on the ref. He chose to basically decide the game. Its disgusting. The league should retrain this useless, stupid, lazy ref or just fire him. But it would never do that, since the league won't admit there was a mistake in the call. That is just sad. No wonder this league has a problem keeping fans into the game. Fix the bad officiating.

I watched the game last night, saw the goal, then the ref wave it off right as he see's the puck behind Miller. It was obvious. Watch the replays on IslandersTv for those that do not believe. Watch where the puck is when the ref waves his hands.

A friend of mine (die-hard Rangers fan) called me this morning, i thought at first to gloat over the rags win over the thrashers. but instead to tell me how sorry it was that the Isles were blantly robbed. he put the game on after the rags won there game, and he was shocked.

Im shocked, and pissed myself.

I am a huge Isles fax since 1981 and I am disgraced at the officiating in this series thus far. We are basically 2 calls away from either being tied 2-2 or maybe even up 3-1 but at least the 2-2 would look a whole lot better. I have to say though, I do not agree with the "league is out to get us theory". I just think you have refs that have made glaring errors and it has cost us big time!!!! My biggest problem with these obvious mistakes is that I wish I could mess up that often in my position and not have it cost me more than a phone call to Toronto to explain the incorrect call I had just made! Absolutely absured!! Bottom line to, if Yashin, Satan, Kozlov, Blake had more than 1 goal between them in this series we are not even talking about these calls. They need more from all of these guys!!!

this pulled from a BUFF newspaper. just more evidence that they know nothing from up there...."Nassau Coliseum erupted when it appeared the Islanders had scored after a long stalemate that lasted nearly two full periods. Former Sabres winger Miroslav Satan plunged head-first into a crease pileup, and defenseman Brendan Witt went feet first to bowl over Sabres goalie Ryan Miller. The puck slid over the line, but referee Mike Leggo waved it off."

Some other interesting info about the non goal last night....

After the puck went in the net, Islanders center Mike Sillinger was told by the referees that the decision of “goal or no goal” would ultimately be made by NHL headquarters in Toronto.

In a phone conversation after the game, Stephen Walkom, the NHL VP and Director of Officiating, told Islanders general manager Garth Snow that the call was made by the referees on the ice

Walkom told Snow the referees disallowed the goal because Islanders defenseman Brendan Witt crashed into Buffalo goaltender Ryan Miller, causing the puck to cross the goal line.

There is at least one clear, definitive replay that shows the puck sitting on the goal line between Miller's legs and then Brendan Witt, uncontested, skating in and slamming the puck into the net. Not a player on either team touches Miller until well after the puck crosses the goal line. Witt never touches Miller at all

WOW WAT A JOKE THE NHL IS...THEY DONT EVEN KNOW HOW TO COVER THERE OWN @$$

My two cents as a Sabres fan-

The Vanek goal was clearly a goal, NHL made the right call.

The Witt no-goal - *looked* like a goal. Looks like it got tapped and went back *just* before Miller got plowed. While there's no view of the puck behind the goal line, it certainly seems likely that's where it ended up. I can understand the official's point of view, but I think it should have been 3-3. Sabres woulda beat the Isles in OT anyway ;-), but I understand the frustration.

Penalties? I think they've been consistently bad. Both teams have gotten away with stuff that should be called. It's not like the Sabres haven't bee on the receiving end. Remember when Chris Neil drilled Drury just 6 weeks ago? I feel for ya that Blake got nailed and a sufficient penalty wasn't called, but that seems to be the M.O. in the playoffs. Let's face it... the NHL gets all shy & timid about calling penalties this time of year... kind of a joke.

I don't think it's a NHL-vs-you thing, as I don't think you guys had been getting jobbed before the Witt no-goal.

Mr. McBeef,

I actuallyhave alot of respect for the Buffalo Organization...the players are a first rate class act...their fans however are starting to sound like Buffalo Bill fans...cry babies and living in denial.

That puck was shot in the net and the puck was 2 feet past the goal line by the time Miller went over the line..in fact Miller was pratically in the net before Witt SHOT, yes shot the puck in....the puck actually hit the back of the net, it wasn't just pushed in.

Homerism is fine...but practice what you preach. When we reach for the shinebox, our fists will be up your f***ing a**.

Look beefy... have you seen it. It warranted a 5-10 game suspension at best. But the media ran away with it. Then campbel made it a MINIMUM... with NO MAXIMUM.
25 games minimum. If the Islanders are in the playoffs it will be the rest of THEIR season.
Is that not subjective.
Three options:
rest of the regular season which was 15 games,
rest of the season(including playoffs),
or a specific number of games.
Show me where anybody else had that kind of language where no injury was done... and after the perp was just BOARDED!
Not to mention, if you look at it, he hits that weasel in the chest and the stick rides up to his chops. If the call was going the other way it might have been 2 mins for slashing.
take the Brashear-Witt incident.
Brashear gets 2 mins.
A few weeks later, I think it was Tootoo (but i may be wrong) gets suspended for a similar infraction.
Double standard?

One thing I also noticed (never mentioned before) is that we have no center ice camera at Nassau Coliesum. In fact the camera work at Islanders games is always horrible - where at MSG you get great camera angles and full puck coverage. In the corners at the the isles games, you can't see the puck at all. The NHL knows this and would rather have any other team continue in the playoffs. Thus, the so called "bad breaks" with the refs. Everyone calls it crying but TOO MANY of these bad calls are more than a matter of bad luck.

Being from Buffalo and a hockey fan all of my life, I am appaled by the behavior of the fans and for that matter the islander coach, Buffalo had a horrible call in the stanley cup playoff years ago, Goal or no goal... show some class, officiating plays a major part in all sports, be happy you even made it to the playoffs, you could be Philly.

I think the Islanders lost because Mike Leggo had some CA stock that went into the tank with Sanjay's and Charlies misdoings!

The article said Garth Snow and his assistant showed a frame-by-frame analysis that clearly showed it in... why not post each frame as an image with a timestamp, instead of as a movie? Wouldn't that clear it all up?

Still wouldn't change the result, but then we could dispense with the argument move on. No?

your calling us and our fans (bills fans and sabres) cry babies? look at all of the islander fans posts here and i believe it becomes pretty clear who's crying here

I am an Islander fan and I am also realistic. Did we as fans really think our team would come out on top of this series? Yes they have played hard but I agree with Sabre Fan Officiating plays a huge roll every team has bad calls, i don't believe its a conspiracy, I think Buffalo is just a much better team, and by the way I was horribly embarassed at the junk throwing at both games, we are better people than that, also at the game the horrible obsenity yelled in the begining of game 3, Lets not give Buffalo a reason to make us bad fans.

People from Buffalo telling Isles fans to show some class? Are you kidding me? Ever been to a Bills game? Not only are they ignorant but they are abusive....

Back to hockey....The Sabres fans at the coliseum last night were disgusting. They simply do not know hockey. They were just there to stir stuff up, and many of them got their clocks cleaned. Not saying it is right, but many deserved it! Oh and by the way EVERY single one of them had a NEW jersey on...Bunch of Johnny come latelys!

With that said Buffalo has a great team. But to say that bad calls have not played a part in this series is ridiculous. The Sabres are a #1 seed and a hell of a team. On top of that they have gotten help! If this happened in Buffalo cars would have been on fire! That is a fact!

I would not stop and take a dump in Buffalo...You can smell that place from Toronto...Instead of Porter Potties at games they should have showers. Did any of you get a glimpse at the dregs of society that showed up to our coliseum last night? Congrats on the win. If you won a bet on it, take the money and buy some soap!

I have to laugh at the Sabres trolls posting here.

These are the same whiny babies who have been crying over Brett Hulls goal for eight years.

I also think it funny that these guys lecturing other fans on "class" are the same group of idiots that chanted TKO when a player was injured on their ass. Not to mention that their newest stunt is that Blake threw himself headfirst into the boards last night and faked his injury.

Gimme a break.

If it takes the best team in Hockey all these BS calls to beat the eighth seed then I suppose they have a lot to be happy about. I don't think Islanders fans should pay these guys any mind.

Their team shouldn't gain and respect or bragging rights off of this series. I think the people across the league kinda see Buffalo's lead in this series as illegitimate.

The Isles should be up 3-1 right now or at least this series be tied.

as a resident of buffalo and studnt of UB I would like to responde to those of you you have to sink to insulting our great city on the internet... get a life.

Now, if I may, to sink to your level. My college is infested, yes infested, the cause? long islanders.

those people must be the cockiest, loudest, and most unenjoyable people i have ever met. long islanders have proved to be the most annoying part of my college expereince. between the nasaly voices that cut through glass, the lemming-like desire to follow eachother's moves in ugly style (where did the ponytail off the side of the head come from, and thier sheer arrogance I can say while you wont stop to take a dump in buffalo, thats fine by me. I love my city and my teams, you guys just love yourselves

Freaking shame. Loggo blew that one big time. But its over and now we have to win to live another day in Buffalo, home of the usless inbreds. (senseless knock at sabres fans...I'm entitled to at least one.) All in all the sabres do not look like a powerhouse. In fact I think if the islanders could land a shot or two on goal, they'd look like the better team in this series. But then again, Im sure the refs/NHL would find a way for the sabres to win anyway...

Tom: Your winning margin came from the ref. Maybe a few extra IQ points will help you to understand that.

Beef: Interesting argument. It's just that you forgot one thing - the facts on Witts goal. You're posting to this blog, so I assume you read Logan's factual account (the article to which your comments are attached). Based on that assumption, you know that their was no "bull rush" of Miller that pushed the puck into the net.

Let's be clear - we both know it's futile to argue calls and non-calls on penalties. As I've already said, those things ultimately even out anyway. But disputed goals are a different story, especially when occuring in the context that Islanders observers have witnessed in the last month. This may shed some light for you...

Early March... Isles scored a goal in the last seconds of the game that was called no-goal on the ice. Video review clearly showed the puck across the goal line - but, in the words of the league, because the only view was from the FRONT, what was seen could've been caused by ab "optical illusion". Hence, the view was not definitive.

Game 3... Vanek scores a goal that is ruled "no-goal" by the on-ice official. Again, a FRONT view appears to show the puck disappear behind the near post, before moving exactly parallel to the goal line, on top of the goal line. This time, the fact that it was a FRONT view is ignored, as is the fact that the puck is never actually seen to be acoss the line. The FRONT view is deemed valid and the no-goal call is overturned.

Game 4... Although you refuse to admit this, there are plenty of both biased AND impartial viewers who have seen the replays of Witt's goal shown to the media by Snow, all of which were played on broadcasts of the game. Again, a FRONT view clearly shows the puck being knocked into the net BEFORE Miller is touched. But this time there's more. A top view shows that Miller is already in the net after making the initial save, and before he's touched. The call this time? You guessed it... no-goal.

To recap... Early March - no-goal call against the Isles; reason=inconclusive because front view. Game 3... goal call against the Isles; reason=conclusive even tho a front view. Game 4... no-goal call against the Isles; reason=contradictory.

If it looks like a duck, and sounds like a duck... it's a smoking gun. This one was a hose job.

All of you whiney asses should just shut up or move to Canada, so you all can go play hockey with each other and take the NHL with you. Hockey sucks and has become such a sissy sport after the strike. It doesn't even deserve to be an 'American' sport!

To all of the bottle/debris throwing morons....You've given our team and community a black eye. As a season ticket holder of over 15 years, I watched a 7 yr old boy donning his Isles jersey get hit in the back of the head with a practically full beer last night....are you kidding me??? throw crap from the higher levels...I'm embarassed beyong belief.

I was born and raised in long island and then went to college and married a man from Buffalo, Where I live now. I am of course torn at this series because I'd like to see either team win. I do however have a comment...Hockey in Buffalo can not be compared to Football, The Buffalo Hockey fans are great awesome people truely a different breed from the Buffalo footbal fans, and as for cars being lit on fire.. won't happen if you remember Sabres lost game 7 of the Eastern finals last year, fans were dissappointed but not destructive, As for Islanders fans great people too, but as I watched the game the other night, I was sadend by the response from you. The garbage and bottle throwing made our great city look shameful. Lets enjoy hockey, Bad calls and all, it's not personal.

I just wanted to agree with pissed off old guy, It's great and exciting to be so passionate about your team but why do it the way you did, those many of you that threw things made this comminity look like scums.

Dear Buffalo fans:

Why can't you terd-herders acknowledge the NHL gift-wrap the game to you last night? Even you 4-time super-bowl losers have to admit the explanation handed down by the NHL has "holes" in it. After last night I understand why hockey has lost soo many fans. I agree with many of you...this series has been called horribly for both squads. Just one bad call after another. It is a shame because the effort is there from both sides. And it is frustrating from a fan perspective because you pay to watch these games and this is the product (refs) we get in return. I used to be stick up for the NHL...not any more.

ok...I love Hockey...I am from Long Island, married a guy from college who is a sabre fan, I live in "sabre land" and I am still true to my team and the friggin islanders have been cheated this time. I am tired of listening to sabres fan complaining about not seeing what they showed on Long Island...its the same video and the NHL needs to admit there mistake. My husband even said at first it looked like a goal....and said, how does it feel to be robbed...I said..hold on and let me go order a Dallas Stars Jersey to wear....This is just bad ref calling in a series in which the nhl wants to just hand the sabres a cup to make up for its mistake years ago

Cincy, thanks for the description. I haven't seen the video clips you speak of. The only one I saw was from the back, which was the Refs view.

I think that the Ref made the right call from his vantage point. If another angle showed otherwise, Toranna should have caught that.

Clearly, the players must have thought it was a goal. They just sank after it was disallowed.

If emotion and heart can carry them this far, it can also sink them.

I think Nolan has to change up the lines to give them a fresh start.

Oh, and Yanks Rule! I assume you are the US equivalent of some idiots up here in Canada. They take cheap shots at the States when the closest they've come to meeting an American is watching TV alone with a remote in one hand and the other hand between their legs.

Kevin T.

To those who are bashing fellow Islander fans:

Give it a break....support the team and it fans. Please dnt be embarassed by our fans...be embarassed by how the game is called. Yes fans threw things on the ice...but did you see that tripping call? I know there are other ways to vent frustrations but people get caught up in the moment. Our fans realize how important these games are. But last nights call was even worse and for the most part our fans keep themselves in check. So to all you bashers-get a life- and learn to stand up for yourself!

Oh and one more thing. Melissa, you can tell your husband that we took notice when "sabre land" played both the Canadian and US anthem in game 1.

I've never seen that before and I don't know why they did it when no Canadian team was playing. But it was pretty damn cool!

Kevin T.

To the Sabre fans calling ted nolan classless. did you hear interview with coach ruff after game 3 where he accused Isles of aiming for Millers head. Sabres scouting report must not be that good. the isles can't even hit the net when shooting let alone aim for a head. As for getting all the breaks and calls your way, good luck when you play the Rags. Colin Cancer and Gary boy won't let their team (the rags) have calls against them. enjoy it while it lasts.
pierre

I am a Buffalo fan (please hear me out before you start sending hate mail).

1) I've looked at all the videos that have been made available to me. My feeling on this call is, well, I really don't know.

From the "mainstream" coverage, it looks like Miller makes the save, and you don't see the puck again until the scrum pushes him into the net.

From the FSNY feed, I see Witt take a poke at the puck, it go between Miller's legs, and then him closing the pads. Whether or not the puck was across the line or not, I really can't see.

Some of you have spoken of "blatantly obvious" proof that the puck was past the goal line - I'm not doubting your judgments, because like I said, I truthfully don't know if this was a goal or not - is it possible to take a screen cap of the point at which the puck is in the net before the scrum pushes it in?

2) At what point did the whistle blow? If the referee loses sight of the puck and blows the whistle, the play ends - regardless or not of the actual whereabouts of the puck. A few times last season (when I still had cable), the Sabres lost a few chances that way - the ref loses sight of the puck, blows the whistle...just as a forward is about to tip the rebound into the net.

Again, I'm not trying to cause an argument or gloat about a victory - the Islanders are playing the Sabres very very tough, and I'll admit that I saw Game 4 as a must-win game in the series. But if somebody could point out the point at which the puck is in the net, please do so.

Kevin T,
Didn't know that happened. That is pretty cool.

Not to start an argument. Just to talk and get your take on this. I have noticed quite a few times Canadian fans making noising and even booing to the US anthem. Whats up with that?

Imus and Gary Bettman,

2 of the funniest posts I've ever read.

Especially Bettman.

This is a classic statement from a classic moron....

"To those who are bashing fellow Islander fans:

Give it a break....support the team and it fans. Please dnt be embarassed by our fans...be embarassed by how the game is called. Yes fans threw things on the ice...but did you see that tripping call? I know there are other ways to vent frustrations but people get caught up in the moment. Our fans realize how important these games are. But last nights call was even worse and for the most part our fans keep themselves in check. So to all you bashers-get a life- and learn to stand up for yourself!

That's classic...get a life??? Goes to show you who was throwing the crap....Battfist....me battfist, me dummy.

I am an Islander fan and I was at both games 3 and 4. I readily admit that Buffalo is a better team and has had a better gameplan in this series. They have stifled our powerplay by taking away the point shots and caused even strength havoc with its 2 man forecheck. With that said, it is clear that the Islanders can play with this team, but they would need some breaks and bounces. Instead they have been on the short end of some of the poorest officiating that I have witnessed over 30 years watching hockey. Besides the review of the goals/non-goals, the penatly calling has been inconsistent and largely inaccurate. Whether by design or not, game 3 was atrocious with a phantom call on Bergeron handed the Sabres a 5 on 3 which was a turning point in the game to me, and then the phantom calls in the offensive zone in the 3rd period including Robitaille's with the goalie pulled. The officiating should not have a role in deciding a game. Game 4 was slightly better, but I would like to know why the hit on Blake was only a 2 minute minor. Conspiracy or not, the Islanders need some breaks and bounces to stay with the Sabres and it seems to be the Sabres getting the benefit of the officiating in the series.

listening to a radio in buffalo on the internet...
103.3 the edge (www.wedg.com)...they are picking on islander fans left and right....I called in the other day...i need TRUE islander support...its killing me...and at all games at the HSBC arena they play both anthems.

I'll take the moron and dummy statement...it is a classic line from some pissed off old man who thinks he knows all....
But if you have time I have no problem giving you the yellow discipline! You might like to be pissed on then pissed off. Oh and by the way-taking your 7 year old to any professional sporting event during the playoffs...might be a bad idea. Take it easy old man! you had your day--let it go!

Hey wah, wah...don't be so quick to jump on Logan. If you read his article after game 3 you would have thought he was a lifelong Buffalo resident and a diehard Sabres fan.

I haven't gotten to see the video replay of Witt's goal. That Islanders TV link that got posted shows me too small of a video for me to be able to see anything, but I just want to echo the calls that Bettman should go. After his rule changes, the refs call too many little taps as penalties. Is this basketball where you can't breath near a guy without getting called against? Hockey used to be a rough and tough sport where guys would take a beating for the fans and the love of the game. If you search on youtube there is a fan video of Islander-Ranger fights and hits from the past few years. Many of the fights were from the early 2000s. It shows you what hockey should be like today in 2007.

Vanek's ghost goal was just that. A ghost. No replay CLEARLY showed the puck over the line. Also, Robitaille's penalty at 1:30 left in Game 3? Talk about a bulls**t call. My only hope is that (if the Isles don't make it) the West Coast wins the cup this year. I'm not saying that had the calls gone better for the Isles that the series would be 2-2 or 3-1 in favor of the Isles, but it would have made it more enjoyable to watch an evenly officiated matchup. Tomorrow night is again do-or-die. It's the first week in April all over again, so I hope the guys can muster up enough to win and extend the series (hopefully to 7 at least).

Ryan:

1- Different camera angles showed each of these things... (a)puck at Millers feet while Miller was in the net, before he was touched (therefore, must conclude puck is at he goal line, then (b) Witt hits the puck, before Miller is touched, with the puck clearly moving off of Witt's stick, (c) the puck hits the back of the net. Remember, the on-ice and official call, not overruled by replay, was that Miller made the save and was pushed with the puck into the net.

2- In replays with sound the whistle was clearly heard after the puck hit the back of the net. That is not being disputed by anyone.

Can you see now why it's obvious the league blew this call? The refs official reason for disallowing the goal was clearly refuted by the video evidence, yet "Toronto" refused to overturn the call.

Yeah pissed off old guy,
you leave my little battfist alone..he not smart. I told him it waz OK to throw his beer and his pretzel and his nachos and his #1 Isles fan finger down on little children, just like it was done to him when he was a little boy. Now he's just my little battfist.

Momma battfist

Greg - Thanks for the pointed blog entry today. Please don't let this issue "die on the vine". Please continue to press the league for a response.

There is NO, repeat, NO esxcuse for throwing stuff on the ice. Someone in the stands or on the ice could get hurt. How would you feel then?

It was a goal. Miller was not hit until after the puck crossed the line. To argue otherwise is stupid.

Buffalo fans - we will stop talking about it when you stop whining about Hull. He did NOT INTERFERE with the goalie. That was always the rule. Give it up.

Is there a conspiracy against the Isles? I doubt it. I don't think Bettman cares enough about anything to pick on one team. Plus, he isn't smart enough to pull it off. The man has to go.

The problem is simple, there is too much deadweight on this team. Too many 3rd line players, and not enough 1st line guys. Smyth is the only forward who has shown up for EVERY GAME. Others have shown up here and there, but Smyth is battling all game long each game.

Yashin, Satan, Kozlov, GONE!

Get Okposo signed. Re-sign Smyth.
Get a top notch center.
Get defensive help.

Short term, EVERYBODY show up Friday and play hard for 60 minutes. Shoot the puck, and take care of your own end.

At 2:40pm "student" writes:
as a resident of buffalo and studnt of UB I would like to responde to those of you you have to sink to insulting our great city on the internet... get a life.

Now, if I may, to sink to your level. My college is infested, yes infested, the cause? long islanders.

those people must be the cockiest, loudest, and most unenjoyable people i have ever met. long islanders have proved to be the most annoying part of my college expereince. between the nasaly voices that cut through glass, the lemming-like desire to follow eachother's moves in ugly style (where did the ponytail off the side of the head come from, and thier sheer arrogance I can say while you wont stop to take a dump in buffalo, thats fine by me. I love my city and my teams, you guys just love yourselves

My reply: The word STUDENT is spelled with an E. The word RESPOND only has one. COCKIEST is not a word. Does your keyboard have a Shift key? Sentences start with a capital letter. EXPEREINCE is perhaps the UB spelling of EXPERIENCE. Oh, and feel free to throw in a period at the end of a thought.

I'm sure UB is quite proud of their top "studnt".

I am diehard Isles fan and am trying to take an objective look at this. I think the mounting frustration comes simply from the Vanek goal. I don't care what anyone says, no one would bet thier life that that puck went over the line; and as harsh as that sounds, that is the standard, clear non disbutable proof was needed to reverse that call. It simply was not there. We can deduct that it went it, but none of us are sure, and you have to clearly see it go over the line. If it had been ruled a goal on the ice, it would also have been equally difficult to overturn. But the fact remains, it was not ruled a goal on the ice; therefore it should not have been overturned. Had that the decision regarding that goal been handled directly, I don't think you would hear such a stink about last night's game. However, given that it was ruled a goal, the Islander goals against the Rangers and Sabres are also goals even if not called so on the ice. It is the inconsistent application of the review that is the reason that we, as Islander fans, are feeling slighted.

Just for fun, I would like to know who the supervisor(s) in Toronto has been reviewing the goals during the Islanders/Rangers game, and the two Buffalo/Isles playoff games when there have been contrversial goals. Wouldn't it add some nice fuel to the fire if it is the same guy? Next great question would be whether or not he has ever held season tickets to the Maple Leafs?

All right guys, we know that the Isles have an argument but unfortunately it won't help changing the situation. We have to move on and win the next game.

On the subject of our dear commissioner, take a look @ this link:
http://www.theonion.com/content/news/nhl_signs_broadcast_deal_with_food

Again ..... I would rather the beer drinking clowns in the blue seats of the Garden revue our calls, rather then the guys in Toronto!

It is the refs job to call a game...In NO other sport do they take that job away from them. If you are going to use instant replay, let the refs see every angle and give them a time limit! Not Darcey Tucker in Toronto. The fact that is REALLY scary and should be spoke about is that TORONTO supposedly has different angles then us the viewing public....HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE ??? This is not the WWF.....We should be able to see everything the off ice officials see...If not who knows the stuff they can pull.

I am not ignorant...Sabres are better....But this is simply wrong and will come back to haunt your teams one day as well!

I am from great city of Montreal. I love Les Canadiens and don care who wins series.

Islander got robbed by refs in game 3 & 4. Any one who not see tat does sow at their own peril if they love game of hockey.

Dose refs are the joke of the league. Buffalo Sabres fans yuking it up are embarassment to city of Buffalo and Hockey fans everwhere.

These lousy calls are bad for the game and league. They make bad situation with fans worse. Also it makes Buffalo look like Joke of a team.

Against my better judgement, I'll also respond to "student" from the 2:40pm post...

I live in Cincinnati, but I lived on LI for 31 years. And I'm one of those "nasaly voiced Long Islanders" you so graciously referred to. You see, I'm also a graduate of your University of Buffalo, class of '79. Your (and my) university has gone through exponential growth over the past 30-40 years, as I'm sure you well know. The Amherst (North) campus is a beautiful testiment to higher education facilities and the university now ranks among the nation's best in a vast number of professional fields of study. It's something of which I'm sure both you and I are quite proud.

But here's a question for you. What do you think has been the primary source of funding for that wonderful university experience that you are hopefully enjoying at this point in your life? Don't worry - no need to do any homework on this one. I'll give you the answer. It comes primarily from the tuition dollars of students from Long Island, contributions from alumni that came from Long Island, and state tax dollars paid by workers who come from... you guessed it... Long Island.

So the next time you decide to vent what must be years of pent up hatred for people who might look and speak differently that you, try to first think about where your (and my) university would be today without "those people".

I gotta go now, it's time to punch out from my job at the post office...I have to go home and throw things at my dog, the neighbors, the children playing street hockey in front of my garage apartment and my boyfriend.

I listened to some local (Buffalo) sports talk radio, and the consensus seems to be that it probably was a goal. I'd still like to see the replay myself (in high quality, where the puck isn't obliterated by a huge rectangular digital compression artifact) but I'll concede that most of those who see that replay agree.

If that replay truly did show the puck over the line before Miller was pushed, then the NHL blew it, plain and simple. They should have overturned it if the evidence was as clear as everyone says it was.

But all I can say is: what's done is done. We in Buffalo have seen it all (we once watched replays of a Flyers goal that went in through the side of the net! And in the playoffs no less!), so we know what it's like to get jobbed by the NHL. Maybe it's just Buffalo's turn to get these kinds of breaks...

It's hockey get over it. We had missed calls too it happens. All we hear in Buffalo is whining and is that how you want to be acknowledge as. There is no conspiracy get over it. Next thing you know you will be saying that Danny Briere is on steroids. So shut up and take the loss. Stop complaining its a lost cause, trust me fans of Buffalo know that. So complain and blame that you lost the series because of officiating or that there is a conspiracy a win is a win and i gurantee that in overtime Sabres would win so shut up or put up fools

Why did 3 of the 4 referees give differnt opinions on why Witt's goal was not ruled a goal? Wat's wrong with this picture?

The Islanders are showing up the Sabres for the fraud that they are. The Sabres aren't as good as they think they are. Aside from the first game the Islanders have hung with the Sabres. They needed the league's help to win the game last night. If they win the Cup it should be with an asterisk for the game they didn't win. If they win it will be a tarnished and dented Cup

We do not need any help we won the presidents trophy. we are the best team in the NHL. Its the playoffs everyone elevates there play its common fact but you might not know that cuz your a band wagon fan. The only person that might think its tarnished (if the sabres win the cup) is you because even if the Islanders would win they would not get past ottawa,NJ,Detroit,Anaheim. comon be real now your living in a fantasy world right now.

Briere on Steroids ~

Any amount you became a fan this year!

Try and re-read what people have posted....We know how good the Sabres are. It is just a shame the officiating is horrible...IT is not just some yahoo fans saying this...Nationwide people are saying the Isles were robbed.

I understand this is probably your first year watching hockey so I will give you a mulligan. Instead of worrying about what we are all talking about, go put on your new Briere jersey. Then worry about how after you do not win the cup, how you will sign your free agents?

PS Does your coach still have the marks on his face from when Billy Smith used him as a punching bag?

Bring on the Sabres.The Rangers are ready and waiting!

Cincy foams: "Can you see now why it's obvious the league blew this call?"

No but I can see why it's obvious you need Lasik.

Some other donkey says: "It was a goal. Miller was not hit until after the puck crossed the line. To argue otherwise is stupid."

Get a screen cap that shows the puck across the line before Miller is touched. Until then, Potvin sucks.

European Vacation #42 ignorantly writes: "COCKIEST is not a word."

cock·y1 /ˈkɒki/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[kok-ee] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–adjective, cock·i·er, cock·i·est.
arrogant; pertly self-assertive; conceited: He walked in with a cocky air.
[Origin: 1540–50; cock1 + -y1]

—Related forms
cock·i·ly, adverb
cock·i·ness, noun

Spelling Nazis are lame. Spelling Nazis who can't spell are simply hilarious.

Great Game Bad Call.

Live in Oregon. Watched this game with about 150 other bar patrons who for whatever reason were pulling for the Islanders. I think their underdog status has captured a lot of hearts out here.

Would like to state, that Satan was not pushed into Miller and the whistle was blown after the puck clearly was in the net.

Why wasn't the other ref consulted? Why did the league decide to make a decision in Game 3 and then leave it up to the ref in game 4? (I base that assertion on the explanation of Leggo and the League qouted in today's Oregonian).

The Islanders deserved a better fate. It should have gone to overtime. Regardless, the Islanders have earned the respect of a lot of folks out here and we will be watching Game 5. God Bless the Islanders and may they win on Friday. They deserve it!

All our best from Oregon State University!!!!! LETS GO ISLANDERS

Raphael Hudsoncarp says: "clear non disbutable proof was needed to reverse that call"

http://members.cox.net/pschulwitz/pics/goal.jpg

Rick~

You said one of the top three players in NHL history sux! Your ignorance is only surpassed by your stupidity. Do you even know why the rags fans cheer that? If so please prove it and then explain the sense of it. I for one would love to explain to you why the man you say sux was a 1st ballot H.O.F, and why he won 4 cups in a row (something never done in the U.S before and never will be done again!)

Fighting with the likes of Cincy and others on this forum is not wise...We will crush you. Now go put on your Barry Beck jersey, your tight Sassoon jeans, and the poster of your one cup and stay in the shallow end of the pool!

The fact as a Rangers fan you want Buffalo to win is comical...No matter how much dislike I have for the Rags, I wanted them to win b/c I know we have a better shot at beating them. If you think the Isles are so bad (even though you post here all day????) then why do you not want to face them instead? I'll tell you why....YOU ARE CLUELESS WHEN IT COME TO HOCKEY!

Consider yourself educated!

I can't believe I just spent all this time reading all these responses. I think I did because I can't stop thinking about the end to last night's game, then I started thinking about Game 3, then the Ranger game at the coliseum in March.

As a huge Islander fan, I feel cheated. I attended the Ranger game and saw the replay on the scoreboard played back at least 20 times as the ref spoke on the phone. As I helped start chants of "Goal! Goal! Goal!," I was in disbelief when the Ref waved his arms rather than pointing to center ice. How could it not be a goal? This was a regular season game and I got over it, but how much would that point in the standings have helped a month later.

Then the miracle of even making the playoffs happened and I was so ecstatic of the team even making it, that I didn't care if the Sabres swept them. The Islanders team picked to finish last in the NHL proved they have heart and determination and made many people (even Sam Rosen) bite their tongue.

After the first two games in Buffalo were split, I was so excited for Game 3. I was attending my first NHL playoff game, cheering for my Islanders. Then with a Buffalo 1-0 lead, the puck somehow got by DiPietro (or did it?). The Sabres shooter raised his stick in celebration, but the red light never came on. The Ref never awarded the goal signal. Then he was on the phone and I sat waiting and waiting and waiting...They never showed this one 20 times on the scoreboard as they did in early March! What's going on? I want to see what they're looking at? Then he got off the phone and pointed to center ice. (Where was that call in early March when the call seemed much more obvious than this one).

After the game, I drove home in disgust listening to the Bloomberg radio announcers repeatedly state they had no video replay confirming a Buffalo goal. When I got home, I set my DVR to record the Islanders rewind game so I could see this replay for myself. I had to wait until morning to finally see this phantom goal which no one saw go in except for Toronto. I never saw a replay show 100% evidence that the puck went over the line. I was upset with the call, but it didn't completely determine the outcome of the game because the Islanders got within one at the end of the second period and then came out completely flat in the third. So the Islanders could have helped themselves by scoring in the third period, but that never happened.

Then I started thinking about the 6 minutes worth of penalties called against the Islanders all on one play. Poti's high stick double minor - fine, you've got to control your own stick, even if you are off balance, but the Bergeron slash? Where was that? I looked for that call on the DVR recording also...Did the ref really mean that love tap was worth a slashing call to put Buffalo on a 2 minute 5-3 power play? You've got to be kidding!!!...Then the Robitaille call at the end of the game? The ref was probably laughing under his breath as he skated to the scorer's table to announce that one. My wife told me I was torturing myself watching the recording, but I had to see since I couldn't see everything at the game. I had my mini hissy fit and got over it. They'll get 'em in Game 4. (And as for the few fans who threw stuff on the ice, that was embarrassing, but I believe if the same circumstances came up in any other NHL arena, you would have fans doing the same thing. These people are everywhere, but don't say Islanders fans are classless when only a select few of a sold out arena acted inappropriately.) Before the game, I waited for a car to drive by before I crossed the street. I noticed I was standing next to two fans wearing Buffalo jerseys. The NYI fan driving the car gave the two Buffalo fans the finger as they drove by. I actually said to them, "I swear, we're not all that mean around here."

Then came Game 4. I was at home watching on TV (Yay - finally broadcast in HD!) A very exciting, well played game by both teams! As time ticked closer to the end of the third period, I was getting frustrated watching because the Islanders couldn't make any plays. Then they finally made something happen...as the ref blew his whistle and waved his arms signaling no goal, as passionate a fan I am, I rolled my eyes and knew it was going to be, yet another call that doesn't goal the Islanders way. Then they showed the replay at several different angles. A combination of the front and overhead angle show where the ref made his mistake. The front angle shows the puck sitting on the ice right between Miller's knees which are slightly above the ice. The above angle proves Miller has no clue where the puck is because he is shaking his head back and forth looking for it. How can the ref assume Miller has the puck under control when he is frantically looking around the crease for it, not even to mention his body was already half in the goal and no one touched him until the puck crossed the line. There were no words to describe my disappointment after the game ended (and I didn't even throw anything at my television!)

This morning I woke up and got Newsday off my driveway. I was shocked to see DiPietro slamming his stick in frustration on the front page of the Sports section. Hello? As much as I hate to admit it, didn't the Rangers just sweep Atlanta right out of the playoffs? Shouldn't the Ranger's series win overshadow the Islander's loss? No...people love reading about controversy! Anyway, I've rambled on and I feel better, but someone (the NHL or the head ref) needs to admit they were wrong because according to the papers, their stories are completely conflicting. The game's over - just be a man and say you made a mistake. Life will go on, but the series isn't over yet! Please don't give up Islanders!

Rick~

You said one of the top three players in NHL history sux! Your ignorance is only surpassed by your stupidity. Do you even know why the rags fans cheer that? If so please prove it and then explain the sense of it. I for one would love to explain to you why the man you say sux was a 1st ballot H.O.F, and why he won 4 cups in a row (something never done in the U.S before and never will be done again!)

Fighting with the likes of Cincy and others on this forum is not wise...We will crush you. Now go put on your Barry Beck jersey, your tight Sassoon jeans, and the poster of your one cup and stay in the shallow end of the pool!

The fact as a Rangers fan you want Buffalo to win is comical...No matter how much dislike I have for the Rags, I wanted them to win b/c I know we have a better shot at beating them. If you think the Isles are so bad (even though you post here all day????) then why do you not want to face them instead? I'll tell you why....YOU ARE CLUELESS WHEN IT COME TO HOCKEY!

Consider yourself educated!

OK, so I was reaching with Cockiest. My point is still valid.

(un-)steady drunkenly rambles: "You said one of the top three players in NHL history sux!"

I'm sorry, I wasn't aware you were posting from an alternate universe where Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Bobby Orr and Gordie Howe never existed.

European Vacation continues vainly: "OK, so I was reaching with Cockiest. My point is still valid."

Your point is that you spell better than somebody else. But you don't. So it's not.

Top 3 Defensemen EINSTEIN....Still have not answered the question....

Call one of your buddies or google it but let's here your answer.....????

Why do they chant that?

Not to worry Islanders.

Those of us on the outside looking in are rooting for you guys to win this. You captured our hearts at the end of year and in this series.

Many people in Montreal bitter about losing playoff spot to you hosers still. But we done like watching people get beat because of refs.

Besides, Buffalo fans have become rotten bandwagon jumping hosers lately. I think they protest too much.

You have right to complain. If it was 8 years later I'd sick of it. Buffalo knows what I'm talkin bout.

We're laghin at you Buffalo. Can't beat the Islanders without the referee stickin a few in there for you.

I have been a Sabres fan since I was a little kid. For you to insult me like that is exactly what Long Island Fans are ingnorant. I did not see no replay that shows the puck. And for whoever said that we still complain about the Brett Hull goal than you know nothing about Buffalo. In game 2,the Ilanders won on a power play goal in which Satan held Afinegonov's stick at his stomach to get the call you don't hear us complaining. All I'm saying is that hockey is hockey there are going to be mistakes but to say it was a conspiracy is outrageous. Furthermore, Vaneks goal was the right call the puck hit Dipietro's pad which was behind the goal line and skipped on its side clearly showing it was a goal you can complain or move on you pick. (By the way I don't own a Briere Jersey I own a Gilbert Perreault Jersey)

Rick .... You keep getting knocked to the ice...Stay down. You do not even know your own team....Sad actually.

You have been posting here all day, and by your style it is not hard to figure out who you are...bj

Go on home now....PreSchool starts early tomorrow and it is a school night!

On your way home pick up a hockey hand book to get a clue and read that instead of your thesaurus!

Andrew in a very eloquent post proses: "Then I started thinking about the 6 minutes worth of penalties called against the Islanders all on one play. Poti's high stick double minor - fine, you've got to control your own stick, even if you are off balance, but the Bergeron slash?"

I hear you but the arm was up for the first call, and then Poti's stick came up. If you see it and it draws blood there's no discretion. It's 4. What was the ref supposed to do?

"Then the Robitaille call at the end of the game?"

Which was exactly the Spacek call in Game 4. Remember, the refs were instructed post-lockout that a penalty in the first minute, is a penalty in the final minute.

The whole conspiracy thing is comical. What it is, is this: bad plays with bad timing, and putting yourself in a position where bad plays with bad timing hurt you. T'aint nothin' else.

My I ought not give you the needle so much, but this "NHL is out to get us" thing is just so patently absurd that it should attract mock and scorn like Jupiter attracts comet fragments.

He Brierre!!!

Why don you let the Islanders have their day of mourning and stop poking your nose in their faces. You don't want to be insulted stop being arrogant hoser.

OK?

These guys weren't out to give you the bizness the day Hull put the puck in the net in Game 7. Go take it somewhere else.

Montreoal?? Learn how to spell and read Sports illustrated on whos Americas team. We don't care we didn't make the call the call was right and everyone needs to move on it will not change anything and about your goalie what was the contract 16 years 60 Mil. or something and he lets in 4 goals comon thats a bust next time Ill talk back is when we win on Friday. For now keep complaining see if it gets you anywhere.

(un)steady dribbles: "Top 3 Defensemen EINSTEIN"wan

You might have typed the word "Defensemen" at some point in your original silly screed if that were the case. And then I'd take Orr, Harvey, and Robinson anyway.

Wanna keep going, tough guy?

if the refs are bad they should at least be consistent. inconsistency is what drives alot of people crazy... if vaneks attempt was a goal then witts was definitly a goal... w/e though, what happened is done although i wish the nhl would just admit the refs made some bad calls and try to fix the problem....its not over yet..... weve done the "impossible" before already this year..... GO ISLANDERS!!!

responding to DP's statement.
"Not to start an argument. Just to talk and get your take on this. I have noticed quite a few times Canadian fans making noising and even booing to the US anthem. Whats up with that?"

DP, those are the same number of idiots that would throw beer bottles from the top row. And I feel the same way about what these idiots are displaying on my behalf as Isles fans do about the end of game 3.

Any time it has happenned and got out of hand, Don Cherry always calls them out on the next Coaches Corner. It usually flairs up when some political issue is happening between US and Canada. Problem is, most of the time it isn't reported by the US media, so the average American won't know what the fuss is about.

But I must say, very, very rare to see us Western Canada. Meaning Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver are far enough from the Canadian Federal Government to get caught up in the bull.

There are also some real idiots that think booing the anthem adds to the US versus Canadian rilvary. These people need counseling.

Kevin T.

Get some facts straight.

First, he's not my goalie. I root for no other than Les Canadiens.

Learn how to use enlish before critizing other you arrogant windbag.

The fans in this league are getting tired of you guys and beginning to hate you. If nobody cares stop posting on their blog and get yor own.

You've given yourself away on that. You do better playing in your own sandbox then you do here.

Bandwagon?? your a habs fan but now an islanders fan. I'm not talking to you so stop refering as if i am. Don't talk to me I know canandians and most of them are arrogant trust me especially when it comes to hockey. P.S. dont be mad that the habs or the leafs didn't make it. and stop writing back to me.

Phony #5 spittles: "You do not even know your own team"

How Swede it is to have you so discombobulated.

Vaneck Goal?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxBSpeuIXn4

How is this conclusive?

If I was mad I root for you guys. That's not the case, is it?

You make Toronto fans look like choir boys.

Last I checked this blog didn't belong to little xenophobe from Buffalo. I'll post what I like when I like.

People are beginning to hate Buffalo because you fans are arrogant. Makes it hard to root for you. Let us know what Sabres blog you post to so we can kick you when you' down on your luck.

You lack of respect so these guys can have day to get over last night is sick. I've read your silly Buffalo blogs that have you whiners saying Blake threw himself into the boards.

You fans also chanted TKO when Umbergher got hurt.

I'm not surprised your fans blame players for getting injured.

Still avoiding the question Rick? I guess you cannot look this one up in a thesaurus, dictionary, and/or Google it huh?

You have ZERO hockey knowledge....

Even scarier is you do not know the easiest question in the Isles/Rags feud....Why they chant that about Potvin??? Give you a hint...He checked one of your baby smurfs and broke his ankle?

PATHETIC

Go to bed....You lost again today....Sorry Cj, I mean Rick!

p.s The fact you picked Harvey and Robinson over Potvin (and Bourque for that matter) is so comical I cannot even begin to argue...

You are a sad hockey fan. I feel dumber having read your posts..Go join a spelling Bee and leave the hockey talk to the men in the room!

i think at about 1:46 of that video.

they guy says, "i assume it's over."

you can't assume a goal. there is no justice. i wish i had the video of the ranger/isles nongoal/goal. i just watched it on islestv, and the puck was clearly over the line, yet we get screwed. same goes for the witt nongoal/goal. if the Vaneck goal was assumed a goal, then the witt goal should be assumed a goal as well. BULL!! NHL=moral and ethical problems!

Guess he got thrown off the political blogs....This guy is clueless!

Go to bed cj....Your boring and redundant! You need a hockey 101 book!

I dont know what your watching but to me that is a definite goal you can see the puck hit his pad and then strike his skate which is in the net and the puck goes behind the post what more do you need its common sense.

you can't SEE it cross the line. only ASSUME! i ASSUME that last nights goal crossed the line also. Did you see it cross the line? if you did, you must be a superhero with x-ray vision on pally.

Steady,

Denis Potvin broke Ulf Nilsson's ankle in 1979.

It was before we got the nickname of the smurfs which was in the 1982-83 season. We had midgets like Mark Pavelich, Mike Rogers, and Reijo Routsalanien.

By the way, Isles kicked our a$$es in the playoffs that season.

I was at the game that umberger got hit and we were not chanting tko so stop using false accusations we cheered of course at first then we realized he was hurt the fans all were quiet i dont wanna hear anything especially since your making things up to make Buffalo look bad. Im in the tourist business and all canadians that come over to watch the sabres and there are plenty of them cannot say nicer things about Buffalo and there fans. I dont know where you are getting this information but its false and you should be ashamed of yourself

i give up on trying to justify these imoral actions made by the powers that be. the all knowing "stop complaining" is king of everything, including ASSUMING comman sense.

You can not see the puck on witt's goal it was under miller. On Vanek's you can at least see where it is. Thats all I'm saying it was an easier call on Vanek's then Witt's because of the fact you can not see the puck at all

All I have to say about this is I am as big a Rangers fan as there is, anywhere.

Vanek: NO GOAL, not conclusive

Witt: GOAL, the friggin thing was obviosuly in.

Robitaille: Not a penalty

Hit on Jason Blake: Major

I am not into conspiracy theories, I believe that is the bunch of crap. However, Isles have been screwed all series long and if the same situations had happened to the Rangers, I would be beyond infuriated.

Witts goal not in
vaneks goal in
robitaille def penalty
Numminen hit him you know Numminen would not do something on purpose like that he's a class guy

we both can play this card buddy

wow, you sure told me off!

You play those cards dude!

Hey Battfirst, talk about morons, kids LOVE the game of hockey, Parents should not have to keep there hockey loving kids away because of idiots that don't have ANY class!!! Way to go pissed off old man, I see you as a true Islander, maybe the only one with class!

I dont think I was telling you off I beleive i was making the point that it works both ways. Do you understand that much. I dont understand why you are mad at the Sabres or its fans its funny.

Thank you Jim from Woodbury. You at least accepted the fact that you too would be upset if that happened to your team. Everyone knows its true but noone wants to admit it............

I think it's one thing to play sore loser. It's completely another to play sore winner which seems to be the case with Buffalo.

I remember the Replay on the Umberger hit and the fans chanting TKO. That one got a lotta play on Sportscenter when it happened. THere's no putting lipstick on that pig.

I myself have also witnessed Sabres fans posting on the net that Blake threw himself into the boards and faked his own injury. I might have a gripe with people throwing things but mocking or claiming a player isn't injured when he clearly is has to be some of the biggest dirtbage behavior I've seen in sports.

People throwing things are engaging in dangerous behavior but they really are not trying to hurt anyone. THey are just inappropriatly expressing their anger. Anger which is totally a justifyed I might add.

I suppose next the Buffalo loonies will claim we have no right to be angry.

The Islanders got screwed in these last few games and it seems like there is general consensus builging around that.

I was at the Philly game when umberger got hit no one was chanting tko so stop lieing and thinking its factual. Get your facts straight then you can talk

SABRES IN 5 How bout them apples im out TKO that

Jim did not want you to give that guy the answer...I was having fun with him!

Anyway I know about the smurfs...was just rambling!

I have fought with you before on the Isles ~ Rags....Good to see you think that about the officiating....Though I was losing it! Nice to have a third party opinion!

BLAKE: I'LL BE READY

Late in the first period, the Islanders got a scare when Jason Blake was dangerously hit from behind by Buffalo defenseman Teppo Numminen, with Blake's head crashing into the boards. Blake eventually got up on his own power and skated to the bench. He returned in the middle of the second period.

"After I got hit, I tried wiggling my fingers and then I rolled onto my knees," said Blake. "At first, I thought I broke my back. It was a terrible hit, and I could have seriously been injured. I think the league has to take a little more culpability on stuff like that. What's it going to take? Someone to break their neck or get carried off on a stretcher? I know Teppo is not that type of player. It's just the heat of the moment and those types of things happen. He got a two-minute minor and we scored on it, so I guess that's a good thing. Everything is a little sore today, but it's okay. It's the biggest game of the year tomorrow night, so I'll be ready to go."

Our sources tell us the NHL has decided to not give Numminen any supplementary discipline. Teppo's long NHL career and clean record makes that decision not a big surprise.

Steady,

Honestly I would be so friggin pissed if it had happened to the Rangers.

I have been at the Rangers games the last two nights, so last night I only saw replays. But I saw enough of all the incidents to know how ridiculous it was.

THE BATTLE VS. BUFFALO
Thursday, April 18, 6:35 pm: No action on Teppo, no phone call from the league

MOVIN' ON (GARTH'S SONG)

Forgive the stretch-of-a-Billy-Joel reference, but that's the posture the Islanders took throughout the day. As of 6:00 pm tonight, the team did not receive a phone call of further explanation from anyone in the NHL office. And according to general manager Garth Snow, "We're moving on."

We've heard some rumblings that Colin Campbell has spoken to a few reporters today about the controversy in Game 4, so Islanders Country figures to be enlightened by Friday's papers (or the World Wide Web thingy late tonight). Somehow we can't help but think this is only going to get messier.

The Witt play should have been left to the people with the ability to view replays over and over again from several different angles, not a referee who can only see something once, and from one angle....seems like common sense to me but..... idk apparently common sense isnt a very common thing

but think this is only going to get "messier"

LOL

Miller's basically saying the Isles are the LUCKY ones.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=204867&hubname=nhl

I'm an Islander fan and I love the blog. Given the recent events in VA, I think we should refrain from headlines like "smoking gun" and "do or die" in future blog posts referring to the woes of our team. I just came from reading up on all the coverage of the disaster and was looking for a distraction and it just jumped out at me.
Thanks.

on a more positive note, last time we had to win out the rest of our games, we did it. lets have some faith == go isles!

We believe!

i know we can't dwell over these play against us, but something has to be done. i mean, something will come up in the remaining games in the playoffs and some other team will be getting shafted. the NHL/Media/TSN/SportsnetCA/ESPN have to bring light to this problem. there is almost zero talk of these reviewed plays. like they didn't even happen. and the suspension of brad may needed to be more for the hit on kim johansson. he got three games for an absolute mugging of a cheap shot on that guy. the nhl and colin campbell have to wake up!!

Sabres may win the series tomorrow, but make no mistake, they're going to bleed for it.

I can't wait to piss all over their arrogant fans as soon as they get bounced.

witts goal was clearly in the back of the net, watch islanders TV, the puck is in the back of the net... the call was miller's fat ass was "pushed" into the goal, watch it

Wonder If the Isls fans are so mad with Buffalo that they actually root for the rangers?

The bad calls from last night should be forgotten already.The last couple of games are history.Lets regroup and try to win game 5.If we don't we have to watch the rangers go into round 2 off of a sweep
and then when they play Buffalo tougher than we did we'll have to listen to their fans.Oh well,we always have the fact that we beat them in the regular season,even if they do go way further in the playoffs.

ARE YOU ISLANDER WHINERS FOR REAL!!!! Hunter kicked in your first goal in game 2 - You got all the penalty calls - including a holding call on max when SATAN was holding his stick and resulted in your wining PP goal... And... GEE not a whine at all from sabres and lindy ruff. But Whiner Nolan has to cry that they have received no breaks all year.. What about 99 no goal... Go take one of YOUR TERRIBLE TOWELS AND SOAK UP YOUR TEARS... What a BUNCH OF SORE LOSERS... YOUR JUST NOT AS GOOD AS THE SABRES EVEN AT MAXIMUM hard work and DETERMINATION - P.S. and your fans have no class either.

The Isles can still do it.
All we have to do is score more goals than Buffalo and stop complaining about the officials.Lets give Buffalo all we can give them so they are worn out and the Rangers can dispose of them.Buffalo doesn't deserve to go past round 2.

aright seriously...all this bulls**t about how islander fans have no class. At least we have teeth. go home buffalo, and stay there. your team is going nowhere. i hope they beat the islanders, and then you will see that your sorry team has got nothing left. no one cares about the president's trophy, that was the regular season, this is the playoffs, ya got nothin

Islander fans DO have class.Just look at how many didn't throw anything on the ice.

Hunter kicked that in??? Are you freakin kidding me pally??? Stop huffing the paint behind the garage and open your eyes. The puck was deflected off his shin pad. He may have positioned himself for that, but that is legal in the New NHL. He didn't kick the puck moron. Good thing I have other things to do when my team may exit the playoffs. I can watch the Nets/Mets/Jets. Up in Buffalo, after your ousted from contention, can wait for the Bills to start. The Bills are pretty pathetic right now. JP Lossman/no RB/ridding themselves of their best linebackers. Have fun watching those bums. Oh well....goodluck.

Buffalo Math.

1 president's trophy
+
no Stanley Cups
=
___________________________NO Stanley Cups

also have fun keeping all those young guys on your team in the upcoming years. i'm pretty sure the majority of those guys are going to be asking a pretty penny. briere and drury will be gonners after the season. same may be said for smyth and blake though. goodluck....i actually have been to Buffalo a couple times, williamsburg or williamsville. something like that. oh yeah my cousin's husband's father is don meehen. i think he was your GM once. i went to a few games probably 15yrs ago.

So as a Sabres fan hows does it feel to have the league change your diapers for you when they are full? Do they powder your ass for you too?

How rediculuous the comments from you Buffalo fans that you didn't see conclusive evidence. I guess if you clos eyour eyes you wouldn't. The league is so tranparent in its effort the advance the team that had the highest point total because other idiot sportscaster criticize the league for "the regular season means nothing". So the weak kneed pansies in Toronto cave to that argument.

These same sportcaster were complaining about the NCAA tournament. No upsets....Wahhhh. Its boring...all the top teams are winning...we have no story.

Am I the only one that sees the world being run by the weenies??

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=204885&hubname=nhl

didn't even no he was still in the league.

All of you may as well become Ranger fans because the fix is in for them to get to the conference finals

Truth be told, the anti-Islander conspiracy was my idea.

Yea,the league has it in for the isles.They've fixed round 1 so the 8 seed who made the playoffs
because of a shootout against a backup goalie who sat on the bench for weeks on end could beat the team that wired the field.Everyone is against the poor LONGislanders.Give me a break.Score more goals and you'd win.Get a power play for crying out loud.You don't deserve to be in the playoffs anyway.

Damn, don't stop by for a few hours and posts jump by the hundreds.

Student,
Your an ignorant ass go back your dorm room. Call mom and dad. They might give a crap what you think.

Steady,
Easy on the "beer drinking clowns in the blue seats of the Garden" LOL

Briere the Roidhead and Sabres fans that want to talk smack,
Good team? Yes! Championship team? HELL NO! I hope the Rangers do land you for round two. Getting you out of the way early will be great!

Andrew,
See if you can get a book deal before you type that much. Couldn't even start to read a post that long. Sorry!

Kevin T,
I was just wondering at least once a year I catch that and figure you can chalk it up to idiots. Thanks.

Steady,
You spelt 'hear' in one of your post this way 'here'. Love the grammar corrections. Im going over they're! LOL

Jim,
Good to see that there is at least one mature Rangers fan out there. I agree with you too. It's garbage and i would be just as mad. (see that there Rangers fans, take your beer stained jersey off for a second and talk hockey)

This beer throwing class argument is f'ing pointless. Tell me what arena has not had stuff thrown on the ice. This is just about as old as the ice-girl garbage. Pretty soon it will rank up there with still posting about Simon and Hollweg!

Yup, the league fixed it for the rangers too.And they didn't want Crosby to advance cause no one wants to see him either.the league fixed it so Ottawa would beat Crosbys pens.

Simon should have been suspended for a year for what he did.

kickedinthe,

Yea isn't he is looking to leave the same way his brother did? He was done before the Rangers had him. Still eating off his name from the hype of being a rookie.

Side note Drury will be probably the most sought after UFA.

I'd take him on the Rag$

There is an anti-Islander conspiracy and it's got to end now.We should be the team thats leading three games to one.

Someone posted a bit way back about Pat LaFontaine being in the Coliseum for Game 4 as a guest of Sabres ownership. LaFontaine was my favorite Islander growing up, and it is sad to see him attending this game with any alignment to the Sabres, but here are the facts:

Pat with Islanders: 8 seasons, 287 goals, 1 Stanley Cup Finals Appearance

Pat with Sabres: 6 years, although the better part of 3 of those were missed with injury - 51 games total in 3 of those 6 years, 158 goals, no Finals

The Sabres may have retired LaFontaine's number, but that's just a reflection of the disparity between the two teams history than any indication that LaFontaine was a Sabre. There was no Bossy in Buffalo. No Trottier, no Potvin. As much as I loved Patty, and as good as his Islander career was, it doesn't get you in the rafters in Nassau.

That what's essentially a 3-year stint in Buffalo did result in a retired number is just sad. We all know Pat's a great dude, but all that means was Buffalo has no history and barely any players worth remembering.

So I don't care whose guest LaFontaine is, Pat LaFontaine is an Islander.

mw lyon...get a clue. Simon's penalty was excessive as it was. Hollweg is a talentless thug - he didn't deserve a stick to the face but he's no martyr either.

And if you don't think the league has something with the Islanders, was it coincidence that Simon's minimum suspension was exactly 1 game longer than Dale Hunter's for what truly was the most despicable hit in NHL history on Pierre Turgeon? I doubt it. That was to get under every Islanders fans skin.

I would not go so far to say there is a 'conspiracy' against the Islanders, but for the last 3-4 months we have no gotten a single call. And in a playoff scrum with the Rangers, Leafs, and Canadiens, it's obvious who the league would prefer on the sidelines.

All that aside, what you hear from the Isles is they are over it and focused. As fans we can obsess over calls and non-calls all day, but the players can't.

This series isn't over. Remember 87. Down 3-1 to Washington, series won. Down 3-1 to Philly, forced Game 7. One game at a time. Step 1 is to shut up the poor people of Buffalo who have so little to cheer for, ever.

Steady, Kevin T., DP and the rest of the regulars, thanks for all the fair and meaningful insight. Tomorrow is a new day and we now have a 'game 7' to play, then hopefully another 'game 7'and so on. I know they will be fired up tomorrow night and it will not be easy for the Sabres. Hopefully this time tomorrow night we will be talking about what to do in game 6 to prolong this series. Sorry if any of my spelling or grammar is a bit off. Don't want to get grilled. ;-) LETS GO ISLANDERS!!

Well said Enough and Joe,

Islanders had to win the final four games of the season with their (did i use the right form? lol) backup goalie. One game at a time. Come back to LI and give your fans at least an encore. Then maybe more.

If the Isles are losing, i hope they aren't. But would a stick across the head of Briere, Drury and Miller be too much to ask for?

All in jokes before you get ready to hang me!

this video sums up your sorry team and fan base.

have fun hitting the driving range at eisenhower park on saturday!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zo5dKShKrrs&NR=1

the video posted does not show me anything . i see the puck. but its hard to tell where it was lying on the ice after he shot it it def didn't hit the back of the net becausethe overhead view shows nothing of that nature when miller is pushed in you see the puck squirt to the left side of the net which is illegal

You guys know I love the isles... but it wasn't a goal... the front replay shows the puck going through millers pads when witt smacked it... ok I agree. Now if you suppliment this with the top view you see miller's position better. At no point does any part of miller's body or equipment cross the line until miro bumps in to him... the puck isn't even seen until way after miller is in the back of the net.

The rangers game goal- we did get hosed on that one.

Game 3 goal for buff- it was a goal in my opinion... but there was no real evidence (visual proof) that the puck crossed the line... so the call of "no goal" should not have been over-turned.

Peace... I'm out!

Lets go Islanders.... back to NVMC for game 6.... oh yeah!

My section had the pleasure of hosting two fights towards the end of the game. First an Isles and Sabres fan fought and then the Isles fan went surfing downward on top of the fans below as a result of being thrown by the security guard followed up by the same security guard and another fan rolling down the stairs together. Big props to the two female workers who did not hesitate to get in the mix and help their co-worker. Throwing beer bottles on the ice that OUR team skates on? Nice touch losers. Watching Isles player (can’t remember who) toss bottle back over to the crowd – priceless.

DP and others.....You can tell when I post....The past 5 have not been me....Ever since slamming that guy Rick to the ice he has been posting as me.

You guys know when it is me and not Cj aka Rick!

Love the fact I took up ANOTHER one of his special nights during the week pretending to me....IF he only had my hockey knowledge...LOL

Rock on !

I knew it was a fake.

Like you said, you can tell your style.

Hey, LETS GO METS THIS WEEKEND!

Be nice to run away with first a bit at the braves expense!

Dale Hunter and Darcy Tucker rule!

(un)steady still hasn't learned his lesson:

"You have ZERO hockey knowledge....

Even scarier is you do not know the easiest question in the Isles/Rags feud....Why they chant that about Potvin??? "

Guess you missed my little "Swede" allusion directly above your little tantrum. Your higher cognitive functions are as great with your own hockey knowledge - which is nil, sson.

themass entreaties: "You guys know I love the isles... but it wasn't a goal... At no point does any part of miller's body or equipment cross the line until miro bumps in to him...

The rangers game goal- we did get hosed on that one.

Game 3 goal for buff- it was a goal in my opinion... but there was no real evidence (visual proof) that the puck crossed the line... so the call of "no goal" should not have been over-turned."

I can at least say now that there's one Isles fan in the world that has an intact brain, functioning eyeballs, and who hasn't let the Conspiracy Mind Control Ray that Ted Nolan borrowed from Lyndon LaRouche get the better of him.

You guys say the Buffalo fans are classless for shouting TKO when Campbell knocked out Umberger, I was at the game and very classy for Islander fans to scream "Rangers suck c**k" during a moment of silence for the VT students, not that any of the parents would have been watching but what if they were? That is the message you would want them to get from LI fans, you cant take that back, Umberger skated off (with some help) these kids are not coming home and the one thing LI fans could do to offer respect, they instead have to have an arrogant moment thinking only of themselves and take a shot at the Rangers. Now I have typed this up and realized that it was not all fans in the barn that night, but unfortunately, it reflects back on all of you

Poor poor Ricky~ you are one lonely soul...Even the rags fans rip you. Please...Go back to the political blogs, or did they shun you as well? Why did you change your name from Cj? Is it because you promised to stop posting when we proved you wrong? Shame Shame little Ricky....Go back in the shallow end of the pool and remember to keep your thesaurus dry!

DP ~ Great sports weekend...Isles tonight...Mets ~ Braves and Yanks ~ Sox.....Back in MA. so I am taking the family to the green monster seats on Saturday...Never sat there so kind of psyched.

Go Mets.... (How good is Reyes....Scary!)

Steady,
Yea it will be a good weekend. I think Isles win tonight. They will give it their all and play like its game 7 for the cup. As I said before I would like to see them come back home.

Mets 1st place! What better way to run away with it then taking a series from the Braves. Yanks/Sox not that thrilling but, I need to get to a game at that park. I'll be at shea tomorrow. Reyes is scary, this team is going to shock the baseball world for the next five to ten years!

Is this McRib character really another sorry Rangers fan?

My personal favorite: all the "different" posters posing as "Rangers fans" who like to use four or five dots..... everytime the little gerbil wheel inside their skull.... grinds to a halt waiting for that next cogent thought.....

You guy(s) are a laugh riot I tell ya!

Well enjoy the game tonight..... there was only one thing preventing the Isles from sweeping.... unfortunately that was the letter 's'

DP ~

Yes... Ricky McRib is a Rangers fan....Thank God they got fans like you to keep me sane. Not sure what the guy is talking about half the time? LOL

My guess a lonely Librarian or an English Teacher on leave for searching porn sites....Either way he is clueless!

p.s Ricky my wee little whipping boy....You come on these blogs and try and show how smooth and mature you are with your grasp of the English language and your little anecdotes....YET, you are only on here when the Isles are losing? Like a child saying "nanny nanny poo poo!" Are you really that immature? Or simply that lonely? Or simply 4 yrs old? Did you never get hugged as a kid? Please advise CJ!

The New York Islanders fans are a big whining joke! No goal means NO GOAL! Its over. After being in 6th place as late as February this season, you blew your higher seed to the so-called New York $trangler$, and now you people are left crying about the "what-if's" of a "goal" that NEVER was!! QUIT THE WHINING and GET ON THE GOLF COURSE!!!!

did anyone hear that Sean Hill has been suspended for violating the substance abuse policy on ESPN radio?????? 20 games i cannot believe it...

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=204971&hubname=

see above

When's the last time you heard of a player being suspended for substance abuse this year? No conspiracy, my A$s!

NEW YORK/TORONTO -- New York Islanders defenseman Sean Hill has been suspended 20 games for violating the terms of the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program. The suspension begins with tonight's Stanley Cup Eastern Conference Quarterfinal game against the Buffalo Sabres.

Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, the suspension is accompanied by mandatory referral to the NHL/NHLPA Program for Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health for evaluation and possible treatment.

The player's contract expires with the conclusion of the 2006-07 season. Any portion of the suspension that remains following the Islanders' participation in the 2007 Stanley Cup Playoffs would resume, without pay, at the beginning of any successor contract.

Try this conspiracy with 10 games left the ISLES were in 6th place 7 points ahead of the 9th seed. By the time there was 4 games left they were in 10th place fighting for their playoff lives, comeback or choke? They had one injury to contend with of course it was their goaltender, yet if this is not a one man operation the team should be able to overcome that injury, of course other teams sufered numerous injuries and still were winning and solidifying their playoff positions. So the ehining about being an 8th seed is totally disingenuious, also the conspiracy theories are simply koolaid drinking fans who don't even have the sense they were born with little alone some hockey knowledge. Of course the Sean Hill suspension is another conspiracy from the league who must have doctored up the tests, maybe Hill needs to apologize to the organization, his teammates and the fans for using steroids. Maybe not, yet every player and team is subject to the random testing and most seem to pass. Of course since it is an Islander it must be the League who is perpetrating this hoax on the powerful Islander organization.

MSG ... It is over...Go away now....Even others around the NHL who are not Isles fans say that there were many calls (ALL YEAR) that never went the Isles way. How about against your beloved Rags? You're telling me that goal was not in, when the replay clearly showed it over the line? Or how about the review against the Maple Leafs? Give us an extra pt in those games and we do finish in 6th place.

I understand bad calls come and go. In my 36 years of hockey, I have NEVER seen them go against one team all year. I in no way think it is a conspiracy, but I do think NOLAN is still paying his dues for whatever he did in Buffalo. The guy won coach of the year and then was banned form hockey for 10 years.....EXPLAIN THAT TO ME!!! Explain how such a GREAT hockey coach cannot get a job after winning coach of the year honors. Maybe the NHL is mad at the Isles for breaking the "shun" and going against the good old boys?

Water under the bridge. The team is in the right direction. If the bobbleheads in the back office do not mess things up we will be good for a number of years. We lost to a very good team. Unfortunately it should of been closer with some correct calls. In a weird way this HURTS the RANGERS. LOL We could of tired them out more for you by going six or seven games....So next year you rags fans should use your head a little more about what you wish for!

Give it up people! You have to move on. You also need to improve your hockey team. One other thing, Jason Pominville scored 20 seconds later on very WEAK play by your slow defense. If they allow the goal it's still 4-3 Sabres. Game over, Sabres lead the series 3-1. If that game went on for another 2 days, you still would have lost. Face it, you were lucky to be there in the first place. Enjoy the golf course!

Give it up people! You have to move on. You also need to improve your hockey team. One other thing, Jason Pominville scored 20 seconds later on very WEAK play by your slow defense. If they allow the goal it's still 4-3 Sabres. Game over, Sabres lead the series 3-1. If that game went on for another 2 days, you still would have lost. Face it, you were lucky to be there in the first place. Enjoy the golf course!

I wonder why the NHL is losing fans. First, Bettman and his "staff" decide everything now, the games and the playoffs. The refs riuned two games for the Isles. These are the playoffs, you can't decide a game like that, and they also missed high-sticking calls. Unacceptable. As for Simon, what he did was horrible, but he didn't deserve to be suspended for the playoffs. Holweg gave him a concussion. And for Blake, that call was digraceful. I know the Isles scored on the power play, but this is disgusting. It's a major. And the Sabers played great, they worked hard and did their thing. The Isles just deserved to control their games. Where is the NHL going?

You should be happy that the Isles even one a single game, much less had a chance at two games.