One more great night at the Coliseum, but I knew it would be.  When you have back to back losses like that, that third game can be a charm.  However, on a personal note, I knew they’d win because I was taking my mother-in-law as part of her Birthday present.  She has been a good luck charm before, I just had a feeling this was going to be a good night.  Even though there were plenty of Bumble-bee Bruins jerseys on the concourse, I wasn’t dissuaded from the positive feeling.

 

There was a very special ceremony honoring Home Town hero, Michael Murphy who perished recently in the line of duty.  His family was on the ice displaying his military honors when they were treated to a 3 minute standing ovation by the sell- out crowd.  I can’t even imagine how they felt.  I know I was choking back tears.  There was an additional charitable donation to a town of Brookhaven scholarship fund of $23,000.  You can’t say this franchise isn’t helping the community.  BTW… Did they always have the words to the National Anthem on the jumbotron?

 

From the get-go, the Islanders definitely had more jump, but then again, they were on home ice and it was a 7 pm game.  I would, however, like to see Hilbert get sticks that don’t break.  Less passing and more shooting by everyone, including Martinek who does have a pretty impressive shot, when he uses it.  The Bruins were up by 1 at the end of the first, but I still wasn’t worried.  I left my Mother-in-law and my friend Wendy to head to gate 1 for the Meet & Greet.  There was a great turn out, but the best part of it was DannyB stopping by.  We made sure he was in the group shot, and right in the middle.  Since he doesn’t get a chance to get to the games very often, it’s always a special occasion to have him there.  Along with everyone else that is!  And Rifleman22 even stopped by to get to know the NYIC Gate 1 crew!  See?  The more the merrier.

 

As IQ and 4Cupz would be heading out for vacation in the morning, we took a few minutes to catch up with each other downstairs.  Besides… there are never any lines in that bathroom.  I probably shouldn’t let that secret out, but it’s true.  Time ran away from us a little, because by the time I got back to my seat, there was only about 7 minutes left of the second.  I couldn’t believe it!  Were there ANY stoppages?  Didn’t they KNOW I was going to be right back?  Couldn’t they have STALLED a little more for me?

 

I couldn’t believe it, the snake finally spit Hilbert out while my head was down and I was trying to put my camera back in its case.  I missed it!  All this time, and I missed the damn goal!!  And the crowd goes wild, and I’m sure Andy was beyond relieved.  It was now a hockey game again.  As the second period ended, a power play was going to carry over into the third.

 

During the intermission, I went to visit Shooter in the next section who was treating his 7 year old nephew to his first Hockey game.  He was a quiet, shy little boy, but Shooter said even though he didn’t seem excited, he didn’t want to leave the game.  I couldn’t get him to smile, and I can usually get the real little kids to smile.  I promised him the third period would be a good one.  I don’t like breaking promises. 

 

The shots on goal were 23 – 13 and it was STILL a one-one tie!  What the heck did they have to do to score on Thomas?  Bergeron really does have one wicked shot, but he still didn’t get it in the back of the net.  But Park didn’t make a liar out of me.  With a 2 – 1 lead, the crowd erupted.  We sat on the edges of our seats when Hunter took a boarding call, but the PK got through it just fine.

 

With just 7 minutes left of the third, I made my way to the Blog Box to join my favorite BB buddies.  The some-what professional quiet in that portion of section 201 was interrupted by my usual dramatic, giggling entrance as I made Ken and Tom once again move for me.

 

**“DEE!  You missed it!   I called Hilbert's goal and Ken called Park's!” Tom said and Ken just lit up.  “I’ll call the next one for Bergenheim for you Dee.”

 

“That isn’t happening Ken, but thanks for the thought.”  Which brings me to a certain rant for the evening:

 

Hey, Sean, I’ve done everything I can in my power to support you, but you need to give me something to work with kid.  Ted was very kind to you in the post-game interview, but from Mom’s perspective here, it’s not your hustle that’s lacking, it’s your thought process.  How many times are you going to go off-sides and lose an opportunity?  How many times are you going to shoot the puck with your head down?  How many times are you going to make Big Angry Man call you “Any Game Now Bergenheim” so that I get so angry that I want to mother-slap you upside the head?  You’re better than that.  Be the player you and I BOTH know you can be and then Ted will have even BETTER things to say about you.  Remember when Bowman said all those great things about you in the press a few years ago?  Remember how you played THEN?  That’s what you need to find again.  Make it your Christmas present to the fans.

 

Ok, now for the worst part of the evening.  While waiting in the press room for something to happen… ANYTHING to happen… I forgot to turn off my phone.  Usually it’s only on vibrate and I jump 10 feet when it goes off, but my daughter found a way to put it on BOTH vibrate and ring.  I don’t even know how she did it.  Well, about 3 minutes into Ted’s press conference, from the back of the room the Goo Goo Dolls “Broadway is Dark Tonight” breaks the quiet. Sorry…Hopefully the pointed comment: “That’s a fineable offense.” isn’t true.  Already feeling embarrassed by my very public faux pas, the ribbing continued.  “Who’s that?  Blake telling you he lost again?”  With no obvious thought process, I blurted out “I wish.” which then lead to the really stupid question from me, “Did he?”  As if anyone in the Islander press room really cared whether or not the Leafs won or lost.  Ok Dee, you’ve obviously done enough damage to your reputation for one evening, I think it’s time you leave now.  Luckily… everyone else was done too.  Exit, Stage Right.

 

**Corrected in the light of day when brought to my attention.  In other words... I should have just read Tom's TigerTrack blog to check on the facts since I wasn't sitting with them in the first place.  Silly  me!  What do you expect?  That was WAAAAYYYY past my bedtime last night.