The very powerful, very angst ridden rendition of the Christmas classic has been my personal theme to this season since its release years ago.  I’ve always felt it captured the frenzy and panic that I feel every time Christmas rolls around.  Having memories of reading about the genocide in Sarajevo, it always brought the most intense emotions, and a few tears, out in me whenever I hear it.  I’m starting to wonder if that’s the song the Islanders team hears in their head this month.  Angst, panic, fear and yet trying to keep everything in that “Holiday” spirit.

 

I watched DiPietro last night during warm-ups and I just didn’t like the way he looked.  He wasn’t his usual self.  I don’t know how to explain it; he just seemed distant in his actions.  At first I thought, maybe Dubie is the starter.  But Dubie wasn’t warming up the way he would have if he was starting.  I had a feeling that didn’t bode well for the evening.

 

I completely understood why, with the exception of the Loudville section, the crowd was so sparse last night as it is so close to Christmas.  Everyone is shopping, wrapping, baking and planning for the holiday.  All the things I should have been doing last night but felt I needed the night away from the Christmas hell that is my house right now.

 

The game started and within 13 seconds Bergenheim was in the penalty box.  I thought for sure he would be punished for the rest of the game, but it seems that Nolan was pretty disgusted with the officiating last night and didn’t think the holding penalty was Sean’s fault.

 

Fedotenko was skating hard and crashing around the back of DiPi’s net, and all I could think of was “Watch your shoulder!”  I just had visions of him being carried off the ice on a stretcher.  (See?  Angst!)

 

Just a few minutes later, at 6:11 into the first, DiPi kicked the puck behind him as he slid into his own net trying to make a save on Roy.  It was a fluky goal, but a goal non-the-less.  For the next two periods, Rick would rely on some luck and a lack of work as the SOG was heavily unbalanced in the Islanders favor, but just non-productive.

 

Jackman brought a little energy up in the crowd when he squared off against Mair, but the momentum was quickly squashed when Guerin took a high sticking penalty just a few seconds later.  Did they really need to be a man down? 

 

It wasn’t until 3:50 of the third that Witt somehow managed to get a puck past Miller because of a slight deflection.  Woo hoo… It’s tied now.  The crowd battled back and forth with some chants, but they didn’t have the volume the barn is known for.  I was also surprised to hear so many Buffalo supporters on a Wed so close to Christmas.  I know this is still New York, but… Buffalo?

 

I started to wonder if there was free beer in the penalty box since they just couldn’t stay out of it.  It was occupied 7 times by Islander players.  My head was at home thinking about all the things I need to do.  I really think that’s what was going on down on the ice.  Or at least, in the penalty box.

 

Kevin Connolly is in the stands again, taking pictures with his NEW ‘Entourage’: groups of giggling 16-year-old girls.  I have to say, this guy is a sweetheart.  He's just a local Long Island boy who made it to the big time.  When I asked about Kevin’s involvement with the team, I was called a cynic and told “He may even be a bigger fan than you are.”  Not nice.  Bet he doesn’t have an entire wardrobe of blue and orange to wear on game-days!

 

I’m starting to wonder if I should just watch the last 10 minutes of each game because that’s the only time the action gets intense.  But sadly, we all know how it ended.  The Islanders fell short again in a low scoring game.

 

When I came home, I knew Big Angry Man would not be very happy.  I didn’t even put my things down before I heard “You can’t win hockey games if you can’t SCORE GOALS!!!”  The Dynasty Die-Hard is beyond frustrated now.  I couldn’t offer any consolation, even though I tried.  “Hey, they had 43 shots on goal.”

 

“And how many were quality?  Three?”  Ouch on two fronts.  Ouch because he was right, and OUCH because that’s what Ted heard in the press room immediately following the game.  He was disappointed in the question.  You’re condemned when there aren’t shots, then condemned when there are.  This is just a very BLUE Christmas for the Islanders.  Let’s turn the page to January and start winning again, shall we.

 

With Blake Comeau up from Bridgeport, and Meyer back in the line-up I’m beginning to wonder if the lack of chemistry we see on the ice is due to the perpetual line juggling.  Bruno and Campoli play well together because they have been on the same line for years now.  Hell, they live together.  They know where they’re going to be.  Everyone else just looks confused.  Passes go unclaimed, pucks bounce off opponents skates while a line mate waits and then retreats.  Maybe Ted should keep at least SOME lines together so they can build enough of a working relationship to find those passes.

 

My Blog Box buddy Frank brought up Sean and his lack of production.  Tom Liodice quickly backed away thinking I was going to beat Frank into his chair for the comments.  I told him I didn’t think it was Sean’s fault, and that he’s been bounced around like a pin ball from line to line since he’s been here.  Frank suggested I bring that up to Ted in the press room.  I told him I couldn’t. But I can certainly say it here.

 

So… Ted… Did you find Steve Sterling’s Line Combo Yahtzee game in the locker room?  I’m starting to wonder.

 

Friday is another day, and hopefully by then my wrapping will be done, and maybe some of the 8 dozen cookies I need to make.  Oh… and maybe they’ll actually GET a point or two by the time they travel home.  Hell, it’s Christmas, I can wish, can’t I?