Considering Tiger Track Tom's LIVE BLog last night, if anyone is wondering if I slit my wrists last night, the answer is NO.  Yes, it was difficult for me.  Yes, it was emotional.  And YES.... I even cried a little.  But that was to be expected.  I cry at Maxwell House commercials.  Also, like a 3 year old, I'm fine until someone asks... "Are you crying?"   That's when the emoto-button in my head gets pushed and there's no stopping the free flow of waterworks for at least a few seconds.

Brief run down.  I walked in with my Team USA Blake Jersey. One of the Islander employees at the desk asked "Is that a Blake Jersey?  I could cry."  (see? It wasn't just ME!)

Pre-game skate:  I coudn't find Blake at first when the Leafs hit the ice.  Reason being he skated over to the bench to stretch and seemed to be chatting with Dubie.  I thought that odd.  TSN did an on-ice interview with him before he started skating.  There were a few signs welcoming Jason back, which he acknowledged.  There was also two idiot boys next to me with a craft paper sign written with crayon and a snide remark about his number of goals.  Yep, we had words.  And the building that is Hal Gil crashed the glass in front of them to show his support of his team mate.  Jason did seem uneasy, but threw a few pucks to the crowd when he could.  I have no idea if he recognized me, but there was no acknowledgment of any kind.  Just like the old days I suppose.

Jumbotron Tribute:  Tom places two boxes of tissues in front of me and I scoff at him.  The tribute begins, and he quickly pulls tissues from both boxes and hands them to me.  Little weasel.  How does he know me so well after so short a time?  Uh yes... that Scropio thing.  DRAT!

First period:  Blake's first shift, and who is out on the ice with him?  The man I thought for sure would be his on-ice replacement:  Sean Bergenheim.  I didn't pick up my camera fast enough.  IslanderQueen is getting harrassed by the aged usher in our section.  She is trying to be supportive of me, HE is being an SMG jerk.  Again, just like the old days.  Leafs draw first blood.  It's countered.  IQ and I retreat downstairs for a few minutes.   Yes, I did hold my breath every time Blake took a shift.  I thought for sure he was going to get pummeled to the boards.  Luckily, he didn't.  Vasicek took down Tucker to the delight of the crowd.  But then Josef took a hooking penalty.  Bad boy!  Comrie finally produces.  Maybe he read our NYIC  board today.  I check the Jumbotron:

2     2:02           2

12                    7

The pattern of numbers just struck me for some reason.  But in the final minute, the scoreboard goes BLACK and Guerin scores.

M&G Gate 1:  Good to see everyone... Thank you for coming. I find a Leaf fan with a Blake Jersey.  We pose.

2nd Period:  Dubie in net?  Where is my Rosary?  We all scramble trying to find out WHY he's in net because there is no in arena announcement.  The internet is a wonderful thing, but I've got my cell phone calling Big Angry Man.  The Blog Box crew gets their information at the same time from three different sources.  Hurt knee, not hurt feelings.  Did anything else hapen in the second period?  My mind must have wandered off somewhere.

3rd Period:  I only noticed the SOG were 18 - 17 and the score was 3-2.  It's looking good for the Islanders and I'm thinking more and more that the Leafs are just the Way UP North Islanders.  Sundin takes a penalty only 48 seconds into the third and it looks like a lucky break for us, but somehow Dubie lets in a short handed goal by Steen.  My optimism seems foolish.  Sean hits the post and I can hear B>A>M in my head screaming "Any GAME now SEAN!"  Oh crap! No, actually I said it out loud.  Sorry Sean.  Nice video over "Stronger".  Good job guys.  Gervais yapps at Antropov after he crowds Dubie in the net after a save.  Maybe a throw-back to his Bridgeport days?  But I have to say, Dubie is on tonight, but nothing is really coming at him at lightening speed.  Depression sets in.  "Ok you two little blond bookends, someone make me happy and get a point on the board!  I don't even care which one!!"  Did I say that out loud?  Shoot!  Yes I did.  Great... Now I'm mothering from the stands.

OT:  We are now all standing on our chairs.  No matter how I felt coming into the game, I still wanted the Islanders to get the two points.  With 9.6 seconds of OT left, I got my wish as Comrie scored off a rebound Park had left for him after he stripped Blake of the puck.

The press room was buzzing, and even with Ricky being out of the game, the mood was upbeat.  Watch ITV for the details, and read Greg Logan's Newsday entries for all the details. I'll give you details they don't.

I watched Greg Logan work last night.  I mean really WORK.  He kept Nolan at the podium to answer a few more questions even though the alotted time was up.  While the rest of the media were being corralled into the locker room, he literally chased DiPietro down the hallway to speak with him about his knee.  When he returned, I saw the look of concern on his face as he quickly jotted down notes.  He's writing down words, but formulating new questions in his head at the same time.

Even though they had to fly out last night to Ottawa, it seemed like there was a parade of players for everyone to speak with.  Perhaps it was because the Canadian media was in town, I'm not sure.  First Dubie, then Comrie then the "most underrated Islander," Richard Park.  He was fully showered and dressed in his suit and luckily, with his teeth in place.  The reason I say "luckily" is because Logan asked him a question that just lit his face up.  His smile was so wide, his eyes dissapeared.

It's an interesting experience to be in there night after night.  The words are always the same, but the expressions and the surroundings are what interests me.  While some of the other media men are dead-pan and expressionless, our Newsday beat writer cares about getting the WHOLE story, every night.

And what a story last night was, for everyone.

On to Ottawa.  Good luck Dubie.  Good luck MacDonald.  Whose taking care of the farm?

;o)