Statistician on Islander telecasts since 1982; author of The Skinny on islanders.nhl.com Follow me on Twitter @ehornick
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The Skinny: Montreal 2, Isles 1 (OT)
"The Skinny" By Eric Hornick Game 26 Montreal 2, Isles 1 (OT) Nick Suzuki scored his third career overtime goal 2:39 into the ext...
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Ziggy Stardust
Friday, December 28, 2012
Time to end this "hill" of a lockout: NHL makes offer
However, this morning, it appears that that hill may soon be flattened:
Big day for Strome in Canada win
<<Ryan Strome scored twice and defenceman Morgan Rielly had a goal and two assists as Canada overcame two game misconducts and a pair of two-goal deficits to rally past Slovakia 6-3 at the World Junior Hockey Championship.>>
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Following Mr. Marginal
Pominville continues to grow --even in the lockout (classic clip : www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmB-_XK5i1Q ) Tyler Seguin had Canada's only goal.
EA Sports NHL 13 simulation
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Hey, the NHL made Time Magazine (.com)
I, on the other hand, do.
http://business.time.com/2012/12/19/hockeys-wealth-redistribution-problem-whats-really-behind-the-nhl-lockout/
Mears/EJ to voice Team USA's run for gold
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Isles/Rangers Game 5/1990 tonight on MSG
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Talk...talk..talk tick...tick...tick
The complete results are here: http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/opinion/nhl/survey-results.pdf
Some notes: 80% of respondents are either "angry" or "don't care"; 55% support neither side, with 1/4 backing the players and 1/6 behind the owners. 78% says they won't buy a ticket this season if they play and 85% won;t buy merchandise. 71% did say they would watch on TV.
While we know these polls aren't scientific, important to realize that since this is a CBC poll, most respondents were Canadian. One can only imagine how much worse the results would be for a US-commissioned poll.
Isles- Rangers set for MSG -- December 22
NY Rangers
1. Steve Vickers
2. Rod Gilbert
3. Ron Duguay
4.Chris Kostopoulos
5. Brian Mullen
6. Pete Stemkowski
7. Ed Hospodar
8. Peter Ferraro
9. Chris Ferraro
NY Islanders
1. Gordie Lane
2. Pat Flatley
3. Mick Vukota
4. Benny Hougue
5. Eric Cairns
6. Randy Wood
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Brooklyn, why Brooklyn?
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-12-11/nets-rivaling-knicks-creates-505-percent-ticket-gain-at-barclays-center
As you do, think of this Saturday at the Nassau Coliseum -- the only day the building will hold an event between now and Christmas. Not including a blood drive, of course.
They tweet the truth
Seth Rorabaugh @emptynetters 10 Dec
Nine current NHL franchises have played fewer regular season games than Gary Bettman has canceled (2,224).
________________________________
Sporting Charts @sportingcharts 10 Dec
#NHL has now cancelled 526 games from the season. 2,224 games have been lost to lockouts/strikes - 670 more than the other leagues combined.
Forever1940 is the nom de plume of Eric Hornick, statistician on Islander home telecasts since January 21, 1982. Visit my blog: NYISkinny.com and follow me on Twitter @ehornick
Monday, December 10, 2012
MSG's Rivalries series: 1990-Isles/Rangers Game 3
The rivalry between the squads is in full-force. It was in game 1 of the series that Pat LaFontaine was knocked unconscious on a hit from James Patrick (the Isles' Jeff Norton noted it was "Clean"). There was a disagreement regarding the medical treatment of LaFontaine -- Islander trainer Mark Aldridge also complained LaFontaine's ambulance was "rocked and pounded by fans" leaving MSG. The Rangers won that game 1, 2-1 and then beat the Isles 5-2 in game 2.
That set up a must-win game 3 for the Isles at the Coliseum. It is that game 3 that is featured on MSG tonight (9:00pm). It turns out to be the first of only three double-OT games in Coliseum history, won by Brent Sutter early in the second OT.
A couple of personal memories from that night:
1. It's one of the only times in recorded history (because who records such things) that two statisticians were jointly interviewed on radio between periods -- the late Joel Blumberg needed guests on Isles radio between the 1st and 2nd overtime so Kenny Albert (who was working with his dad on Ranger radio) and I were Joel's guests. I wonder whatever happened to Kenny? :)
2. The game was played on the first night on Passover. So while I was breaking matzvah with Blumberg, Landers, Fischler and Albert at the Coliseum, my fiancee was at a Passover seder ...with my extended family! (FWIW, the Isles are 3-1 in playoff games played on the first night of Passover...and we're still married!)
The Rangers would win the series in 5, but would lose to the Capitals in the Division Final, extending their Cup-less streak to an even 50.
In addition to tonight's 9pm airing, the broadcast will also air at midnight Mon/Tue, as well as at noon and 4 pm on Tuesday, and noon and 4 pm on Thursday.
Tuesday, December 04, 2012
SBA to counsel Nassau businesses faced with NHL Lockout losses
Monday, December 03, 2012
Potvin passes Orr
(Also airs at 2AM, 10AM and 4PM tomorrow and at noon Saturday)
This game was played during winter break of my senior year in College -- could it really be this long ago???
A bit more on Potvin passing Orr, twice: http://www.nyiskinny.com/2011/12/isles-40-in-40-31.html
Stan's memories here: http://www.msg.com/blogs/stan-fischler/rangers-islanders--december-20--1985--potvin-breaks-orr-s-record.html
Friday, November 30, 2012
Hamonic drawing rave reviews
<<Another New York Islander getting good reviews is Travis Hamonic. "A beast," said one scout. I mentioned this last year, but a couple of teammates said he just had to understand how good he is. Sounds like he's figuring it out.
>>
That followed a mention on Nino Niederreiter (9-9-18, leading Sound Tigers in both goals and points) and how good the AHL has been for him.
Complete column here: http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/opinion/2012/11/30-thoughts-harding-has-kindred-hockey-spirit-in-sigalet.html
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Mazel Tov! Jaffe/Nystrom to lead US to Maccabi games
Congrats to Billy & Eric. Ann Arbor should be proud of the two Michigan men!
http://t.co/AfCT6XbS
<<Jaffe and Nystrom to lead US Ice Hockey bid
November 29, 2012
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Sometimes the best trades you make...
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
NHL Payroll Range implications
" +8M/-8M payroll range becomes +/- 20% of midpoint beginning in 2013/14
Turkey Eve
At least there's football tomorrow. Happy Thanksgiving.
Monday, November 19, 2012
Bruce Ratner to Rebuild Hub
Joensuu injured in Finland
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Niederreiter piling up the points
DiPietro sit streak reaches 35 days
Rick DiPietro did not play again in today's SC Riessersee game. It's now been 5 weeks (35 days) since he appeared in his only game.
Of course, as he told the Post's Brett Cyrgalis -- he's healthy.
I wonder if you could get odds in Vegas on whether DiPietro will get in a game before the NHL settles this silly lockout. SC Riessersee next plays on Tuesday.
Saturday, November 17, 2012
DiPietro still can't get in a game
Perhaps it is time for the follow-up question: why are you not playing?
DiPietro has now not appeared in a game in over a month...including Friday's 5-4 SC Riesersee win over Bietigheim. Bietigheim is the team Josh Bailey joined and Bailey had a goal and two assists in the game, giving him 5 points in his first two games in Germany.
8 Isles-Rangers games part of "New York’s Greatest Hockey Rivalries"
Update: This broadcast utilizes original audio from the Islanders telecast on SportsChannel, with Jiggs and Eddie.
Update: Perhaps Dave Maloney said it best on the wrap-up of the game that he recently taped: "That Ranger team was as good a team as I probably played on. There were so many times when you played the Islanders that you felt you were good enough to win...but you never won. To me, that was the magic of the Islander franchise. They always found a way to win. And that night, it happened to be Ken Morrow."
NY Rangers at NY Islanders, Division Semi-Finals, Game 3 – April 9, 1990 Islanders Come Back from 3-1 Deficit to Win on Sutter's 2OT Goal
NY Rangers vs. NY Islanders, Division Semi-Finals, Game 5 – April 13, 1990 Rangers Beat Islanders in Playoff Series For First Time Since '79
NY Rangers vs. NY Islanders – April 2, 1993 -- Islanders Win, Rangers Miss Playoffs, Turgeon Scores 50th Goal
NY Rangers at NY Islanders – March 5, 1994 -- Rangers Win on Long Island for First Time Since '89
NY Rangers vs. NY Islanders – December 3, 2006 --Islanders Win 7-4 at MSG, Viktor Kozlov Scores Four Goals
NY Rangers at NY Islanders – December 2, 2010 --Rangers Win Game 6-5, Gaborik Scores Hat Trick
For the record, the Isles go 4-3-1 in the eight games selected for the series.
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
It was 33 years ago tonight....
But for now...enjoy this helping of Chili. Double Chili, in fact.
For nearly 40 years the Islanders and Rangers have been delighting their fans with tremendous games against each other. Moment #28 already dealt with Pierre Turgeon's 50th goal OT'ing the Rangers at Madison Square Garden, and you know that there will be Islander-Ranger playoffs moments to come later in this series.
However, two regular season games that the teams played in 1979 are remembered by fans of both teams as more than regular season games.
The first was played on February 25, 1979 at Madison Square Garden. That night a Denis Potvin hip check inspired a chant that remains three decades later.
After the Islanders would clinch first place overall by winning at Madison Square Garden on the final day of the regular season that April, the Rangers upset the Islanders in a classic playoff series, winning game six on Garden ice. (In some ways, the Isles were lucky to get this series to six games, winning twice in overtime.)
All of that is only background to Moment #25, which would be the first meeting of the teams after that playoff series. The Islanders struggled out of the gate the following season, and were below .500 (5-6-3) when they entertained the Rangers on November 13th. That game would produce two words that Islander fans would always remember: Double Chili.
In those days, the Islanders needed six goals to send their fans to Wendy's the next day for Chili. It didn't start out that way. Steve Vickers scored first for the Rangers, midway through the first but Billy Harris and Bryan Trottier responded to give the Isles the lead later in the session. A Don Maloney goal tied the game heading into the first intermission.
The second period though was all Islanders. Trottier scored three minutes in and when Mike Bossy and Denis Potvin scored 12 seconds apart, the rout was on. Wayne Merrick scored the Chili goal 7 1/2 minutes into the period and by the time the session ended Billy Harris (shorthanded) and Stefan Persson had made it 8-2 in favor of the Isles. As it so happens, a Wendy's executive was at the game and over the PA came the famed announcement that if the Isles reached 10 goals it would be Double Chili for all. All except Phil Esposito, that is, who made an obscene gesture upon hearing the announcement. Midway through the third period, Garry Howatt and Denis Potvin scored 2:50 apart, raising the Isles' total to ten, and the Coliseum scoreboard told the story.
A few years ago, a highlights package was put together on youtube. The video quality is actually quite good, considering the age. The highlights are from the MSG broadcast, with the late Jim Gordon and the late Bill Chadwick at the microphones. (Somewhat ironically, the package runs 7:11)
When I think of Double Chili, I also think of Jeffrey Bourne, who was born two days before this game in Syosset Hospital. Bobby missed this game, and this was how his teammates responded.
For more on Jeffrey's triumphs, follow him on Twitter @sledgehockeyguy and see this story on the Hockey Greats Fantasy Camp. http://www.kelownadailycourier.ca/local-sports/hockey-greats-fantasy-camp-great-times-greater-impact-71812.html
Postscript: from longtime Isles' voice Howie Rose: "Don't forget my initiation upon taking the Islander job (in 1995)....Once the deal was done, Barbara took me to the Wendy's on Jericho Turnpike off of Brush Hollow Road for a heaping double bowl of Chili. It's actually much better than Skyline Chili in Cincinnati which somehow has achieved iconic status."
Monday, November 12, 2012
Losing the #Isles. Who's to blame?
Sunday, October 28, 2012
DiPietro not in lineup again
Friday, October 26, 2012
Interesting Q&A on Isles Finances from NY Times
You can find the entire post here: http://slapshot.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/25/islanders-brooklyn-move-raises-complex-issues/
Here's a particularly interesting set of numbers:
KHL on MSG
The first game is airing right now on MSG, with John Giannone and Joe Micheletti at the microphones.
Date | Game | Time | Network |
---|---|---|---|
Friday, Oct. 26 | Dinamo Minsk vs. Barys Astana | 1 & 8 p.m. | MSG |
Wednesday, Oct. 31 | SKA St. Petersburg vs. Dinamo Riga | 1 & 8 p.m. | MSG |
Goodbye November - more cancelations
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Now this is bizarre....
(If you cant see the picture its the Nassau Coliseum newsletter --announcing the Isles move)
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