Update 10:51 am: Nilsson gets the call. Well, okay then. Gallant in the line-up tonight.
As the Islanders play their last home game of the season tonight against the Senators, you would think that there would be some sort of preview in Newsday. But as I dragged the paper out of the rain soaked driveway, turned to the sports section and flipped the pages, there was not. Newsday has given up on the Isles as the Rangers have clinched a playoff spot through some other team's misfortune. That's hockey.
Here we are today, the last week of the regular season and the final home game for the NY Islanders. As of yesterday afternoon, there were more than 4,400 tickets on sale on the secondary market for as low as $4 per seat. As those tickets are indeed 'sold,' the Islanders can still announce a sell-out for tonight should the other 12,000 odd tickets be sold.
The last game is always more of a social event for the faithful fans. It will be the last time many friends will see each other until September when the pre-season games will bring renewed hope for this team.
There will be specials at the team store as they try to clear out merchandise and fans snatch up a few bargains. It will be chaos and sadness on the concourse and a game on the ice.
The Senators still have playoff hopes, though slim as hell. They will fall to the rookie laden Isles squad, just because. Craig Anderson is said to be in net tonight and I would assume, as there isn't word as of yet, that Nabokov will be on the other end of the ice.
Will Radek Martinek make his final appearance in an Isles jersey? We'll have to wait and see. Brett Gallant was recalled from Bridgeport and Johan Sundstrom was given a ticket back to Bridgeport. I'd say that was a 'Thanks, but no thanks' from Jack Capuano.
Well, it didn't turn out how we hoped, but you have to admit -- we've seen this movie before. the coliseum