Battle of New York
A Clash of the Bloggers:
B.D. Gallof & Pat Hoffman
So, you all knew it wouldn’t be long until one of the hottest rivalries in NHL hockey would continue. After all, what other teams’ preseason games produce a wild slugfest that people are still talking about for weeks after it happened? There are the Hatfields vs. the McCoys, The Donald vs. Rosie, Coke vs. Pepsi, Lord of the Rings vs. Star Wars…but nothing, and I mean NOTHING beats a good hockey rivalry. Both teams could be tanking and still having a winning record against their rival is a point of pride for fans and players alike. For this is what Ranger and Isle fans live for…the destruction of the other in these magnified slobberknockers that causes blood to boil, heads to steam, and chickens to dance.
In honor of this battle, your friendly NY hockey team bloggers have chosen to do a back-and-forth debate-style blog. This is done in the spirit of good fun and we ask that corresponding forum posts stick to this mindset.
And, away we go . . .
B.D. Gallof, HockeyBuzz NY Islander Team Blogger:
Ahhh, our first debate. This harkens back to Nixon and JFK. Pat must be having a cold sweat now that Sean Avery is out for at least a month. I know my Islanders team must be breathing a sigh of relief. I am sure they quaked in fear as Sean Avery’s words wishing he had played in that wild slugfest in the preseason. For all that hot air would have melted the ice. His glare he gave Garth Snow as he strode down the hall and off to his favorite club was priceless. But, alas, not as priceless as being turned down by Paris Hilton. Out because of a sore right leg??? Yeah right. ;)
Plus, Ranger fans must have been proud, in that next game when you played our Bridgeport team and eked out a win. Our Bridgeport players can be tough.
Pat Hoffman, HockeyBuzz NY Ranger Team Blogger:
Isn’t it great that the Rangers and Islanders meet in the second week of the season? Isn’t it also great that the Islanders will not have Chris Simon to take all those stupid penalties and be the nuiscance that he is?
Sure, the Rangers will miss Sean Avery but remember, the Blueshirts actually have three lines that have the potential to score goals. The Islanders should learn more about balance because if they don’t, their boys Comrie, Guerin and Fedotenko will get tired early.
Speaking of Avery, at least he had the better girl in Elisha Cuthbert. Who does Comrie have? Oh yeah, Hillary Duff. Certainly not much to admire if you ask me ;)
By the way, is DiPietro hurt yet? Ranger fans would hate to see his head or hip fall off in a game ;)
B.D. Gallof:
Now that’s just mean and hurtful. Who would want one of the best goalies in the league injured? Oh, that’s right. Maybe you guys. You don’t see our players attempt to land on a goalies head. Sure Hollweg got a love-tap to the face. Avery did a ‘triple lindy’ dive atop Ricky’s noggin last year.
Hilary Duff, Christie Brinkley, and we can add some scrub from Entourage. I sense some jealousy. That’s right, being on LI is hot these days. The Islanders are trendy. Who do the Rangers have? Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon? Old news. Who next in the Ranger’s stands? Al Gore??
We have three lines, too, by the way. Sure our 1st line is getting all the news and stats. But Vasicek and Satan are dangerous. And our third line has Mike Sillinger and Trent Hunter. Sure, we don’t have the best that James Dolan can buy. But we do have some crafty and steady men in our top 3 who can put the biscuit in the net.
Pat Hoffman:
Christine Brinkley? Yes, she’s gorgeous but when doing a promotion for Isles TV, she sure sounds like an idiot to me. For more on that, you may want to go to www.espn.com and check out a John Buccigross’s column from last week.
You folks should head to the Garden sometime as Ranger games usually attract high-profile models, actors and actresses (Julia Stiles, used to be Elisha Cuthbert, Jimmy Fallon, etc.) and yes, the Rangers tend to attract high-class folk at the Garden but that is only because the Garden is a high-class arena while the Islanders’ Nassau Coliseum looks more like a big landfill.
Let’s see. Our first line has Jaromir Jagr (two Stanley Cups), Chris Dury (one Cup), Straka while our second line has cup winners in Shanahan (three) and Gomez (two). These guys know how to WIN.
By the way, if it was such a “love-tap”, why did Simon get 15 games?
B.D. Gallof:
You have me on the “lovetap” comment. Simon certainly deserved it. But…Buccigross? Buccigross? That man and the ESPN website wouldn’t know a puck from a BALCO “clear” kit. Bucci always makes some keen picks on the Wild West. But as for the East Coast, he’s pretty awful. Bucci might have given the Rangers some kudos this year, but take a look at his season predictions LAST year:
#15: Islanders.
#4 Carolina.
#1: Tampa
This man is about as accurate as a George W. Bush SAT test.
As for cups, you certainly do have some players that know how to cling onto other players who know how to win…I’ll give you that. Jagr’s is courtesy one of the greatest to play this game: Mario Lemieux. Drury: Joe Sakic wannabee for this little leaguer. Gomez: should be thanking Brodeur, Niedermayer and Stevens. Shanahan: Say hello to his little friend…Steve Yzerman.
Sure it’s great to have cup-experienced guys. But with that defense of yours, you’d be better off with some Stanley Cups instead of those human pylons, which Henrik Lundquist will have to compensate for.
Pat Hoffman: Alright, B.D. You got me on the Buccigross comment.
However, that defense of ours finished second in the conference and in the top ten in the league last season (Who is going to beat Brodeur?) and actually managed to do an admirable job keeping the Senators’ offense in check on Saturday night, even though the team did lose 2-0. And yes, it does take a good goaltender to have a good defense so we are pretty much set there, aren’t we? Let’s see how long DiPietro lasts with his ridiculous 15-year contract.
Speaking of clinging, or not clinging I should say, how about Sillinger? Is he ever going to stay with one team for a whole season or will he get traded in the middle of the year? Don’t get me wrong here. I respect Sillinger as a solid hockey player but it would be nice if he managed to stay in one spot for a full season.
And sure, Drury may have been a great “little leaguer” in baseball when he was younger but this guy is an all-out leader on and off the ice. He leads by example, he scores big goals, he’s not afraid to go down and block shots and oh yeah, he’s actually a two-way player, something that Guerin (who is great at scoring goals) wishes he could be.
B.D. Gallof: Touché on Drury, my good man. But Guerin is doing his pence on LI, with leadership and 1st line moxy. Look into his eyes in the lockerroom, and his relaxed smile. He is ready and willing to do what it takes, and looks comfortable and relaxed in doing so.
As for Sillinger, it’s called: commodity. It wasn’t like he was pushed onto another team. Teams want what he can provide. His faceoff percentage during the post-season was exemplarily. Sillinger, despite his travels, found a home here as a terrific #3 center. Or #2, depending on the need. And, now on the Isles for a full season plus probably all of this one. Not bad, eh?
As for DP’s contract, well you MIGHT have me there. But then again, as the price goes up for Henrik, we have DP at 4.5 per. If you haven’t noticed, prices are going WAY up. Sure, we are paying him until the team is moved to Mars. But hey, in a crazy world of inflated salaries, work stoppages, and goalies that come and go….we have a good keeper. In fact, this is a hot time for starters, and you and I should consider ourselves lucky as we watch other teams change goalies like Howard Hughes changed his underwear.
Pat Hoffman:
Well, put my friend. On that note, I say “Let’s Get it On: Rangers vs. Islanders Round One!”
B.D. Gallof:
Exactomundo!
So, tonight we will be treated to the first Battle of NY. And no matter which side you may root for, you know that it will be something special. Rivalries are one of the most endearing elements of hockey.
We hope you enjoyed our first installment of something we hope to continue when the Isles and Rangers meet this season.
Email: B.D. Gallof
Email: Patrick Hoffman
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