N.Y. METS ~ The Saul B. Katz Dilemma; Next Episode

From the desk of:  Head-Butting Mr. Met
The continuing mini-drama series:  The Saul B. Katz Dilemma

NEW YORK METS:  Has Flushing's Financial Phantom Menace Been Revealed?

In this episode of THE SAUL B. KATZ DILEMMA ~

It seems minority partner of the Mets; Saul B. Katz isn't so silent after all.  He's a slick shot caller with selective hearing.  He's our Financial Phantom Menace?  Uncle Saul?  If he's the Senator Palpatine of Roosevelt Avenue - Who knew?  I guess we should be afraid; Be very afraid.  He's been riding the company books like a Pale Horse as the Headless Hedge-Fund.  The newest revelations against Bonnie, Clyde, Fred, Jeff, and Saul are damning.  They will render making illegal contributions to the Nixon Campaign and cutting a check to Howie Spira look like acts of compassion.

Picard says the Wilpons are frauds.  But he really gave a scathing account of Saul B. Katz' brass bullions and banking bravado.   Basically he'd have us believe Saul is the Mets' Ambassador of Assets;  The Trustee of T-Bills;  The King of Credit;  The Duke of Dollars;  The Liege of Leverage;  The Mongol of Money;  The Prince of Principle;  The Majesty of Margin:  The Baron of Borrowing;  The Mobster of Mullah;  The Despot of Debt;  The Jack of Junk Bonds;  and the Emperor of Escrow.

Picard asserts that Saul disregarded warnings from the investment bankers saying Madoff wouldn't have passed their scrutinizing standards and should have recognized red flags.  Meh... what would they know?  But did we see this coming?  Saul B. Katz was the real brains behind the curtain pulling levers the whole time.  I new there was a reason Jeff was making him sound overly important.  It turns out he was a stone-cold G-Money Player.

And therefore, Picard argues, the Mets were able to spend their illegitimate profits like drunken sailors on shore leave AND recover their principle like stolen art paintings in the night.  That's having it both ways and he said it doesn't work like that.

The Mets were preparing themselves in case they had to fork over a $300 million dollar check as a settlement in the case against them.  The Mets just absorbed a severe blow (don't make me laugh) having swallowed Luis Castillo's $6 million dollar salary and jettisoning Oliver Perez and his $12 million dollar price tag as well..  Sheesh!  So what's another $700 million I ask?  Peanuts I say.

That's right.  Picard dripped out new alleged evidence and tacked on $700 million to the Wilpon's bill.
That brings the total Re-Po effort against the Wilpons to a cool ONE BILLION DOLLARS.

But the Wilpons say Picard is fabricating pure fiction.

Here's the problem.  Mr. Wilpon hasn't exactly been totally upfront about...much.  He's had to admit to a few things that leaked out (like MLB loans) and on other occasions they either bent or with-held the full extent of truth.  So if the Mets are crying wolf this time by claiming FICTION, there's a chance we'll eventually stop responding.  Many fans are there already.  Mr.Wilpon is beginning to strain the most passive fan now.

How long is a man allowed to destroy his own enterprise, in a capitalist system, when so many people are attached and emotionally invested in the health and continuity of someone else's said enterprise?  Theoretically in this country? - Forever....if there is money on hand to fund the futility I guess.

One Billion Dollars?  Bad just got really worse for Mr. Wilpon.  What now?  If no one comes out when he cries wolf again...He's doomed.  So for his own sake Mr. Wilpon's better be right this time when he presents his case.

Tune in next time!  Same Saul Katz Time; Same Saul Katz Channel.







Mike.BTB

N.Y. RANGERS ~ Momentum and Power of a Glacier

As of FRIDAY, March 18, 2011
Montreal Canadiens at New York Rangers


NEW YORK RANGERS:  Sacre Bleu!  Le' Blueshirts trounce Montreal Canadiens.


FINAL
MONTREAL  3
NEW YORK   6

The crowd was crazy from the time they turned down the lights and played the introductory "I Am A Ranger" clip on the scoreboard until somewhere in the neighborhood of 10pm.  I'm a real sucker for that clip.  It always manages to bud a tear in my eye, especially when they get to Greschner's goal in '79.  

The crowd action was nice!... and the arena had a great feel.  But I was most happiest for my son.  Over the last eight years The Garden hasn't rocked like I know it can.  We had our moments.  But Friday night was an absolutely terrific atmosphere.  He was electrified by it and asked me if this is the way it used to be...?  I said..yea Dude - After tonight, will you catch up on something that's been missing from your Ranger Experience.  When you leave here tonight, you will finally have understanding into why Ranger Fans are who we are.

This game was one of those games that connects and binds generations of Ranger fans.  Every once in a while, a game like this sneaks up on you.  You go into it thinking and feeling one way, but you leave having been part a regular season game that transcends 85 years of Ranger hockey and why it's so special in our lives.

I hadn't heard the Garden drown out the National Anthem in quite some time; Not like this - Not since John Amarante was a little younger and could really belt out a tune; and all the while egging us on.

I'm going to give credit where credit is due.  Thank you Montreal Canadien fans.  That's right!  Montreal Canadien fans abounded Friday night.  Their enthusiasm whipped a rambunctious Ranger crowd into a frenzy.  And this was all before the opening face-off.

Triple-Witching was in full effect.  I knew it would be raucous.  An Original Six match-up against the Canadiens, on a balmy Friday Night, as the season winds down with the Rangers desperate for points would provide for an interesting night one way or another.  Right?

A fight one second into the contest set the tone for the rest of the game!  Oh Yea!  The night would be grand indeed!  Brandon Prust and Montreal's Travis Moen dropped gloves as soon as the puck slapped ice during the opening face-off.  There were no clear punches connected, as they did more wrestling.  But Brandon Prust got Moen down then picked up; put him down again then picked him up before the Zebras intervened.  The Garden went BONKERS!

The Rangers scored first.  Artem Anisimov's breakaway goal ignited a Fan reaction that cracked the walls and had dust falling from the ceiling of Madison Square Garden.  Oh wait, that was the renovation work Dolan is making us pay for; Sorry.  But Anisimov's goal was Fandom Dynamite; The Garden blew up with cheer.

Montreal's PK Subban tied the game at 1-1.  But then the Rangers turned into a Big Blue Bulldozer  and plowed through the Canadiens all period long.  Actually, Montreal gave us the crease all night.  Ryan Callahan was doing pirouettes in front of the net.  So many scoring chances came off a pass from behind the net to numerous, unmolested Blueshirts in front of the net.

The Rangers powered-up for four more goals in the first period, chasing Montreal's Carey Price from net in the process.  Girardi, Callahan, Gaborik, and Boyle all would score for the Blueshirts.  When the horn blew ending the first twenty minutes of carnage, the scoreboard red Rangers 5;  Canadiens 1.  The crowd rained down adulation for their team.

The Canadiens got a goal back in the second period but neither team did much else.  Then Montreal scored again to begin the third period.  The Garden crowd stayed strong.  And Vinny Prospal rewarded The Garden crowd's Friday Night Fever with another goal (power play) to ice things up.

The Rangers won 6-3 and from start to finish, it was glorious.  But no hard won battle is without it's casualties.  Montreal ran our King which stopped the game for a very long and uncomfortable few minutes.  Henrik finished the game to earn his 30th win of the season, but it cost him a stiff neck, and for the fans a headache.

This was the Rangers' third win in a row.  They are stringing together points at the most crucial time in their soon to be ending regular season.  This team refuses to fold.  They've been under duress and due to injury, have been stretched to their limits and beyond at times.  The Blueshirts have had to bend mightily.  But right now the recoil from all that stored up potential energy is providing for a strong Ranger finish.

May they continue.





Sunday, March 20, 2011
New York Rangers at Pittsburgh Penguins

FINAL
New York Rangers   5
Pittsburgh Penguins  2

NEW YORK RANGERS:  KINGs of the Ice Age.

From Midtown Manhattan, through the St. Lawrence River Valley to the Allegheny Mountains - those aren't scars carved in the bedrock and left behind as a signature of the last Ice Age.  No...that's the New York Rangers grinding their way through the north east corridor on their way to the playoffs.  It just so happens they've started to advance forward with the steady momentum and power of a glacier.

Montreal ran our goalie Friday night and the Penguins would try too.  Brandon Dubinsky and Michael Sauer would have none of it Sunday afternoon.  When Pittsburgh tried, Dubinsky took on two black jerseys and Sauer flattened another.  Our Liege would take care of the rest with a stiff neck and all.

Ryan Callahan took a high stick to the nose which drew blood. 
Matt Cooke; Yea! That Matt Cooke - Mario Lemieux's Matt Cooke, delivered another very high and unnecessary elbow to McDonagh.  Gasp!

Yea well, Good!  Because that would be Pittsburgh's last indiscretion and the beginning of their unravelling.  McDonagh would get the last swipe.  He'd have two in fact.  He skated in untouched against PITT-Fluery and had his shot; then a second shot off his own rebound.  Fluery stopped them both but Derek Stepan was there to slam a loose puck home to make the score 4-2 Rangers.

There was a moment for the Rangers when this game could have really fallen apart like Charlie Sheen.  During the 5-minute major for Matt Cook's elbow, Pitt's Chris Kunitz started the third period scoring with a short-handed goal to break the 1-1 tie.  That's when the Blueshirt glacier decided to just grind Pittsburgh's new little igloo down to a snow cone.

Crunch ~ Marian Gaborik on the power Play;
Crunch ~ Ryan Callahan 11 seconds later;
Crunch ~ Derek Stepan slamming home a McDonagh rebound;
Crunch ~ ...and an empty-netter by Brandon Dubinsky finished off the Penguins in a most formidable fashion.  It was a great follow-up performance to Friday night's display of force.

Keep Crunching Boys!



ALL IS FAIR IN LOVE AND HATE:

Ryan Callahan said Torts is "...great..blah blah" ..as part of some post game comments.  OK...we know all about their mutual Man-Love they share for each other.  But I wonder if Sean Avery feels the same way?  He was a healthy scratch again for the third time in the last four games.  I wondered aloud how long it would be before Sean Avery saw ice again after his game against the Islanders last Tuesday night.  Well, we're finding out.  Coach Torts is making Avery pay a stiff price for his last on-ice effort. The thing is, the Rangers are 4-0 in their last four games and 3-0 with Avery scratched.  Avery's last game came against a team (the Islanders) that is not near to being on-par with San Jose, Montreal and Pittsburgh; the three teams the Rangers beat with Avery benched. 

We are playing must win games and Coach is saying Avery must sit.  Beating the Pens; Habs; and Sharks is no easy task.  So for Avery, there's no challenge to the Coach's decision.   What happens from this moment on is now any-body's guess.  It's clear Coach Torts has no use for Sean Avery.  There is a complete disconnect.





Mike.BTB

N.Y. AVIATORS ~ Warriors Win Game One; Game Two Sunday

From the desk of:  The Coolest Guys in Brooklyn


New York Aviators: Drop Game One In Championship Series.

GAME ONE FINAL:

Akwesanse Warriors  4

New York Aviators     3

Brooklyn

Game One of the Federal Hockey League Championship Series goes to the Warriors from Ontario, Canada.

They strike first blood in the best three out of five series and have assured themselves a split on the road.

Before the first minute ticked off the clock after the opening face-off, the A's found themselves down 1-0 off a quick Akwesasne strike.  But the Aviators owned the final nineteen minutes and thirty one seconds of the first period.  They answered back with three goals in the period with two coming on the power play.

Casey Mignone (assisted by Nick Grove; Stephen Obelnicki) got the Aviators on the scoreboard at the 4:38 mark to tie things up.  The Warriors committed three penalties in the first period and New York converted on two of the opportunities.  At 5:52, the Warriors got called for a holding penalty, and seven seconds later, Matthew Puntureri put the A's ahead 2-1 (assisted by Michael Thomson; KC Timmons).  At 13:37, the Warriors were whistled for their third penalty of the period.  It was Akwesasne's Chad Bazin's second penalty infraction within the space of four minutes.  The first cross-checking minor was killed off.  His second whistle for hooking cost the Warriors when Andrew Scampoli scored at the 13:47 mark (assisted by Michael Thomson; KC Timmons) for a 3-1 Aviator lead they'd take into the first intermission.

The Warriors would put New York on the power play three more times in the second period.  But the A's went 0-3 and Akwesasne went 0-2 in their chances with the man-advantage.  At 15:06 of the second period, the Warriors scored an even strength goal to cut the Aviator lead to one.

Within the first five minutes of the third period, the Akwesasne Warriors struck for two more goals the Aviators never found a way to recover from over the last fifteen minutes of the game.  At the 2:09 mark, the Warriors tied the game on an even strength goal.

What ultimately downed the A's was a Nick Grove roughing penalty called at the 3:31 mark which the Warriors capitalized on thirty-seven seconds later with their fourth goal of the night.

New York had more shots-on-goal; 30-24.  But after the first period, they went 0-5 on the power play.  They never could find a way to score again over the last forty minutes as Akwesasne continued to chip away.

New York will get another chance to win a game in front of their home crowd in Brooklyn on Sunday afternoon before the series shifts to Akwesane next weekend.  If the series gets extended to five games, that deciding game will be here in Hangar #5.

2010-2011

FHL CHAMPIONSHIP

GAME TWO

Akwesasne Warriors

vs.

NEW YORK AVIATORS

HANGAR #5

FLOYD BENNETT FIELD

BROOKLYN

Mike.BTB

N.Y. METS ~ Reporter Takes A Swing And Misses; On Luis Castillo

From the desk of: Head-Butting Mr. Met



Andy Martino of the N.Y. Daily News brought up a fair question as to whether the fan's negative sentiment towards Luis Castillo was partly based on racism. 


NEW YORK METS: 
File this under; "Things I Hate Talking About That Sometimes Need To Be Talked About"
I believe the only bad question you can ask is the one that isn't asked.  The real life vigil against racism should never rest.  And any conversation concerning racism is good conversation regardless of what direction the conversation may go.  Identifying and understanding differing opinions in an open manner is as necessary to the discourse as any other aspect regarding racism, hatred, and ignorance.


Take Three:
...as in, this is my third attempt at this post.  I want to say too much.  But, way back when, I made a promise that I wouldn't take myself too seriously when it comes to my blog.  In addition to that, Racism is just too broad a topic for me to tackle here.

But I will tell you where I'm coming from. 

I am half Puerto Rican and half Sicilian.  In all honesty, this volatile mix of blood requires attitude adjustments and mood management on a daily, and almost hourly basis.  Trying to keep my disposition on a leash is a challenge for me.  But I'm self aware, and that's an even bigger challenge for me to conquer because as they say, Ignorance is Bliss.  I am fully in touch with both sides of my heritages to include command of the languages.  My foundation was reinforced with trips and stays to my two "mother-lands".

Racism is alive and well people!  I hope no one is in denial of that fact.  I'll have that conversation with you; but just not here.  I'm going to take it upon myself and lessen the severity of the word Racism for Mr. Martino and inject myself into this and say the problem is with Ethnocentrism.  The word is a downgrade from Racism, but equally disturbing in it's practice and dynamics.  But I also think it's a more accurate descriptive of today's problem.

Racism is something wholly different.  Racists do not befriend their enemies and those they have contempt for just because they're at a ball game.  But ethno-centrists can and sometimes do.  Racists, true racists, make no secrets of their beliefs.  Ethno-centrists at a game however, are "usually" revealed according to their degree of intoxication.  Two ethno-centrists can become friends.  It happens all the time.  At a minimum, ethnocentrists can even declare a truce for the length of a game then go back to being close minded afterwards.  But make no mistake, ethnocentrism can be and is, just as derisive and hurtful as racism to the recipient and still fuels hatred on an equally disturbing level.

Getting back to me, I have flourished in both the White World and the Latino World.  But I do look white.  It's not until you know me or I am placed in a Latino environment, that you will pick-up on that.  My first language is Brooklynese.  What is more important to me above all is that I am a native New Yorker, and above that I'm a born and bred Brooklynite.  That's how I identify myself.  I get that from my mother; the Puerto Rican.  Above all else, she calls herself a New Yorker.  She came to NYC 60 years ago.  She tried retiring and leaving NYC.  With my sister's encouragement, she moved to Florida so they could be closer.  Two years later she was back and rejoined the NYC hustle.  She said Florida almost killed her.  She still takes the train to her office everyday without fail.  She said when she does die, I'm not allowed to send her back to P.R. to be buried in their family plot.  It's on me to make sure she always remains in NYC.  She was born in a (now) historical district of a town which is Puerto Rico's equivalent to America's Salem, Mass.  It's a great place and many of my relatives still live in the town.  They are a baseball family with many ties, connections, and friendships.  Mom has two nephews in Major League Baseball.  She was the one who impressed upon me the importance of speaking well.  She had the language mastered long before I was born and always stressed how important a tool effective speaking was.  My Pop?  LOL...don't make me laugh.  He didn't give a damn about English, but did just fine for himself with his Anglotalian.  He actually did better with Spanish.  By the way, my mom learned Italian too.  What she doesn't appreciate is Brooklynese.

Fugheddaboudit!

Here's where it all gets sticky.  Of course I play both roles to suit my needs when ever I can.  Why not?  Advantage mine.  I'm equally equipped to exist as an Italian White or as a Latino.  Here's the uglier part of this dynamic.  There are times when a white man is supremely confident he is in the presence of a like-minded white man in me, and winds up saying the most heinous things about Latinos while unaware of my being Puerto Rican.  And I must admit I love throwing them for a loop when I correct them (if I correct them).  And as a half-Italian, I get that from the Italians all the time.  Then I get the classic - Oh, but you're not like the others. 

Really?

Most times, I willingly chose to say nothing without a hint of reaction.  I do it because I like to learn.  I like to see people behaving in their natural environment, if you follow me.  I admit, it's akin to looking at their souls through a key hole.  The real ethnocentrists for some reason like to swing the door wide open for me!  LOL.  It's like being a double-agent (key 007 theme music here).


But I pick and choose my moments for when I'm feeling feisty or just want to be passive aggressive.  I like making people look stupid that way because when you're self-confident and use tact, you can get away with it.  There are also the times when Latinos are so sure I am "them", that they also will offer their truer insights regarding the white man.  Of course I'm only speaking to the small number of bad apples in every-one's societal pocket.  The problem is, I know exactly how these two worlds think.  I also understand language barriers and the perceptions that arise from them.  And I think we're all rather well versed in stereotypes.


Blame Canada!
This isn't a South Park episode.  This is Madison Square Garden.

Last night at the NY Rangers game, there was a certain inebriated Viking (was that wrong of me?) that supplied my section with a continuous stream of "SPIC" jokes targeted at Scott Gomez; "the Filthy Mexican" who now plays for the Montreal Canadiens.  But even before the game started, during the National Anthems no less, Mister Liquid Courage launched his first verbal scud.  A public school's choir from Staten Island had the honor of singing the American and Canadian National Anthems.  One Spanish looking little girl had a solo-part during the American anthem.  So Mister Idiot Water screamed out, "take a bath you filthy Mexican" when they put her face on the screen as she sang.

I get tickets for games from my season-ticket holding friends.  So I am in that section infrequently.  But this individual and I did have a moment to "chat" the last time me, him, and Scott Gomez were all there on the same night together last season.  It was a simple exchange; discrete, and no one got disrespected.  No one ever even realized I called him out on his indiscretion because of the way I handled it when an opportunity presented itself.  But to his credit, there were no more "SPIC" jokes that night. 

By the way, I don't drink at games for a number of reasons.  But none of my reasons are of the self-righteous variety.  Beer at games is cool with me.  But bad drinkers suck.  I take this into account when I attend games.  I'm good to go if you know what I mean.  I'll handle myself.  But I understand I'm the one exercising more patience in a crowd than the guy with an Ale in his hand.

So last night, after about 10 minutes in and a "SPIC" joke that really went over the top, my attempts to ignore him failed.  I turned to him as he was a few rows behind me and put my hands up as if to say, "WHY Bro?"  He saw me, acknowledged, and that pretty much ended the SPIC jokes.  Then what followed was an all out assault on anything Canadien and everything Canadian.  The guy was ruthless.  I had two older French-Speaking Canadians sitting to my left whom also had words with Sir-Drink-A-Lot.  Beer Boy did have a friend who squealed equally foul rubbish, but it wasn't too hard to figure out who was leading who.  This guy took his Canadian laced debauchery seriously and was angry about it.

This dude wasn't the first guy; the first game; the first arena or stadium; the first city; or first anything.  He's just one guy who gives a lot of people a bad name regardless of what color crayon you are.

So what the hell does all this have to do with Luis Castillo and Andy Martino?  I don't really know, but I know what Andy Martino was trying to say, and the ethnocentric, game long rant my section was in attendance for last night at the Ranger game, are loosely connected.

The Latino Gate/Phobia Andy Martino made reference to reminded me of the amusement I had as that whole thing went down between, Paul LoDuca, Billy Wagner and various Latino players.  Yes, I was amused, because it was no different than any other scapegoating or crusade the Media feels like inspiring.  I heard the radio show callers complain about Omar and the LatinOzation of the MetropoLATINOS.  I heard them.  I'm just not sure I ever believed that was a prevailing sentiment among Met Fans.  I do believe MOST people are very tolerant of each other.

I've pondered Latino Gate before from both sides of the fence, because I can.  And I never felt LatinOzation was the plan or (un)intended goal.

Andy Martino wondered if racism played a part in Luis Castillo's problems with the Mets.  I also heard Mr. Mike'd Up say the reason Luis Castillo was hated here was because he never smiled or looked happy and never did anything to make us forget the dropped pop-up against the Yankees.

Wow.  Who knew?  It's all so brilliant.  That's why they are the professionals and I'm just a dumb blogger.

I thought the reason Luis Castillo was never liked here was because EVERYONE knew signing him to a four year deal for ludicrous money was a horrible mistake!  The Twins were lucky to squeeze the last good days out of him.  So coming here, NO ONE thought we were getting that player the moment he signed.  He could have sailed into Flushing Bay on the Mayflower and he still would not have been liked because the deal was BAD!  We could have dealt with a two year deal.  But we gave him four years that proved to be a horrible idea after the first season.

Andy Martino had no business injecting race into Luis Castillo's Spring Training and over-all team situation.  None!  Luis Castillo could have been VULCAN and it wouldn't have made us like him more.  The more he got injured and didn't fill our need at second base the less we liked him.  Because of the four year deal, we were handcuffed in any attempt to upgrade second base.  So we disliked him even more.  The dropped pop-up was just a log on the fire.

Luis Castillo was not disliked by Mets fans because he is a dark skinned Dominican!

Damn it I hope the Mayans are right about this Age of Man.  If there was something there to work with, Martino would be justified throwing a stick like that in the spokes at this time.   But no one has even mentioned Latino Gate until Martino brought it back to the printed page.  He was trying to make A and B equal C, but it doesn't add up for me.  I feel like I'm qualified to agree or disagree with such a line of questioning.  That's why I think his article is a big swing and a miss.




Mike.BTB

NCAA ~ LIU BLACKBIRDS; Brooklyn Wishes You Luck

The Hoops of Flatbush

2011

NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament

FRIDAY, March 18, 2011

EAST REGION

#2 North Carolina Tar Heels  26-7

vs.

#15 Long Island University Blackbirds  27-5

From Charlotte

NEC Champions

LIU Blackbird ~ Mike Culpo

GOOD LUCK BOYS!

Pictures:

N.Y. Daily News

Credit to:

Mike McLaughlin/LIU

Mike.BTB

Rangers; Devils; Islanders ~ FRIDAY NIGHT FACE-OFFS

FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS FACE-OFFS

THE OTHER MARCH MADNESS

NEW YORK RANGERS:  Their Eleven Game Road to the Playoffs is Riddled With Dangerous Potholes.

Time is short.  There are 11 games left in the Rangers' season. 

They've spent the last two weeks ping-ponging in the Conference standings between 7th and 8th place.  It's unrealistic to think they can win every game left.  But it's not out of line to say they desperately need almost every one of the 22 points left on the table in order to make the playoffs.

Buffalo's early season fall wasn't as steep a drop as it was for the Devils.  And Buffalo's subsequent ascension through the ranks wasn't as daunting a task as it still is for the Devils.  But Buffalo's remarkable turn-around from a very distressing start qualifies as unbelievable now that they have gained a say in the Conference playoff race (with 76 pints; two behind the Rangers).

Carolina can not be trusted!  They just recently defeated Buffalo 1-0 in a brilliant game I watched on Versus.  They are sitting in the 9th slot with 74 points; trailing Buffalo, then the Rangers.  Cam Ward is hanging up 40 save wins like fine suits in his closet.  The guy is unconscious right now.  And we all know hot goalies mean everything this time of year.  The season series between the Rangers and Carolina is done so they won't face each other before season's end.  But the Rangers still have a game against the Sabres on March 30th.  And there is no doubt in my mind that game will carry the weight of the world with it.

Toronto is sitting in 10th place with 72 points.  Congratulations to them, but who cares!?  The New Jersey Devils are about to render them irrelevant once they pass them in the standings.  The two teams can end tonight tied with 72 points each depending on how things go.  But when the Devils do pass them (...and they will), Toronto can start calling their travel agents.  As I write this post, both the Devils and Maple Leafs are losing.

The Devils are a miraculous six points out of the eighth place spot with 13 games left to play.  What the Devils are in the midst's of accomplishing is astonishing.  The Rangers and Devils will play on April 9th in what will be the Blueshirts' last game of the season.  That game, along with the Rangers/Sabres game on March 30th will most likely decide our season.  I'd be remiss if I didn't mention a game against the Thrashers on April 7th being equally critical to our playoff survival.  The rub regarding that final game against the Devils is that New Jersey will still have one more game against the Bruins left to play.  And if the Rangers playoff invitation isn't written by that time, they may be forced to watch television for a day to see where they stand.

Points are of the essence.  How's that for the under-statement of the year? 

I'm still a little burnt up about Quacking up those two points in Anaheim.  But what this edition of Blueshirts has done over and over again, just when the old Ranger fan in us wants to throw our hands in the air in disgust, is remind us they're a group built on a solid foundation of fortitude.

The went to San Jose and took a big bite out of the SHARKS when they needed to most and then followed up by storming the Fightin' Islanders at home. 

The Rangers are 4-1 in their last five games. By defeating the Islanders, they evened their home record to .500 (...finally).  Six of their last eleven games are at home now and they get to end their season with three home games. As I mentioned, the last one will be against the Devils.  And while it's starting to sound like a broken record now, the Rangers have to; absolutely need to play better at home; if not only to make the playoffs, but they'll need to be better at home through the second season for as long as they can last....If..

FRIDAY

March 18, 2011

Montreal Canadiens

vs.

NEW YORK RANGERS

Madison Square Garden

33rd Street and 7th Avenue

NEW AMSTERDAM

This Friday night should be a raucous evening at the Garden.  The NHL is The Other March Madness.
My son and I will be in attendance, and our expectation is to experience an exceptionally rambunctious crowd.  It being Friday night with the Rangers clinging to their playoff lives should make for a most lively night at the Garden.  And Oh No!...if the Canadiens score first..., you know how the place gets.  It's like they killed John Lennon again at center ice.

Two thirds of the old N.J. Devils' "Egg-Line" and the rest of the Montreal Canadiens are coming to town for a good old fashioned Original Six match-up.  Montreal is one spot above the Rangers in the standings sitting in 6th place.  But Montreal has a five point advantage on the Rangers. So, the Blueshirts future lies in their ability to secure the seventh or eighth spot.  So again I say, points are of the essence.

There are no soft spots left in the Rangers' schedule.  Pittsburgh, Atlanta, New Jersey, Buffalo, Boston two times, and Philadelphia all remain on the Ranger docket.  Tonight, Ottawa is giving the Devils all they can handle...Again!  We'll be facing Ottawa again shortly.  And if you care to under-estimate an upcoming game against Florida, do so at our peril.  Add in another game against the Islanders that's what the rest of the schedule looks like.

I've travelled smoother roads on the moon cratered surface they call the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, than the road the Rangers must negotiate in order to get into the Second Season.  They just gotta strap up and follow the Black and Blue Road.  They have their work cut out for them.  But they are a resilient bunch with a lot of tenacity. 

The problem is we just don't know whether this team is slipping; sustaining; or surging.  It's hard to tell.  But who said life was easy?  If life were that easy, we'd be scoring more goals and that's something I don't want to get into today.

Coach Torts vs. Sean Avery:
I posted this last night; Avery and Torts Rift is Now a Chasm
I have taken up Sean Avery's cause all season.  In spite of his penalty minutes, I think he'll be more helpful than harmful to us with consistent ice time and playing on better quality lines.  As a Ranger fan who also likes Coach Torts, I think his handling of Sean Avery this season has been completely wrong.  Coming off Sean Avery's performance against the Islanders, I'm too curious to see what Coach Tortorella has in mind for Sean against the Canadiens.  I'm not defending Avery's performance Tuesday night at all.  But if Avery had spent more time this season playing like he did two nights ago, Coach would be far more justified in his treatment of his forward.  But Avery hasn't been "that" way.  Closer to the truth is the fact he's been a more than respectable citizen in spite of erratic, and logic defying randomness with regard to ice-time Coach Torts allots him.  Sean Avery is one of this team's most complete players; in the sense he's a jack of all trades.  Look through the nonsense (that hasn't existed this season) and you'll see a very good Hockey player.  His season-long under-utilization can only be emanating from something personal Coach Torts has against Avery, (which was never a secret to begin with).

I'm just calling for Coach Torts to give Sean Avery a fair shake for a change instead of shaking his head at Avery, it seems, every time he skates out on the ice.



NEW JERSEY DEVILS: Look what Ottawa did to you...Again!

What ever it is the Devils are selling, the Ottawa Senators aren't buying it.  For the second time down this playoff-stretch, the Senators poured a bucket-o-cold-water on the Devils' flaming play.  The Devils are 5-2 in March.  Both losses have been against Ottawa.  After tonight, the Devils have twelve games remaining.  Because Buffalo was idle tonight, the Devils remain six points behind the Sabres for the number eight spot.  But the bad news is Atlanta beat Philadelphia and leapfrogged ahead of the Devils again, joining Toronto (who lost tonight) with 72 points and four away from Buffalo.

FRIDAY NIGHT

Washington Capitals

vs.

NEW JERSEY DEVILS

The Rock

NEWARK, N.J.

NEW YORK ISLANDERS:  The enemy of my enemy is my friend.
The Long Islanders can give the Blueshirts a huge assist Friday night with a win over the 'Canes in Carolina.  The Islanders still have reasons to go all out, but their chances at a playoff spot are fading fast.  If they can get a couple of shots past a possessed Cam Ward, what a help that would be to the Rangers.

You-Tube sensation Rick DiPietro, is back after getting devastated by a left hook as a result of a bad decision he made against Pittsburgh.  If, and when does he start again? Who knows.  Al Montoya has been OK.

FRIDAY NIGHT

NEW YORK ISLANDERS

vs.

Carolina Hurricane

Some where below the Mason Dixon Line

Mike.BTB

N.Y. RANGERS ~ The Avery-Torts Rift Is Now A Chasm

NEW YORK RANGERS:  It's Time For Coach Torts To Just Leave Sean Avery Alone!  Get Off his Back Will Ya?


I'm not going to defend Sean Avery's game last night against the N.Y. Islanders.  I'm not going to even try.  If you've followed my Ranger postings, you know I've been a proponent of Sean Avery all season.

But Coach Torts has made it very clear.  Sean Avery is his twelfth favorite forward.  Translated that means Avery is his least favorite forward.  There is no doubt in my mind, John Tortorella's long standing disdain for Sean Avery, ever since Avery's on-air lewd comment incident while Sean was still with Dallas, and perhaps even before that, still affect their relationship today as player and coach.  And everything Avery does, is viewed through skewed eyes by said Coach.

Avery has been cornered into a position where he needs to play near-perfect Hockey with his chances, or risk sitting out extended shifts or being excluded from ice time all together.  Does he lead the team in penalty minutes?  Absolutely; by a wide margin.  But I'm not defending that either.  What I am protesting is the fact Sean Avery has played good soldier all year.  After being made a healthy scratch in California, he still had the where-with-all to utter the most appropriate responses when asked about the benching.

Penalties aside, Sean Avery is one of the most complete forwards on this team.  And what Coach Torts incorporates into his utilization of Sean Avery can be called nothing short of personal and petty.  But of course, that's my opinion.  But then, you explain it.  Sean Avery has shown the more he's been incorporated into the top lines, the more he stays in the moment and plays effective Hockey.  But after any sparkling game, Coach Torts has pulled the plug on him every time.  This time Coach Torts unplugged him all together by making him a healthy scratch.   Then what you saw against the Islanders was an Avery who was disengaged from the team again.  That's on Torts.

Avery has lent himself to change this season.  There is no denying that.  In fairness, so has Coach Torts.  He's been a less volatile Coach that the Torts of seasons past.  He's also much more nurturing of his young players than he gets credit for.  I believe he's exerting a lot of pressure on Glen Sather to keep the youngsters in tact and if that's the case, we should be very thankful.  So, I'm caught in the middle as a fan of both men.

But while both persons can be credited with their respective mood alterations, only one needs to learn about giving the other a fair shake.  Coach Torts looks at Avery as the next horrible thing to go wrong when ever he's on the ice. This must change.  Of course Avery must meet and satisfy the challenge of any alteration in Tort's schemes.  But Avery has shown a different demeanor this season and seems willing to do less of what he did last night against the Isles and more to help this team by stabilizing a top line.  But that's predicated on frequent ice time and getting a fair shake.

Larry Brooks, Coach Tort's long standing enemy, has cut Coach Torts large amounts of slack in his column this season, as even he recognized a subdued Tortorella was slightly more tolerable and open during Q&A.

Sean Avery has done much to sustain a consistent demeanor this season.  His penalty minutes might be high but could be partially explainable since his reputation precedes him in the eyes of the Zebras.  Larry Brooks; Coach Torts antagonist, has maintained a consistent tone with Coach Torts and has given him his due credit and space to breath which is a stark difference from the more combative moments they've shared.  Everyone seems to have made some kind of humbling consolation for the sake of civility and team success.  All except John Tortorella and his season long mistreatment of Sean Avery.....along with all his deeply-held opinions he keeps to himself, but which he'd like to hurl Avery's way (I'm sure).

Avery and Larry Brooks have put down personal differences and have been good soldiers.  Coach Torts is a Coach I like and am firmly behind.  But he is wrong about this one.  He continues to make the conditions between him and Sean Avery a personal matter and not about Hockey.  If he made Hockey based decisions regarding Avery, he would have left him on a line with Gaborik long ago instead of relegating him to eight minutes a night and penciling him in as a healthy scratch.

This I believe is not good for the team, and would like for Coach Torts to relent, and find Sean Avery quality and consistent ice time..., for all our benefit.




Mike.BTB

Brooklyn ~ A Sports Town Within A Sports Town

The Brooklyn Sports Scene: The New Lords of Flatbush!


BROOKLYN:
We were, are and always will be, A Sports Town.

FLATBUSH AVENUE is Boulevard of the Fans Once Again!



Downtown Brooklyn's own..., The LIU (Long Island University) BLACKBIRDS Men's Basketball team; The Hoops Of Flatbush; - won their conference regular season title.  They reaffirmed themselves shortly thereafter by winning the NEC Title - Northeastern Conference Tournament.  As reward for their efforts this season, they were awarded an NCAA berth to the tournament we traditionally call March Madness; qualifying with a 27-5 mark.  Their travels will take them to Charlotte where they will take on the famed program of the North Carolina Tar Heels to be played this coming Friday night.  It will be the Blackbirds first NCAA Tourney appearance since 1997 and the third in their history.  The Blackbirds feel as if they could have been shown a little more respect than they received after being seeded 15th in the bracket.  But it is what it is Boys.  Their first round opponent, North Carolina is ranked #2 in their bracket.  The fans in Brooklyn have no doubt these boys will represent the Borough of Kings well.  Good luck to them.

This Saturday night, on the opposite end of Flatbush Avenue from where LUI's campus is, Brooklyn's Professional Hockey Team; the The New York Aviators will play Game One of the Federal Hockey League's Inaugural Championship Series in Hangar #5 over in Floyd Bennett Field against the Akwesasne Warriors.  The A's stumbled early to start the season but finished their campaign with a consecutive games winning streak that exceeded twenty games before getting it snapped by Danbury just before season's end.  In the first round of the Southern Division playoffs, The Aviators exacted a revenge of sorts and dispatched the Danbury Whalers in 5 games to earn a spot in the up-coming Finals.  Should the Aviators defeat the Akwesasne Warriors in the Inaugural FHL Finals, it would be the Aviators second consecutive championship in successive Leagues.

Between LIU's campus on Flatbush' north end, and Aviator's Hangar #5 on Flatbush' south end, where Atlantic Avenue and Flatbush Avenue intersect, construction of the Barclays Center has just celebrated it's one-year anniversary since Groundbreaking Day.  Work on the arena is accompanied by encouraging reports the project is ahead of schedule.  This arena will be home for the soon to be relocated New Jersey Nets Basketball Club.  For the moment the team plays in nearby Newark, N.J.  But the plan is for the Nets to tip-off their first home game in their new Brooklyn arena in time for the 2012-2013 season.  It's been a long seven years since Bruce Ratner purchased the New Jersey Nets and announced his intention to move the team to Brooklyn.  Mikhail Prokhorov arrived on the Nets scene since then but the point here is finally, a trip past the construction site today leaves little doubt as to the inevitability that a Major Professional Sports Franchise is returning to Brooklyn for the first time since the late 1950's when the Dodgers left the Borough to go play their games in California.

Duke Snider; The Duke of Flatbush; recently passed away.  The great Brooklyn Dodger center-fielder during NYC's Golden Era of Baseball was the last living member of the famed batting order that helped win the Dodgers their first title in 1955 and gave the Borough of Brooklyn their only World Series Championship.  Fifty-five years have passed since the denizens of Brooklyn danced in the streets in celebration of their Bums winning it all.  NEXT YEAR finally became NOW and the victory parade drove down Flatbush Avenue; Brooklyn's Heart.  And fortunately, I know enough of the ones who are still around who remember.  I'm always available anytime they want to tell me a story.


And as it concerns the game of Baseball, this much is undeniable; - From Dem Bums of yore to our Baby Bums of today;  Baseball, since the game's infancy, is uniquely a Brooklyn institution.  For it is in Brooklyn, Baseball spent it's childhood in the 1800's and grew to become great.  From here, it spread forth throughout the land to capture a Nation's heart.  The deeper you dig into Baseball's past and origins, the closer you get to Brooklyn.

Then, a decade ago, Baseball returned to it's roots.  It's a minor league brand of baseball, but the passion I have for my hometown team is of major intensity.  This last summer, local fans of the Surf Avenue Sluggers celebrated their 10th Anniversary together with Brooklyn's "Newest" Professional Baseball Team; the Brooklyn Cyclones. Our Baby Bums excited sold-out crowds with another thrilling season by the seashore which culminated in the team's fourth Division Title and an appearance in the Championship Finals.

With most of the bad days of Winter behind us, that can only mean my Brooklyn Cyclones' brochure and ticket plans should be arriving in my mailbox any day now.  When June rolls around, a new season with our Sluggers by the Sea will kick-off another summer of Coney Island fun.  Heading into our 11th season together, Brooklynites will continue to pack the park and set attendance records like we always have.

The same I think can be said for the future of Barclays Center and the Brooklyn Nets of 2012 and beyond.  I think the N.Y. Knickerbockers and many in the local Media are underestimating the passion level for a Professional Sports team, not in just what still remains as the 4th largest city in America, but in an only, one of a kind, wholly unique place like Brooklyn.

The Brooklyn Nets are setting up shop on Flatbush Avenue where Walter O'Malley once wanted to build a new stadium for the Dodgers.  But this isn't about rehashing the past and maddeningly crying over spilt milk.  Instead this is a conversation as well as a celebration I'm having with the Brooklyn Sports Fan out there.  This may not be the Golden Age of the 1950's, so you'll have to use your imagination a little and stretch reality to conform what I'm saying into something I believe is in it's genesis.  If you're like me, a born and bred Brooklynite who refuses to leave because I love it here so much, you must recognize the changes happening all around.  And if you're a sports fan, how can you not take notice to the fact that Flatbush Avenue has again become our Borough's Boulevard of the Fan.

On the north end of Flatbush Avenue at DeKalb Avenue, Long Island University, home of the Blackbirds, are the first to greet travelers crossing over the Manhattan Bridge.  Travelling south along Flatbush through Downtown Brooklyn, at Atlantic Avenue, the future home of the Nets Basketball Club is being assembled.  Then down on the south end of Flatbush Avenue is Floyd Bennett Field, where in Hangar #5,  the New York Aviators will begin playing for their League's Championship this weekend.

But no, ultimately, I'm not trying to call Brooklyn a sports town.  I'm not talking to anyone not from here because my championing of a pair of minor league outfits; a basketball team that isn't here yet; and a college team I know many won't admit they never heard of before..., is ludicrous.

But to you; my neighbor and fellow Brooklynite; We who care as little about Manhattan as Mayor Bloomberg does about us - Are you a Sports Fan?  Are you feeling the heat I'm generating regarding our local teams?

Hockey ~ The New York Aviators; the Coolest Guys in Brooklyn!
Baseball ~ The Brooklyn Cyclones; the Surf Avenue Sluggers; The Coney Island Nine
2011 NCAA Tourney ~ The LIU Blackbirds; Brooklyn's College Cagers; The Hoops Of Flatbush
Basketball ~ The Nets are Coming! 2012-2013 Season


Yea.  This IS a Sports Town; our sports town within a sports town.  These are the days; for us at least.  I wrote somewhere in another post... Don't wait for the Media naysayers to write a book ten years from now and have them say I was there when Brooklyn....blah blah.  Forget them because they all cater to each other and to their egos and quite frankly, just don't get it (meaning Bklyn).  Just pay attention for yourselves and go to a game or two.  We're taking baby steps but Brooklyn never had these options and multitude of teams available to us before.  So write the story for yourselves about how Brooklyn is reappearing on the sporting map.  We're on the ground floor looking in.

Be there!  Be Brooklyn!  Go teams!





Mike.BTB

ISLANDERS vs. RANGERS ~ The Rivalry; Game Five

THE RIVALRY

New York Islanders

vs.

NEW YORK RANGERS

From Madison Square Garden

NEW YORK RANGERS: It's High Time This Rivalry Mattered Again...Starting Tonight!

These aren't Mike Milbury's Islanders anymore.  They are young, gritty, feisty and are refusing to go away quietly while a number of teams above them jostle for playoff spots; to include the Rangers and Devils..  The Islanders are a hard luck 10-3-4 over their last 17 games because a couple of over-time losses prevents their recent record from sparkling even brighter.  Otherwise, they are playing as near ferocious Hockey as the Devils.

The Islanders and Devils just played a dooozy of a game against each other last Saturday; won by New Jersey 3-2 in over-time.  Islander Coach Jack Capuano had nary a nice word for the refs after the game and I for one can't blame him.  The officiating was horrific and to my eye, one sided indeed; tilted the Devils' way.  While the Devils' surge is no fluke, the Islanders got jobbed out of an extra point they desperately needed to stay alive.

But take notice; the Islanders are back in the local conversation again.  The Islanders to their credit, are staying hot on the Devils' trail, as the Devils themselves continue a hell-raged charge towards a playoff spot.  Now, after Long Island's latest tough-luck loss to the Devils, this young, still contending, and now angry team is coming to Madison Square Garden to try and add to the Rangers' own list of problems.

Ex-Ranger farmhand, goalie Al Montoya, picked up by Long Island from Phoenix' AHL team, has stabilized the Islanders goalie situation ever since Rick DiPietro and Evgeni Nabokov (and four other goalies) were lost for the season, all in incredulous fashion.  He will be starting against the Blueshirts tonight.  Al Montoya was drafted by the Rangers back in 2004 and was supposed to be our Goalie of the Future.  But one day on their way to the ice, a guy named Henrik Lundqvist happened to the Rangers and well...., Montoya never made it here in a Blueshirt; and Henrik and the Rangers are still trying to write history.

The Bad Ranger Fan in me looks at tonight's game and sees Al Montoya as the newest Rangers' black cat that's about to cross our path; - and well....you know what happened to Leo Durocher.  It's all set up.  The Rangers are 15-16-3 at home. 

Some how; Some way....The Rangers managed to take a bite out of the Sharks but couldn't do Quack against the Ducks.  Now that they are back from their Californication, with a dozen games left in the Rangers' season, it's time for these guys to take back their house.  It's time for re-establishing Madison Square Garden as a very inhospitable place for opposing teams to play.  There is no better time, and no better team to get started against, than the New York Islanders; our grand old enemy.

The Islanders aren't coming into the Garden tonight as that little woeful, impish team we've grown accustomed to recently.  These guys are willing to hit, harass and won't hesitate in trying to ruin our Ranger lives.  We avoided disaster in California.  We all know exactly what the next 12 games mean to the Rangers.  We know what we need to do and how we need to make it happen.

But tonight fellow Ranger fans, it's time.  It's finally time...again.

Ranger fans!  It's time to hate these guys again.

.....because tonight, we can't afford not to.



Let's Go Rangers!!




Mike.BTB

BROOKLYN ~ NCAA; Long Island University Wins NEC Title

CONGRATULATIONS!

Long Island University

Men's Basketball

LIU Blackbirds

NORTHEAST CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS

BROOKLYN WILL BE REPRESENTED IN THIS YEAR'S

NCAA TOURNAMENT

*The Blackbirds won the conference regular season title.

*They won the NEC Tournament Title

*Earn berth in 2011 NCAA Basketball Tournament; First since 1997.

The LIU Blackbirds have been seeded Number 15

and as a result will face the Number 2 seed; North Carolina Tar Heels.

The game is Friday night in Charlotte

Good Luck Boys!

We Know you'll do Brooklyn proud.

Clips sources:

NY Daily News

NY Post

NY Newsday

Mike.BTB

N.Y. AVIATORS ~ Game 5; Beat Danbury in OT - Reach FHL Finals

From the desk of:  The Coolest Guys in Brooklyn


NEW YORK AVIATORS:  The Coolest Guys In Brooklyn win Round One Clincher in Over-Time.

Game One of FHL Finals at Hangar #5 next Friday night!


The Federal League's Southern Division playoff series came down to a final Game Five.  The Aviators and Danbury Whalers split the first two games in Brooklyn then split the next two in Danbury.  Today, the deciding Game Five was played in Brooklyn's Hangar #5 at Floyd Bennett Field.   But when regulation time expired, we still had no winner.  Overtime would be needed to decide which team would take on the Akwesasne Warriors for the Federal League's Inaugural Championship.

In a game played by Danbury with far more discipline than Saturday's Game Four penalty riddled affair, it was an Aviator this time who was ejected from this contest for poor usage of his stick.  With less than two minutes remaining in regulation time, N.Y.'s John Goffredo was a assessed a four minute double-minor for high-sticking and given the obligatory ten minute major with the accompanying ejection.  Otherwise, both teams kept the penalty count respectable.

NY's Christopher Holmes started this afternoon's scoring with a goal (assisted by Angelo Serse; Anthony Longo) at the 9:02 mark of the first period.  But two minutes later, Danbury's Chris Seifert tied the score at the 11:04 mark.  That's the way the first period would end.  New York had fifteen shots-on-goal to the Whalers' eight.  New York was 0 for 1 on the PP.

To start the second period, the home ice crowd watched their A's jump out to another lead when Matthew Puntureri scored at the 2:09 mark (assisted by Jesse Felten; Jarrett Rush).  But the Danbury Whalers had other ideas for the crowd.  They answered back quickly to bring silence among Hangar #5's rooters.  At 3:42, Matt Caranci scored to tie the score at two apiece.  Then slightly more than a minute later, Chris Seifert would put the Whalers ahead for the first time in this game.  Both teams committed three penalties each and went a combined 0-6 on their respective power plays during the second period.

Danbury held on to their 3-2 lead beyond the half way point of the third period.  But at the 13:13 mark, New York's Nick Grove (assisted by Jesse Felten; Nick Vandenbeld) scored to get the game tied again.  And that's the way regulation time would end; tied 3-3.

After the regular season and a full five games during the first round playoff, it still wasn't enough to decide a Southern Division participant for the Championship Series.

So to overtime they went.  It would be the second time these teams would wind up in overtime this series.  But The Coolest Guys In Brooklyn didn't make their fans wait too long for this series to reach it's conclusion.  They gave the Brooklyn fans their moment of jubilation at the 3:56 mark of the extra period.  Fittingly, it was Aviator favorite Matthew Puntureri (assisted by Jesse Felten) who netted home the game winning goal for Brooklyn's skaters.  It was his second and obviously the more dramatic goal of the game for Matthew. 

In the end, the final score on the big red scoreboard at the Hangar would read Aviators 4;  Danbury Whalers 3.  The A's, Brooklyn's Pro Hockey team, would be heading to the Championship Series versus the Akwesasne Warriors.


* N.Y. Goalie Kevin Druce picked up another win while stopping 21 of 24 shots.
* Shots On Goal Totals ~ N.Y. 33;  DAN 24
* Jesse Felten ~ 3 assists; 3 points
* Matthew Puntureri ~ 2 goals; game-winning goal

2010-2011
Federal League Championship Series

Akwesasne Warriors
vs.
NEW YORK AVIATORS


Game One of the Inaugural Federal Hockey League Championship Series
 Friday, March 18, 2011 @ Brooklyn's Aviator Sports Complex.

You can start previewing the Championship match-up
and crunching the numbers

HERE

LINKS:

The Federal Hockey League

New York Aviators

Akwesasne Warriors

Mike.BTB

N.Y. AVIATORS ~ Beat Danbury; Force Decisive Game Five

From the desk of:  The Coolest Guys in Brooklyn



N.Y. AVIATORS WIN GAME FOUR !!

FINAL:
New York Aviators 7;  Danbury Whalers 0
Series Tied 2-2



New York Aviators:  First Round Elimination Showdown

Brooklyn will host a decisive Game Five Match-Up against the Danbury Whalers on SUNDAY afternoon.

Sunday's Winner Will Move On To Play For 
The FHL Inaugrual Championship


Brooklyn; - At stake? - Who gets to represent the Southern Division in the Federal Hockey League's Inaugural Championship Series?  The Northern Division Champs; the Akwesasne Warriors, have already settled their business and wait for the conclusion of this Southern Division match-up.

Last weekend, the Aviators and Whalers split the first two games played in Brooklyn.  With the series now in Connecticut, Friday night the Whalers defeated the A's to take the series lead and put themselves in a position to clinch a spot in the Championship Round with a win tonight. 

So in Game Four, being down two games to one and facing elimination in this best 3 out of 5 first round series, Brooklyn's own New York Aviators, staked themselves to an early 1-0 lead on a goal by Matthew Puntureri (assisted by John Goffredo; Andrew Scampoli) at the 8:56 mark of the opening period.  The Aviators out-shot Danbury thirteen shots-on-goal versus six against during the first period.

After the first intermission, the A's quickly increased their lead by cashing in on a holding penalty called against Danbury's Leland Fidler with a power play goal off the stick of Andrew Scampoli (assisted by Michael Thomson; KC Timmons) at the 1:10 mark of the second period to make the score 2-0.  Then, at the 8:23 mark of the second period, the Aviators tacked on another goal to make the score 3-0 after Nick Grove scored (assisted by Casey Mignone; Stephen Oblinicki). 

The A's maintained furious pressure on Danbury's goalie Peter Vetri; peppering him with thirty-three shots through the first period and a half.  On the other side of the ice for New York's goalie, Kevin Druce's defense only required him to stop 10 shots over the same 30 minute span of time.  Then, all that peppering of Peter Vetri led to Brooklyn's fourth goal and their third of the second period.  Matthew Puntureri scored his second goal of the game (assisted by Nick Grove; Michael Thomson) this time coming on the power play. 

The A's fourth goal resulted from Danbury's eighth penalty.  The Aviators would capitalize on two of those opportunities going 2 for 8 to that point.  The Aviators, being somewhat more disciplined, limited the Whalers to 3-0 on their PP chances through the first two periods.

After 40 minutes of Hockey, the Aviators led 4-0.  The Danbury Whalers were limited to a measly 12 shots-on-goal while the New York Aviators took target practice on Danbury's Peter Vetri with 43 shots (30 in the second period).

Early in the third period, the Aviators third different scorer of the night would add his name to the box score.  At the 1:17 mark, Brett Dickinson (assisted by Matthew Puntureri; KC Timmons) scored on another power play following yet another Danbury penalty.  This time, a boarding penalty was called against Danbury's Devin Guy, just 0.35 seconds into the period.  This made the score 5-0 in favor of the visiting Aviators.  Then, less than three minutes later, Andrew Scampoli (assisted by Nick Vandenbeld; Jarrett Rush) scored his second goal of the night (to join Matthew Puntureri in that regard) at the 3:56 mark of the period to put the New York Aviators firmly in control of this game by a score of 6-0 and seemingly putting this contest out of reach for the home-ice Whalers.

There was a roughing penalty committed by Danbury's Devin Guy at the 20:00 mark of the first period that could have been a foreshadowing of things to come.  The zebras would whistle-up eight different infractions against the Whalers mostly of the roughing, slashing, and fighting variety during the second period alone.  The Danbury Whalers had one ejection ~ Corey Fulton; last seen taking his 15 minutes of penalty time and an ejection to the locker-room midway through the second period.


Danbury's Lucas Schott then took it upon himself to pick up the level of indiscretions for the Whalers.  He accumulated all 18 of his penalty minutes after Corey Fulton's departure.  I'd assume there's no correlation there...right?  Well..., he picked up where Fulton left off regardless.  Danbury's Lucas Schott was called for tripping at 12:09, but was also slapped with a 10:00 unsportsmanlike/misconduct penalty.   So, naturally, you guessed it;  The New York Aviators cashed in to make the score 7-0 favoring New York as Jarrett Rush (assisted by Matthew Puntierri) scored on the resulting power play with his first goal of the game.

The more Danbury tried to bully their way through this game, the more the Aviators made them pay for it on the scoreboard.  The Danbury Whalers had ten penalties against the Aviators four.  Four of those penalties were for roughing, to include two 10:00 minute majors.  A boarding; slash; and a cross-check rounds out the scope of the Whalers' offensive effort tonight.  None of which got them on the scoreboard though.  Danbury did mount more of an effort over the third period and managed to out-shoot the A's over the period.  It never amounted to much though.  The A's woefully out-shot the Whalers 51-22 tonight. 

The Aviators managed to do what they absolutely needed to do in order to extend this series and bring it back home.  And they did it in convincing fashion by shutting out the Danbury Whalers after suffering a crushing OT defeat the night before on Friday.  Now, both teams will board their respective team buses and head back to Brooklyn and play a decisive Game Five at Hangar #5 to see which of the two teams will get to go play for the FHL's Inaugural Championship against the Akwesasne Warriors.

C'mon Brooklyn! - They will drop the puck on tomorrow's Game Five Do-Or-Die Series Final at 3:05pm.  Come out to Floyd Bennett Field and let's show Danbury how we do it.  Show up and cheer on the Coolest Guys In Brooklyn with me as they try to win a clincher on home-ice.  If we want our Brooklyn Hockey Club to become big, we need to start by making tomorrow Huge!

Sunday - March 13, 2011

FEDERAL HOCKEY LEAGUE PLAYOFFS

Southern Division

Series Tied 2-2

GAME FIVE

Danbury Whalers

vs.

NEW YORK AVIATORS

From Hangar No. 5 ~ Floyd Bennett Field

BROOKLYN, New York

SEE YOU THERE!

Let's Go Aviators

Mike.BTB

N.Y. RANGERS ~ Fighting For Their Playoff Lives

Rangers ~ Devils ~ Islanders:
Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting



Eastern Conference Standings:
#7 ~ Buffalo Sabres  -  74 Points
#8 ~ New York Rangers  -  74 Points
-----------------------------------------------------
#9 ~ Carolina 'Canes  -  72 Points
#10 ~ Toronto Maple Leafs  -  68 Points
#11 ~ Atlanta Thrashers  -  68 Points
#12 ~ New Jersey Devils  -  66 Points


Tonight's Games:
NEW YORK RANGERS vs. SAN JOSE
BUFFALO vs. TORONTO
NEW JERSEY DEVILS vs. NEW YORK ISLANDERS
ATLANTA vs. PHILADELPHIA
COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS vs. CAROLINA HURRICANE




The Blueshirts missed out on two points they could ill afford to lose after suffering a rather demoralizing loss to the Anaheim Ducks last Wednesday.  They failed to seize on a moment they created for themselves with a win over Philly and some helpful losses by the Sabres and Devils last week.  Now the Rangers find themselves in eighth place again with their backs against the door.  By tonight's end, they could be pushed out of the House of Eight all together.

The Hurricanes are threatening to blow the door wide open on us.  A Ranger loss and a Hurricane win leaves us tied for eighth, which really means 9th for us because of the games in hand all these teams have on us.

Buffalo's game against Toronto is a double killer.  Buffalo and seventh place can start to creep away from us with a Sabres win coupled with a Ranger loss tonight.  But should the Maple Leafs win, they would join the seventy point club and start breathing down our necks as well.

Then there's the Devils who are now a mere eight points behind the Rangers.  They take on the spunky New York Islanders tonight who are just two points behind New Jersey.   The Rangers have 13 games left on their schedule and the very last one versus the Devils looms larger and larger as April 9th draws closer.  The Rangers also have a pair of games against the Islanders before the season ends.  The Islanders are 10-3-3 over their last 16 games and will no doubt be providing fits for the Rangers down the stretch as well.  After the Sharks tonight, the Rangers fly back home to take on the Islanders at MSG on Tuesday.

All of tonight's games with Eastern Conference implications get under-way and will have ended before the Rangers take the ice tonight for their West Coast 10:30pm start against the San Jose Sharks.  They'll know before they take the ice tonight whether they should officially shift into panic mode or not.

We need two points tonight and we have to go through SHARKS to get them.

Great.





Mike.BTB

N.Y. AVIATORS ~ Face Must Win Tonight In Danbury; Game Four

From the desk of:  The Coolest Guys In Brooklyn

NEW YORK AVIATORS:  The Coolest Guys In Brooklyn Are Skating On Thin Ice.  Must Win To Avoid Elimination.


A deciding Game Five can be played in Brooklyn with a win today in Danbury.

After splitting the first two games of the Southern Division playoffs against the Danbury Whalers in Brooklyn, the New York Aviators find themselves in a must-win situation today after a crushing O.T. defeat last night in Game Three played in front of 2,900-plus Danbury fans.

Chris Seifert of the Danbury Whalers scored his second goal of the game with 11:31 left in over-time (FHL - 20 minute O.T.) to break a 2-2 tie and push the Whalers one win closer to a meeting with the Akwesasne Warriors to decide the Federal Hockey League's 2011 Championship.  Back in the second period, Chris Seifert scored his first goal to tie the score at one apiece. 

In the Northern Division, the Akwesasne Warriors did away with the 1000 Island Privateers three games to one and sit waiting to take on the winner of the Southern series.

Should the Coolest Guys in Brooklyn pull out a win today in Danbury and tie the series again at two games apiece, the deciding fifth game will be played Sunday - March 13, 2011 at 3:05pm back at Hangar #5 in Brooklyn.


Let's Go A's !!!




2010-2011 Federal Hockey League Playoffs

NORTHERN DIVISION
Game One ~ 1000 Islands 6;  Akwesasne 5
Game Two ~ Akwesasne 6;  1000 Islands 0
Game Three ~ Akwesasne 5;  1000 Islands 4
Game Four ~ Akwesasne 10;  1000 Islands 4
*AWKESASNE WINS SERIES 3-1


SOUTHERN DIVISION
Game One ~ N.Y. Aviators 9;  Danbury 2 @ Brooklyn
Game Two ~ Danbury 5;  N.Y. Aviators 2 @ Brooklyn
Game Three ~ Danbury 3;  N.Y. Aviators 2 O.T. @ Danbury
Game Four ~ N.Y. Aviators vs. Danbury @ Danbury - TONIGHT
Game Five ~ If Necessary @ BROOKLYN
*DANBURY LEADS SERIES 2-1





Mike.BTB