Kenneth "Jiggs" McDonald 50th Honored

Not being described as final game calling NYI, but pre-game ceremony.
Hall of Fame banner not at Barclay's with #18 already honored.

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Zach Parise Leaves Wild To Be With His Father/Al Arbour Update

For those who do not know or have read the media reports Zach Parise has left the Minnesota Wild to be with his father former Islander, JP Parise, who was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer, who's condition has deteriorated.

Obviously Al Arbour in a Sarasota hospital with pneumonia, when not living in a nursing home and his dementia issues with recent falls is also very a serious circumstance as Jiggs McDonald let us know.

My thoughts and prayers are with both.

New York Ties All Time Team Record With Seven Third Period Goals !!

 Islanders website: Recaps New York's comeback down 3-0 to tie a 1978 team record in a 7-4 win over the Vancouver Canucks with seven third period goals.

December 23, 1978 - Trottier scores five goals and three assists against the Rangers in a 9-4 Islander victory.

NYIFC Comments:
I almost hope that's the last game Jiggs McDonald ever calls, it would be a wonderful memory to end his hall of fame career. 

That's three third period comes backs down by two goals.

The all-knowing Vancouver media is not going to be happy.

Honestly the worst game they played of the four road games. Hamonic's one rush at the net about nine minutes into the first period was all the club had to show for skating poorly over forty seven minutes.

Last three minutes of the second, the Islanders started skating, getting chances. All it took was one powerplay goal by Joshn Bailey, and chances/powerplays started coming.

A lot of this was poor Vancouver defense/goaltending, but they were up 3-0 in playoff contention.

Anders Lee looks like a player this team can build around. 

Nice character win in such a long season.

Time for a little good news.

New York Notables

Tweet

Obviously a very tough time for all hockey fans, reflecting on so many recent tragedies that also extend to events of 9/11.

Having written that hockey continues, some great news to start. Former Islander and Sound Tigers, Head Coach, Steve Stirling has returned to the ice for the Senators after his heart attack in June here.

Islanders website: reported Josh Bailey was in New York working out and made clear he wants to be a New York Islander, and expects a new contract to happen.

NYIFC Comments:
Ultimately this comes down to what Bailey's agent advises him and if the player wants to accept the Islanders offer and his agents advice. Says something so far again another quiet negotiation out of the media for Garth Snow.

That also extends to John Tavares comments about wanting to resign here. Curious he commented on captaincy, but only he knows how question was phrased. No matter how he answers that becomes a story.

Bill Torrey Ceremony & Interview

For some reason Cablevision did not show Bill Torrey's ceremony live for New York Islander fans, they showed the teams 2001 highlights of his New York ceremony as this took place, while Rob Carlin conducted a worthless trivia segment with the pregame time which would have been appropriate for 2001 ceremony replay.

Mr Torrey was interviewed on the Cablevision-owned broadcast after the first period, as always Jiggs McDonald, who was a former Panthers broadcaster hosted the event.

Quick Notables

Newsday: Mr Logan reports in the Islanders Newsday blog on Kyle Okposo maybe being selected to play for team USA at the World Championships and upcoming Olympic team with general manager Brian Burke and new head coach Ron Wilson who was recently names commenting along with Okposo.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
I see no way Okposo will not be on team USA at the World Championships if he is healthy. The Islanders kept him off Bridgeport's clear-day playoff roster for this purpose so he has no other place to play.

Media blog: Corey Witt reports as usual Howie Rose will be missing more Islander hockey games with Jiggs McDonald filling it.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
I love Jiggs McDonald calling our games and if it were up to me he could call eighty two games or pick any amount of games he wants. Having written that Howie Rose is this teams broadcaster and does absolutely nothing for this franchise but put them second for baseball at the beginning and now the end of season with him even taking time off during our season.

I would venture to guess he would never miss one inning of Met baseball because a lot of people would like his job.

I know Mr Rose and everyone connected to the telecast is Msg property, but it's time for the New York Islanders to request someone be hired who will be the eighty two game voice of this team and represent their brand on and off the ice. He's never going to pick the Islanders over the Mets.

Point Blank: Mr Botta reports from Islander practice with more players likely needed for Tuesday's game with new injuries, some players maybe returning and Dean McAmmond still unable to play with an illness that is approaching a week.

Islanders/NHL Quick Hits/Notables

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio reported Yann Danis was back in Bridgeport Tuesday and got a practice in but there is no plan to break up the three goalies right now, so they'll all stick around which could apply to Bridgeport or New York, I'm not sure.

AHL transactions has no update (at this time) of a Danis to Bridgeport move, with the Islanders hitting the road after tomorrow someone is likely going to have to play some games for MacDonald on the upcoming trip whether it be DiPietro, Danis or even Mannino unless they intend to overwork him.

Mr Fornabaio among many items also reported Wade Dubielewicz has left AK Bars which is also prospect Kirill Pertov's club who is at the WJC.

No matter where Dubi ends up, best of luck to him.

Point Blank: Mr Botta reported Joey MacDonald took a puck in the neck during practice among several injury updates and items that folks should visit his blog for.


Updated 5:40pm:
NY Post: Dan Martin was given no space to cover last night's game but today had Doug Weight's comments he loves it here and does not wish to be traded as he praised the organization while Mr Martin points out the reality of the situation. Goaltender Rick DiPietro after taking part in a full practice hads a few words on going slow with his recovery and why he missed last night's game.
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Anyone think building with first round draft picks is easy or a guarantee?

Former Islander 2003 first round pick Robeert Nilsson is making the decision to trade him look like the correct one more with each passing day here which Mr Fornabaio linked to in his blog at the Ct Post.

Former Islander 2004 first round pick Petteri Nokelainien has one assist in twenty one games and is on IR for the Bruins.

Former Islander 2005 first round pick Ryan O'Marra has one goal and four points in twenty six games for AHL Springfield.

Takes patience for a youth movement folks with Comeau and Colliton 2003 second round picks just getting started.

I will write it's a good early sign the assist and points Bailey and Okposo have put up here considering their past first round counterparts at the top of the Islander draft board have not produced to this point.
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Someone e-mailed and asked what I thought of the players personally?

I do not know the players personally. My speculation is they are good bunch of people who give all they have regardless if they play well or not and just because someone like myself writes about how they play does not make me an expert about anything.

You see the Christmas video's shopping and the hospital visits and it's obvious the players enjoy giving back.

On the ice I loved the reaction for Guerin's 400th by Tambellini and how the captain responded when Tambellini got his first the next game. I suspect Bailey pointed to Guerin when he tipped in # 399 instead also when many thought it was Bailey's first.

For this year it will not be enough on the ice with injuries being the biggest part of the story from day one but as an Islander fan I'm proud to pull for this group whether they win or lose.

NHL players for the most part are very easy to root for and usually go all out for the fans regardless of what color uniform they wear.
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Last night was the first game all season this club had Weight, Sillinger and Mike Comrie all in the lineup. With Bailey and Nielsen's eventual return something has to give down the middle.
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I may be the only one but I'm completely indifferent to the NHL outdoor game this year and bored with how it is being marketed to death which the league must do.

I watched bits and pieces last year and without the snow coming down I might have tuned out earlier to what was a good game. It was also a curiosity to see Mike Milbury on television at that time. All I wanted was no three point game with the Islanders competing with Buffalo-Pittsburgh for a playoff spot but that's exactly what I got with Ty Conklin standing on his head.

The novelty of this is going go wear off quickly I suspect sooner than later but I hope Chicago-Detroit gives everyone a good show.

Was it necessary to have them play against one another in Detroit tonight?
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Good news is we get the guilty pleasure of Jiggs McDonald returning to call some Islander games for our fans. Bad news is Howie Rose again treats Islander hockey like a job requirement and does nothing for this franchise other than call games.

Does he ever take vacation during baseball season? I think it's time for a change in the Islander broadcasting booth and with Tim Neverett interviewed here I suspect it's something that has been discussed.

I only wish Mr McDonald could come back full-time but it's more than enough he comes out of retirement to call some games at this point and is a loyal friend to this franchise.

As I wrote last year next Hall of Fame New York Islander should be Mr McDonald.
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Moving forward there will be articles/Panthers game coverage and a WJC update early for New Year's eve.

No articles on New Years Day, I may pre-write/schedule a blog entry.

Welcome Home Jiggs

Toronto Star: Dale Anne Freed had a quick word from Jiggs McDonald as he arrived home safely on Wednesday night.

Grab a shower, probably a burger," topped the list of things to do for semi-retired NHL announcer Ken "Jiggs" McDonald as he arrived at Pearson airport last night from Thailand.

"It's great to be home," said the semi-retired NHL sportscaster who lives in Orillia, tears welling in his eyes.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
He is not the only one.

Welcome Home Jiggs !!!!!!!!!!