Well…after playin the sweaters off the Kings we hit Long Island with a disctinctly flat thud. Our sense of urgency ran off with our power play. (I think they are really enjoying their vacation off the coast of Fiji or something) Anyway, we played a fairly solid 30 minutes.

That Bergenheim was a monster…super hits! We had our hands full but were managing to keep the Isles contained while still getting some good shots ourselves. The posts were definately not our friend. DMO! with an awesome mid air save, Bryz with a couple fo key robberies and Mules with a buzzer busting try to end the first. The game was scoreless through the whole first and the mid point of the second.

Then stupid (that would be me) turns the game on the radio. This will now count as my superstition for the season…. no more radio! Listen on internet at work… no radio all the way home… watch when I get home from now on. Not even 1 minute after I turned the game on the Isles scored. And it had to be Bill Guerin! the poor guy hasn’t scored in more games than years Mules has been alive… But of course the Onyx curse gives that old work horse some life. I dunno if anyone else is payin attention to our record when the other team scores first? But it really stinks. When we draw first blood we are like second in the league for winning. (the Isles are 10- 0 - 0 when leading in the second!) So I immediately turn off the radio… but the damage is done. Bryz! (always give Bryz! his exclamation point…he deserves it for his play so far) saved our bacon time after time. We got sloppy and frustrated trying to solve DP.

Our third period has not been pretty and we were down by 1 despite all the chances we had, I was losin hope fast. Then our PK brain farts and its suddenly 2 - 0 Isles. Carci is a bit of a bad boy , givin DP a lil tacky tap after the puck is caught. Bergheim and Sutton take exception and the teams mix it up behind the net (this is a sign of the ugly to come). Another PK dammmit! But oh boy! Vbrat w/ the steal, Vbrat and Donor on the shortie rush! BOYNK! playin trailer pots Vbrats rebound. 2 - 1 Isles. We’re finally in it.

Just as I’m gearing up to play to tie… Comrie and Guerin cause a ruckus and Geurin strikes again. 3 - 1 Isles. But there is time 7 minutes left but we look a little funked as DP keeps us off the board. But the lil terrier Niiikooo! Kaaapanennn! spots a loose puck in a crease scrum and darts in to poke it home. 3 - 2 Isles. We get legs and attitude! But so do the Isles! Its an ugly scramble in which liberties are taken repeatedly by both sides.

1 minute left and we’re on the PP! (yeah I’m practically vibrating at this point) We battle like hell and then the refs brain fart (DP holds a catch….and holds acatch….and holds acatch….no whistle and then DP skates out and bats it out to the blue) what a crock…and it sets up the ugly crap that follows.

The next time DP catches the puck Donor taps his glove to make sure the refs blow the frickin whistle and everyone goes to war. Donor, Jovo are gettin blasted by Isles players. (the refs grab Donor and leave Jovo to disappear under the punching and kicking of 3 Isles) Hanzal is pulling Isles off Jovo and gets grabbed by 2 of them like a piece of taffy (Witt has his fist coked and gloves off) but Hanzal gives him no resistance (smart boy) and the refs eventually get Witless to go away. In the mean time there is a gang style jump in goin on behind the net still, with DP and his partners beatin the hell out of Jovo still. Finally all culprits are broken apart. Total and complete bullshat follows as penalties are assessed (mostly to Yotes) You have to see the whole 1:30 to be as pissed as I am right now.

We lose 3 - 2 but not cuz we didn’t give it everything we had. I’ve seen bad calls and I’ve seen refs lose control of the game before…this was a stinker for sure. I’d like another shot at these boyos and I’m not normally the blood thirsty type. But next season…I hope the taste of this game is still in their mouth and we get some revenge.

1 - 1 on the road… we face the Devils next.

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