Sunday At A Glance

March 8, 2009   ·   Derek Felix   ·   Jump to comments

Today is a pretty big Sunday with three big games in the East including the Rangers playing host to the Bruins in the NBC game in three hours. I’ll be up in my seats. So, hopefully it will be a good day not just outside.

Following the game, there are two other key matinees with the suddenly resurgent Pens visiting the nation’s capital at 3 PM. The game can be watched on yahoo if you don’t get Center Ice.

It’s more than a little curious that the next meeting between Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby following their war of words isn’t being nationally televised. I realize Bruins-Rangers is an Original Six rivalry and a good game with playoff implications but wouldn’t NBC have been better suited airing two of the league’s biggest stars just to see what transpires? Color me surprised.

While that big game is going on, the Islanders are back in action hosting new Coyotes Nigel Dawes and Petr Prucha at The Coliseum also a 3 PM start time. The Isles have played well lately and easily could’ve beaten the Rangers if not for Henrik Lundqvist.

Of course, like Hasan, I was more than a little shocked at their 7-3 rout of the Devils chasing Martin Brodeur. Don’t look now. But the Isles’ 49 points are only five worse than Atlanta. Not so fast on Tavares I guess.

Before I get to the other key game, I wanted to further discuss what’s going on with the Islanders. It’s become very evident that if owner Charles Wang doesn’t get the answer he’s looking for with the Lighthouse Project by Fall, the once proud franchise that won four straight Cups is probably moving to Kansas City.

When our hated commish gives a less than positive response during a nationally televised game this past week, the collective writing is on the wall. I might not like Gary Bettman but he has always defended ailing franchises preferring not to discuss relocation. He’s a Long Islander and it must pain him to know the Isles could be no more.

I know the intense rivalry between the Rangers and Islanders can get a little crazy as evidenced by how much support the Rangers got at their “road win” the other night. But the fans who chanted, “Kansas City” took it a little too far. It lacked class.

I’m going to ask any Ranger fan a serious question. Do you really want to lose your most hated rival to relocation? I sure don’t. I love those games and I’m pretty sure we all do. It would really hurt if the Islanders left this area.

Somebody ought to get that message through to the buffoons in Hempstead because they don’t seem to give a damn! We need to put together a petition to help save the Islanders. I’d be willing to do my part. Would you?

That’s my glass half empty view on what’s going on in Long Island.

As for the other big game tonight, the Jekyll & Hyde Canadiens visit Dallas for a late matinee with faceoff after 6 PM. They’ve followeed a four-game win streak by dropping two straight including a 2-0 shutout defeat to the lowly Thrashers. That can’t happen now for the team which didn’t do anything at the deadline unless you count Mathieu Schneider and the return of Alex Kovalev.

Before I get going, here’s a closer look at how tight the East is:

1.Bruins 66 GP 95 Pts

2.Devils 65 GP 87 Pts

3.Caps   66 GP 85 Pts

4.Flyers 64 GP 80 Pts

5.Panthers 66 GP 76 Pts

6.Habs        65 GP 75 Pts

7.Canes     67 GP 75 Pts

8.Rangers 65 GP 74 Pts

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9.Pens        66 GP 74 Pts

10.Sabres  66 GP 73 Pts

11.Leafs     66 GP 65 Pts

I only included Toronto cause they still trail by less than 10 and there’s enough time to make it up even though it’s highly unlikely based on the teams they’d have to jump over.

Here’s a look at the whole Sunday schedule:

Bos at NYR, 12:30 NBC

Phx at NYI, 3 MSG+

Pit at Wsh, 3 CI, Yahoo

Col at Chi, 3 CI

Cgy at Chi, 3 CI

Mtl at Dal, 6 CI

Min at Ana, 8 CI, Yahoo

Enjoy the games!