NYISkinny: Eric Hornick's Blog

Moulson a Byng Finalist -- again.

2013-05-16T23:53:00.000-04:00

Matt Moulson has been named a finalist for the Lady Byng Award for the second straight season. The other finalists are Tampa's Martin St. Louis and Chicago's Patrick Kane.Moulson recorded only two minor penalties all season; the last came February 7th at MSG. Ironically he received a misconduct penalty at the end of Game 1 of the playoffs. Kane had four minor penalties, while St. Louis, who is

Highest rated Isles game in 20+ years

2013-05-16T21:33:00.001-04:00

From the Isles website:<< MSG+ sets new single-game ratings record for an Islanders telecast Islanders-Penguins Series the Highest-Rated Islanders Playoff Series in a Decade Thursday, 05.16.2013 / 2:58 PM / News New York Islanders The MSG+ telecast of Game

Thanks

2013-05-12T20:14:00.002-04:00

Thanks so much for visiting The Skinny this season. March and April were the blog's biggest months ever! I'll have stuff throughout the off-season (which thankfully will be the shortest for the Islanders in 20 years!) and then we'll do it all over next year. Special thanks to those who take the time to comment or question -- your input is always appreciated. Enjoy the rest of the playoffs and

The Skinny: Penguins 4, Isles 3 (OT) . Pittsburgh wins series 4-2.

2013-05-12T01:17:00.001-04:00

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Re: Isles in Game 6

2013-05-11T13:59:00.001-04:00

Minor correction -- Isles are 6-3 when facing elimination in game 6. Isles are 12-1 at home (losing only to Montreal in 1977); 15-4 overall. They are also 12-1 in last 13 gm 6's overall, losing only to NJ in 1988.Isles are 6-3 all-time when facing elimination in game 6, including 6-1 when game 6 is at home:Home Game 6's when Facing Elimination: 24-Apr-75 Vs Pittsburgh

Isles Game 6: Tickets going fast on Stubhub

2013-05-11T11:56:00.001-04:00

With just over 7 hours to face-off, only 700 tickets remain on Stubhub and prices have risen from last night.Upstairs tickets start at $110; downstairs from $160. I don't see any seats currently on TicketMaster.BTW -- if you like to drive, there are PLENTY of seats available thru TicketMaster for a potential game 7 (tomorrow at 7pm). Forever1940 is the nom de plume of Eric Hornick,

TIME TO STAVE

2013-05-11T01:34:00.001-04:00

According to Webster, "stave off" has been around for nearly four centuries. Funny, I didn't realize that there were playoffs then. It seems like the only time I ever hear the word stave is when a sports team is one game away from elimination- the situation the Isles find themselves on Saturday at the Coliseum. The Islanders have successfully staved off elimination 25 times in 42 tries. Of

Isles in Game 6

2013-05-11T00:36:00.001-04:00

Isles are 12-1 at home (losing only to Montreal in 1977); 15-4 overall. They are also 12-1 in last 13 gm 6's overall, losing only to NJ in 1988.Isles are 6-4 all-time when facing elimination in game 6, including 6-1 when game 6 is at home:Home Game 6's when Facing Elimination: 24-Apr-75 Vs Pittsburgh 4 1 W * 11-May-75 Vs Philadelphia 2 1 W

Islanders on THE FAN

2013-05-10T14:01:00.001-04:00

Tomorrow night's Islander game will air live on WFAN (660/101.9FM) in addition to WRHU.This means that Isles fans throughout the Eastern United States (at least after dark) will be able to hear Chris King's radio call. Good for Kinger and good for the Isles.This will be the first time an Islander broadcast will ever be heard on The Fan. However, it is a homecoming of sorts as WHN (the

You've Gotta Have Hart! The Skinny on Tavares' Top-3 nomination

2013-05-10T11:42:00.001-04:00

The last time the Islanders had a player finish in the Top 3 in the Hart Memorial Trophy balloting, John Tavares wasn't even born.Tavares today was named one of the three finalists for this year's award, along with Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin.It's the first time since 1984 that an Islander will finish in the Top 3. Bryan Trottier was third in that "Drive for 5" season; Wayne Gretzky won the

Crosby, Ovechkin, Tavares finalists for NHL's Hart Trophy

2013-05-10T10:14:00.001-04:00

Mr. Marginal makes the Top 3! Forever1940 is the nom de plume of Eric Hornick, statistician on Islander home telecasts since January 21, 1982. Visit my blog: NYISkinny.com and follow me on Twitter @ehornick

Isles tix -- Game 6 and GAME 7

2013-05-10T09:51:00.001-04:00

(Updated 5:40Friday) 12:15 AM Saturday Ticketmaster sold out for game 6 --watch for announcements if team releases additional tix. This game is proving to be an easier ticket on StubHub than games 3/4. About 1850 1700 1,065 tix available and prices have fallen moved up and down throughout the day. Single tix from $82, pairs from $87, Upstairs tix from $98 $84 $79 $85 downstairs tix from

The Skinny: Penguins 4, Isles 0. Pittsburgh leads series 3-2.

2013-05-09T23:16:00.001-04:00

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Improved team = Improved ratings

2013-05-09T17:55:00.001-04:00

(Ok, this is a week or so later than I intended to send this)According to SBJ http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2013/04/29/Media/NHL-RSNs.aspx and based on data through April 21st, the Islanders showed the largest rating increase in the NHL this season (excludes Canadian markets, as well as Carolina and Nashville). SBJ's figure shows that Isles ratings are up 133.3% (in English,

Wonder if this made the Isles locker room wall? (PGH Post-Gazette)

2013-05-09T16:47:00.001-04:00

An excerpt: Regardless of the players Bylsma puts on the ice, the Penguins still should win this series. They will win it. They are better than the Islanders. They have more skill, more depth.Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/sports/ron-cook/change-in-goal-not-the-only-one-needed-686901/#ixzz2SpYTaTs0Less than 2 1/2 hours to face-off Forever1940 is the nom de plume of Eric Hornick,

Nabokov, Vokoun playoff foes...and draft-mates

2013-05-09T13:30:00.001-04:00

The Isles will face Tomas Vokoun in nets tonight in Pittsburgh.As Kenny Albert pointed out to me yesterday, Vokoun's last five playoff appearances were against Nabokov in the 2007 playoffs. The Sharks won the series in 5 games.The 9th round of the 1994 draft certainly produced some goaltenders -- check out this excerpt from picks 217-226(thanks hockeydb.com)9 217 Quebec Tim Thomas G U. of Vermont

Nassau County Press Release

2013-05-09T11:45:00.001-04:00

In addition to the comical nature of including information from the dump at the bottom of this release (really), there is this misquote "anytime the Coliseum can be filled to capacity, which is over 16,000 attendees for Islander games, the County receives a portion of the ticket tax, parking and concessions revenue" -- the

24 hours to faceoff!

2013-05-08T19:18:00.001-04:00

Like many, I'll spend the next few hours enjoying the playoffs -- sitting to Doc Emrick's left for Rangers-Caps.Great nugget from Kenny Albert -- Vokoun's last 5 playoff appearances were all against Evgeni Nabokov in a Nashville/SJ series won by the Sharks. Forever1940 is the nom de plume of Eric Hornick, statistician on Islander home telecasts since January 21, 1982. Visit my blog: NYISkinny.com

An Additional Helping of Skinny

2013-05-08T09:47:00.001-04:00

From the geniuses at Elias: Mark Streit is the first defenseman to register at least three points (2-1-3) in a playoff game for the Isles since April 6, 1988, when Denis Potvin did it for the 19th and final time, going 1-2-3 in a 4-3 win over the Devils. Streit is only the third (different) defenseman to score more than one goal in a playoff game for the Islanders. Potvin did it 11

The Skinny: Isles 6, Penguins 4 (Series tied 2-2)

2013-05-08T01:38:00.001-04:00

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Isles Game 4 ticket update -- get there!

2013-05-07T09:50:00.003-04:00

(Updated 9:45am 12:30pm) 1:50pm) There are almost no tix for Isles/Penguins game 4 on Tuesday available thru Ticketmaster. Most are singles. Unclear whether the team still has additional seats to release. StubHub has 1,100 759 554 469 seats available. Cheapest tix are $89 92 $103 upstairs and $120 $125 downstairs (plus fees). Prices often vary wildly on the day of

Game 4 Ticket Update

2013-05-06T18:01:00.001-04:00

(Updated 1:10am) There are some scattered tix for Isles/Penguins game 4 on Tuesday available thru Ticketmaster. Most are singles. The team may release additional seats in the morning. Stubhub has 1,100 819 seats available. Cheapest tix are $93 upstairs and $125 downstairs. The Knicks will also play at home at 7pm on Tuesday night. Did the Pacers cure Knick fever with their win on

Skinny Addendum

2013-05-05T23:21:00.001-04:00

Andrew MacDonald is the first Islander to go +3 in a playoff game since Ray Ferraro was +3 in his four goal game in game 5 vs. Washington (4/26/93). The last Islander defenseman to go +3 was Jeff Norton on April 20, 1993 (game 2 vs Washington) And from Elias: Pittsburgh has now won six straight road overtime games in the playoffs, dating back to 2001. Most consecutive road overtime wins (

The Skinny: Pittsburgh 5, Isles 4 (OT)

2013-05-05T23:06:00.000-04:00

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#isles Ticket update for Sunday

2013-05-04T16:31:00.001-04:00

With about 20 hours to face-off, there are still a smattering of tickets available through Ticketmaster (Section 227 has the most availability). About 1100 tickets on StubHub in various pricing. Forever1940 is the nom de plume of Eric Hornick, statistician on Islander home telecasts since January 21, 1982. Visit my blog: NYISkinny.com and follow me on Twitter @ehornick