Isles and Hawks Take Holiday Matinees

Happy to say that my workplace honors Presidents Day and I honor that decision by firing up both HD screens in the Lounge for hockey.

Two games in to the afternoon, we have seen a fine performance by Matt Moulson and Al Montoya in the New York Islanders' 5-1 blowout of the Florida Panthers. And we just saw the Chicago Blackhawks spot the St. Louis Blues two goals before racing back to take a lead and hold on the final seconds. An empty net goal gave the Blackhawks a 5-3 victory in St. Louis.

Tonight, it's Washington at Pittsburgh on Versus. It's the final meeting of the regular season between these two teams, but excuse me if I am not the most excited person in the Lounge.

Don't get me wrong here. I love hockey, but it seems as though Versus, NBC and the NHL Network (U.S.) has decided to show nearly every game the Cap and Pens play. Great if you like those teams, but I can remember a time when there were other teams in the league.

They're still there, but they'll have to wait until the Penguins and Capitals either pay a visit or play host to them.

Right now, I am getting ready to make the Lounge's Monday night special. Penne with shrimp fra diavolo sauce will be served tonight in the Lounge, along with a fine selection of wines or, should you choose, a Smuttynose in a bottle or a Naragansett in a tall boy can.

Hope the crowd appreciates the effort, the warm conditions on a chilly night and the Caps and Pens, too.

Making Picks on a Sunny Afternoon

Took a walk on Eighth Avenue on my lunch break. Cheap coffee and Mexican pan dulce. A tasty feast as Spring fashions are sported confidently around Midtown Manhattan.

Forget the cold. It's time to play in the sunlight. What an all-star lineup along the avenue, from 40th to Madison Square Garden. Two peep show palaces, three places to buy stylish chapeaus, hardware stores, delis, pita shops, $1 slice pizza joints. Life is an adventure, people, and this is the down and dirty. It's cheap entertainment. And if you dip into Gray's Papaya for two shaggy dogs (grilled franks hiding under mustard and a pile of sauerkraut) and a drink, it's like being on the strangest carnival midway you know.

Well, I enjoyed my brief time at the fair. Back to the office. Now I am ready for the cold. Pittsburgh/Boston at 7 pm Eastern on the big screen in the Lounge. Do I need to say why? Don't make me.

The Blues and Rangers? St. Louis is a scrappy team, but the Rangers, well, there was very little hunt in that dog against a Montreal team that does not bring intimidation to the table. Lot of soap suds floating around in the bleu blanc et rouge.



Maybe if the New York Post's Larry Brooks were coaching the team I might check it out tonight. Radio only, Blueshirts.

After that, it's double screen action for four teams that have not impressed me lately. On Center Ice, it's San Jose at Vancouver (10 pm Eastern) and Chicago at Los Angeles (10:30 Eastern). Nabby or BobbyLoo, who gets the gate first? And in beautiful SoCal, who is in net for the Blackhawks? What's the mood in that room after the brutal beating they took in Anaheim? Which Kings team shows up? Will any Kings team show up?

That's the word on the street. So watch your back out there tonight. And bundle up. Tension is building. Stomachs are turning. It could get frosty right quick. All it takes is one shot.

Easy Picks for a Wednesday

The Pittsburgh Penguins are in New Jersey. The Devils, who once were my Colorado Rockies before they were rudely stolen from the West and dropped in the swamp, will recall those early, murky days when they wear the throwback -- I'll throw them back -- red and green uniforms tonight in Newark.

The Lounge will be watching that game tonight at 7 pm Eastern on the big screen. Calgary at Colorado, 9 pm, will get Internet radio play, that is, unless the Penguins/Devils game gets ugly. Internet radio play, you say? Gotta rest the eyes a bit.

At at 10 pm Eastern, it's time to see if the Chicago Blackhawks recover from losses to Philadelphia and Washington. The opponent is Anaheim. The big screen gets the Center Ice feed.

And now, before I closed these eyes early Wednesday morning, I was able to witness John Tavares playing, in the words of a former colleague, a man's game against the Vancouver Canucks. Matt Moulson, Tavares and Co. tore up the Canucks. Vancouver's BobbyLoo did not look so good in net. Down on his knees a lot, scrambling, looking like a kid trying to round up his marbles on a crowded sidewalk. Missed that one. Lost that one. Can't reach that one.

That won't play in late April, let alone May or June. Now excuse me while I rest my eyes.

Trade Winds Update 11:30 PM Eastern

Just three trades to report since we mentioned that defenseman Andy Sutton was headed from the New York Islanders to the Ottawa Senators for a second-round pick.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have traded left wing Alexei Ponikarovsky to the Pittsburgh Penguins for defenseman Martin Skoula and left wing Luca Caputi. Caputi has spent some time with Pittsburgh and also in the American Hockey League with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

The Anaheim Ducks have sent defenseman Nick Boynton to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for future considerations.

The Edmonton Oilers have acquired left wing Matt Marquardt from the Boston Bruins, who are receiving defenseman Cody Wild. Marquardt has spent time this season with Providence of the AHL and Reading of the East Coast Hockey League. Wild has played in the AHL with Springfield and in the ECHL with Stockton.

We here at the Lounge will pass on any information we get on any player movement as we approach the NHL trade deadline, which is at 3 pm Eastern on Wednesday.