Opening Night of our 29th season is now in the books.  Early tilt between the Habs and the Islanders.  Habs are on a 24 game losing streak from last year and only 4 returning Habs were hopeful that the dreaded record breaking streak would finally end.  Islanders opened the game with 3 unanswered markers for a solid 3-0 lead and looked very sharp.  The new les habitants battled back scoring 3 straight goals tieng up the game with just under 4 minutes to go.  But the feisty Islanders, with a loaded top line of their top 3 forwards scored 3 times in those last few minutes making it a 6-3 game after 2 frames.  Islanders scored their 7th goal early in the 3rd.  Habs get 2 back late in the period and a final Islander goal put this in the books as an Islander win 8-5.  Islanders big line saw last years Art Ross winner McKean score 5 goals and 2 assists.  Linemate Tygessen had 6 helpers on the night and Riddell had a goal and 2 assists.  Sparrow and Kidd rounded out the goal scoring for the Island.  Habs got goals from 5 different skaters, Steve Kostick, rookie Thompson, Lott, Thomas and Randa.  Islanders went 0-2 on the PP.  Players of the Game went to Habs #18 David Thompson and Islanders #19 Rob McKean.  Habs rookie Rinaldo had a fan club and signs out for this match as he finally joins the big leagues.  Their other rookie who was absent, Desrosiers, apparently is a bigger Habs fan than Jeff Kostick and Robin Flumerfelt combined.  I hear he sleeps with a visor on too, ahhhh tabarnac!!!!  Will be an interesting dressing room.  Oh yeah Tony Thomas had a minor and we saw him and Brenda have a nice conversation as she welcomed Tony back to his other regular seat.

Late game between the Flyers and the Bruins was another high scoring affair.  3-1 after the opening frame for the Flyers.  Flyers get 5 more goals in the 2nd as the Bruins could only manage 3.  Flyers on top 8-4 after 2.  Flyers get 2 more in the final frame and the Bruins get 1 for a final Flyer bashing of 10-5.  Senkowski filling in for a double header gets 2 wins in one night, that may be a record as last year he may only had 1.  Nicely done Gindobrey!!!!  Flyers get 2 goals scored by Robb, Diluzio, McCormick and Dan Barrett.  Singles from Carlisle and Manning.  Ex Hab McCormick was not sure how to actually celebrate the victory after the match.  Bruins get 2 goals from Cummings and singles from Annan, Consentino and Fletcher.  Penalty free game, nice!!!  Players of the game goes to Flyers #18 Marcello Diluzio and Bruins #30 Gord Ide.

So away we go.  A special welcome to our membership for the 5 new rookies joining us this season.  Ian Chamberlain on the Oilers, Murray Russell on the Bruins and David Rinaldo, David Thompson and Denis Desrosiers on the Habs.  Hope you enjoy our league.  Habs Patrick Sharp had a baby girl last week, or really his wife did, their first congrats big guy!

This weeks games will go Friday, September 25 at Port Credit arena.  9:15 pm the winless Bruins and Habs will renew their fabled rivalry.  And at 10:30 the Oilers make their season debut against the red hot Islanders.  Flyers get the week off for dry land training.

See you all on the ice!