Start of our final round of regular season games last week.

Early match between the 4th and 5th seeds, Islanders and the Habs.  2 goals each in the opening frame.  The first 3 and a half minutes of the 2nd period were a complete disaster for the Habs as they allow 4 quick goals in those opening minutes as the Islanders surge to a 6-2 lead.  Habs get 2 back before the 2nd frame ends making it a bit of a game 6-4 into the final period.  Habs make it 6-5 at the 9:26 mark and seemed to be taking the momentum back but as much of this campaign goes the Islanders score quickly after that 5th Habs goal and score an empty netter to take this game with a final score of 8-5.  Habs went 1-2 on the PP Islanders were 0-0.  Islanders got goals from the following players, 2 from Fletcher and Murray Barrett, and singles from Salapoutis, Dupal, Robin Chantaj, and Annan.  Habs got goals from McCormick, Rukavina, Kryslak and 2 from Al Lightowler.  Habs backstop Art Senkowski stopped 50 Islanders shots and maybe 15 Habs shots on his own net.  If only Art can stop more own goals Habs may have a chance one day, those sand baggers!  Players of the Game went to Islanders #23 John Annan and Habs #14 Al Lightowler.  Hopefully Mrs. Annan and Mrs. Lightowler can reward their men properly for this very high achievement.

Late game between the Flyers and Bruins.  Another good one.  Flyers take a 2-1 lead after the opening 15 minutes of play.  Bruins score twice late in the 2nd period taking back the lead 3-2 after 2.  Flyers tie it up early in the 3rd and the play was aggressive at both ends of the pond as McCallum and Ide looked sharp.  League scoring leader McKean buries it past McCallum giving the Bruins a 4-3 lead at 9:34.  And thats how this puppy finished.  Bruins bounce back from their loss last week with a solid 4-3 victory.  Flyers went 1-3 on the PP Bruins were 0-1.  Flyers got goals from Diluzio, Rundle and fill in Cosentino.  Bruins goal scorers were Julius, Lott, Peacock and McKean.  Players of the Game went to Flyers #14 Steve Ferrin and Bruins #30 Gorde Ide.

So the Habs loss now officially puts them as the 5th seed for the playoff round robin as even with 3 more wins they cannot catch the Islanders.  Flyer loss now secures them either for the 3rd or 4th seed with the Islanders as they can not catch the Oilers or the Bruins who both have locked in the top 2 seeds with 4 more games to go.

This weeks games scheduled for Friday, February 20 are as follows 9:15 Montreal vs Boston and 10:30 Islanders vs Oilers.  Flyers get the week off.

See you all on the ice!