Penguins 3 : Islanders 6

Don't think they are smiling tonight.

Guess who is smiling now? 

Kyle Okposo with a hat trick, but it was his scoring a 4th goal in the game that finally made him smile. 

Exhibit A.

This game also proved that the Isles roster has some moves. 

LET'S GO ISLANDERS!!!

Bring Penguins a Pebble and then Love Them to Death

When I saw that the Islanders were playing the Penguins soon into this season 'Oh s*#@' came to mind. Too early. Just too early. It isn't that the Islanders aren't skilled enough to beat the Penguins, it's just that the Penguins are one of two teams who can disable the Islanders psychologically, the other team being the Flyers (although this seems to be changing slowly). I sometimes get criticized because I don't hate the Rangers. First, I don't hate the Rangers because hating a sports team is kinda silly, well unless it's the Flyers, then it's justified... and second because the rivalry between the Islanders and Rangers is a healthy one, a balanced one. The Rangers have nothing mindset-wise over my team.

The Penguins are a different story because I believe they have a psychological hold on the Islanders and that is truly frustrating to watch. The Penguins are overly confident when they play the Islanders and it works for them more times than not because their presence arrives before their actual bodies do. Beyond that point, I can't speak for when they play other teams but as far as when they play the Islanders, I don't know what the hell Pittsburg does during periods but it should be bottled and sold. This is a team who could be losing 3-0 after the first period and come out onto the ice at the start of the 2nd with the demeanor as if nothing has happened.

I do not like when the Islanders retreat from the Penguins. That's why they do - retreat. The Penguins then advance into the space the Islanders have given up. Like clockwork. After that, it can get ugly. The loss to Pittsburg on October 18th tripped the Islanders up with the same pattern, BUT to their credit (and really they deserve a TON of praise) they got back up and moved on with the season which is a gift to us Islander fans. There are healthy changes this season, and a more detailed post about that is currently in this blog's draft folder waiting to be finished. Overall, success this season for the Islanders is about breaking old habits, and patterns which will feel good and clear space for better habits and patterns. December will be the month to really mark their progress from prior seasons.

If the Islanders are to lose to the Penguins, all I ask is that it be about skill and not have any psychological reason to it. If the Islanders should find themselves ahead after the 1st or 2nd period, they need to watch out for the first 5-7 minutes into the next period where the Penguins are able to tolerate frustration well...after that, they become more frustrated as if they can't imagine why they haven't been able to score.

Dear Islanders, try a little reaction formation this season with Pittsburg...love the Penguins to death.

LET'S GO ISLANDERS!!!

Islander Colors at Ikea

Standstill on the FDR so a blog post it is. 

Night at the Gym

Startling the person next to me in reaction to the game...priceless. It appears to be a test of core strength for these evenly matched teams. What a tug-of-war we are in for. I'm rooting for the Bruins, that town could use a celebration. 

Yay! Boxer Smushy Faces & Coyotes

A little late on posting but YaY! Would be great to see more teams supporting animal rescue. The Greyhounds on the concourse are one upside to seeing a game in Philly. Take your dog to a hockey game would be pawsome!

Hockey Coyotes need an owner, real Coyotes need protection from hunters. 

Who the hell shoots a coyote anyway? How's that Coyote meat taste? Dumbass. 

The Islanders Are On Course

Boats are rarely ever on course, yet they are on course. They negotiate the elements while keeping their bow headed towards their destination. It's kind of a relief that a boat doesn't always have to be on course, yet with guidance it ultimately gets where it needs to go. It's pretty amazing how a boat can handle waves for example. The boat rises and falls with the swells rather than fighting them, and even though it can get rough out there, the boat remains upright and can be redirected back on course as many times as necessary. The same current that comes against a boat can also be the same current that a boat uses to advance. And sometimes a boat can allow itself to go off course, knowing that the horizon is there. Sometimes going off course is necessary in getting to a destination. Boats traveling together are aware of themselves in relation to the surface they travel on and are aware of those boats around him, allowing the space for each individual to travel while successfully negotiating the elements together as they advance to where they want to go. The individuals steering their boat may or may not be cognizant of this, it may just be automatic thought and action that gets them towards their goals. 

LET'S GO ISLANDERS!!!

Isles Need(ed) Their Beauty Rest

The Islanders lost game 5 to the Penguins for one reason, they were not well rested. It was apparent within 5 minutes after the puck dropped, as I put my head in my hands and to myself sighed, Oh noooooo. When fatigued, everything is just off...positioning, aim and so on. It's a sucky feeling. How much each Isle was in his body is a guess from this vantage point. Collectively they had a ghost like appearance on the ice.

Prior to the game I sensed that success for the Isles was going to be based on energy, especially of the defense and goalie. In game 4, the Isle's defensive positioning was fabulous. Some of the best I've seen this season. This game it was off, too many pockets for the Penguins to not take advantage of. The Penguins are good at surging their energy around an opposing team's net. That kind of vibration can draw the defense into chaos but it also can be dealt with. It reminds me of something my Sifu Raj taught me. Before Sifu would teach me how to get out of a situation physically, he taught me how to do that energetically. So much to write there but maybe for another post at another time. The Islanders are going to have to deal with those surges and shake them off, be able to deal with chaos around their net calmly and push back down the ice.

Some other points; 

-In order for the Isles offense to do their part, they've got to know that their defense has things under control. I didn't see that in game 5. I saw insecurity in the offense.

-The playoffs are a different animal of hockey. Your opponent is only as good as you make them out to be. 

-Coming back into your body... lay down on your back and from top to bottom feel your spine press down into the surface your are laying on. Center yourself by sitting down, feet grounded flat on the floor and hanging down your upper body between your legs. As you exhale, let your breath sink down as well to the earth, realeasing tension in your body and breath. 

Tea for adrenals/energy/alertness/performance anxiety:

Nettles

Licorice Root
Eluethero Root

Gingko

Motherwort

Pinch of Rosemary (Rosemary is pungent so remember it's easier to add than to take away once blended with other herbs)

Peppermint or Spearmint to flavor

Mix rosemary essential oil with sea salt/dead sea salt thus creating a smelling salts. Bring it to the bench in a paper bag and 'hyperventilate' away when needed...as in stick your nose in the bag and inhale through your nose and exhale through your mouth. Rosemary eo can also be mixed with oil (let's say Olive), rub it on your scalp before game.

and the list goes on...

Teaching athletes integrative ways to prepare for competition and rest from competition is an endless topic. But I also need my beauty rest so with that...

LET'S GO ISLANDERS!!!

Skate On Through

Beautiful day in Philly. Isles play the Flyers tonight. Great opportunity for Isles to prep for playoffs, condensing mental endurance into one game. Flyers are the kind of opponent to do this with. If Isles do regress like they did in the 2nd period against the Jets, they will fall back on what they know with the Flyers which usually is to submit. Isles were able to recover during Jets game because they snapped back into playing their game. Isles have challenges doing the same with the Flyers who are good at puffing up their feathers.

But as always I have faith in my team.

Game mantra? Skate on through to the other side. Singing it in your head Doors-like optional.

The one thing I'd like the Islanders to know... most Flyers fans are going tonight to see THEM play, not their own team. Feed off their energy and stay the hell away from fights. Healthy teams win playoff rounds.

LET'S GO ISLANDERS!!

Game Ready for Isles vs. Winnipeg

The comfort of old school Islanders being worn today.

LET'S GO ISLANDERS!!!

Dear Martin,

We owe it to you to keep trying until we get it right. Help guide us from Spirit.