One Month Until Hockey!

Friends, the long wait is almost over. One month from today (10/3) New York Islanders regular season hockey returns! And this year, the date is doubly special because it will be the debut of new Islander John Tavares.

Of course the excitement surrounding the arrival of the new season may be tempered by a few pestersome issues surrounding the team. In case you've forgotten, the Isles have the fate of the Lighthouse project/new arena in limbo, the health of Rick DiPietro is up in the air, and one wonders who, if anyone, will emerge as a scoring threat on the left side of the offense? These are in addition to the other uncertainties that normally surround a young and inexperienced team.

That said, we can't wait until October 3rd. We can't wait to see Kyle, Mark Streit, Josh Bailey, our new goalies, and the rest of our squad in action. Sure, the potential exists for a mauling at the hands of the Stanley Cup Champion Penguins on Opening Night. But at least it will be in front of a sold-out crowd of rabid fans in our building. Fans who are expecting big things in the coming seasons, both on and off the ice.

As a public service, we now present the official 2009-2010 New York Islanders regular season schedule. Hopefully it will be a fun and productive season for all involved; maybe even a return to NHL respectability. But let's remember this year's motto (as brought to you by Okposo Net): Baby Steps.