Radio Radio

On more than one occasion over the last several weeks, I sat down in front of my computer to tune into Don LaGreca and Chris Botta's NY Hockey This Week radio show on 1050 ESPN Radio. After looking quizzically back and forth between my monitor and speakers on several of those occasions, I finally accepted that the show, which is broadcast over the AM radio waves, is not transmitted through the streaming audio player on the station's Web site.

What's all the more confusing is that during the hour in which NY Hockey This Week is on the air, the audio player displays the name of the show while streaming different content.

Not that it's so unusual for a station to stream alternative content. It happens all the time when the station has a game broadcast and streaming it is contractually prohibited. It also happens when a radio station changes format but wants to keep fans of the old format in the fold. But how much more college football coverage do we need?

I suppose the thinking might be that local hockey fans can simply tune to AM for the show, while out-of-market sports fans have the option of more nationally oriented content. But how many out-of-market sports fans are turning to New York's 1050 ESPN Radio online to get their sports fix?

I won't bore you with the reasons why listening on the computer would be decidedly more convenient for me (although a couple of times I was already at the Coliseum for a game and wanted to listen on my laptop). Let's just say that not having the show online is most unfortunate for out-of-market New York/New Jersey hockey fans and disappointing for those of us who would like to take advantage of the alternative access point.

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A few days ago, the Islanders announced an expansion of their radio broadcast network. The Islanders Radio Network now includes the following over-the-air stations:

• WKRB 90.3 FM Brooklyn (All games)
• WLNG 92.1 FM Long Island (Night games)
• WSTC 1400 AM Connecticut (Saturday night games)
• WNLK 1350 AM Connecticut (Saturday night games)

The new stations join WMJC 94.3 FM and WHLI 1100 AM, both on Long Island. If this is going to be the future of Islanders radio, stringing together a network of small stations throughout the region, then good for the organization for coming through on its pledge to add more affiliates. Now keep going! I still can't hear you.

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Double Fantasy

Game 27: Maple Leafs 4, Islanders 2 (Shake 'n' Blaked)

Fantasy Stars of the Game

1st Star: Mark Streit (-2, 3 SOG, 3 BkS, 2 PIMs, 3 hits)

2nd Star: Freddy Meyer (1 A, 1 PPA, Even, 1 SOG, 2 BkS, 3 hits)

3rd Star: Doug Weight (1 A, Even, 2 SOG, 1 BkS, 3 hits)

4th Star: Mike Sillinger (1 G, 1 PPG, -1, 2 SOG, 1 hit)

5th Star (tie): Trent Hunter (Even, 4 SOG, 5 hits) and Chris Campoli (1 A, 1 PPA, -2, 2 BkS, 3 hits)

Faceoffs (W-L): Sillinger 11-4, Weight 9-6, Park 6-7, Hilbert 1-2, Bailey 4-8

Game 28: Flyers 4, Islanders 3 (Played Well, Still Lost )

Fantasy Stars of the Game

1st Star: Bill Guerin (1 A, +1, 4 SOG, 2 PIMs, 2 hits)

2nd Star: Andy Hilbert (1 G, 1 PPG, Even, 6 SOG, 1 BkS)

3rd Star: Mark Streit (1 A, 1 PPA, +1, 1 SOG, 2 BkS, 1 hit)

4th Star: Doug Weight (1 G, +1, 3 SOG, 1 BkS, 1 hit)

5th Star: Sean Bergenheim (1 A, +1, 4 SOG)

Faceoffs (W-L): Sillinger 16-9, Weight 7-11, Park 6-9, Bergenheim 2-0, Bailey 2-3

Note: Sillinger, the Faceoff King, has replaced Bailey at center on the #1 power play unit. For now. The line combinations are a little like a hot-air corn popping machine at the beginning of a batch right now—lots of swirling around with only an occasional explosion.

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I'm all for the idea of giving a shot on the big club to as many of the deserving players at Bridgeport as possible. This team needs a significant infusion of skill, and that will have to come at the expense of players like Jon Sim. That being said, the Islanders will be fortunate if even one of the skilled Sound Tigers develops into as much as a 30-goal scorer in the NHL. Who's it gonna be, boys?

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