There are a lot of idiots out there who think they know things about hockey. A lot of them came out of the woodwork after the Penguins and Islanders last met in what was a disgusting display of thuggery endorsed, clearly, by the Islanders organization. During that game everyone expected the “code” to be upheld and someone had to fight to avenge what Johnson did to DiPietro in the previous matchup (breaking his face in a fight and all). No one expected the debacle that occurred though.

Mario Lemieux, normally withdrawn from league matters, had some harsh words for the league after the league pathetically suspended Islander goon Trevor Gillies for a mere nine games after he deliberately hunted down Eric Tangradi, knocked him silly and then pounded on him while he was on the ice.

Here is a video of all all the “action” that night on the Island in case you forgot. At about 6:10 is where you see Gillies skate all the way across the ice to hunt down Tangradi:

During this scrum, the Islanders’ Haley then skates down the ice to confront Penguin’s goalie Brent Johnson to which Eric Goddard reacts by jumping off the bench to defend his netminder. Out of this entire incident THIS is what Islanders fans emailed me the most about and griped over; about how Goddard is such a “goon” that he came off the bench to defend his goalie against a player that skated all the way down the ice to seek him out.

Of course the fighting was not over. But it was enough for anyone that knows anything about hockey, which I will not accuse your typical Islanders fan of being such a person, that the behavior of the team from New York was pathetic.

Goddard, for jumping off the bench and defending his goalie got an automatic ten games suspension. The league decided that Gillies only warranted a nine game suspension for his actions. Islanders fans justified this whole sham of a game as revenge for what Johnson did to DiPietro, a man who as of right now gets hurt just looking at a hockey rink it seems.

Well then what is the excuse for Gillies last night then? Yes, fresh off his suspension for beating Tangradi in the back of the head, Gillies was back to head hunting against Minnesota’s Cal Clutterbuck? There wasn’t a Penguin to be found anywhere near the rink. Matt Cooke wasn’t even in the same state. But here is Gillies acting like a thug again.

What’s the excuse this time I ask again? Did Clutterbuck lace his skates in a way that drove Gillies into a fit of rage?

Fifty games. That was Gillies deserves. We’re not talking about a “repeat offender” here who plays on the edge and throws a questionable hit every 15 or 20 games. We are talking about a goon who, fresh off a nine game suspension for gooning it up on the ice, rushes back out on to the ice in his first game back to do it all over again. And while we’re at it, maybe the league should fine Garth Snow a cool million too since it is clear he is the mastermind behind this latest pathetic performance on Long Island.

How do you like your new team New York?

It could have been Montreal’s last visit ever to the Igloo last night. Baring an always possible playoff meeting between two Eastern Conference foes, Montreal will have to deal with that potentially last visit being a loss. With last night’s 3-1 victory, thanks to lots of on the ball … uh puck … saves by Fleury, the Penguins have pretty much trounced the Canadians this season by a goal total of 9-2. They have now won four straight against the Habs.

The Penguins took advantage of a Montreal squad that had to come from behind the night before and limited them to just 17 shots on net. Had there been more, the score might have turned out differently as Fleury definitely saved the Penguins bacon with several great plays and a little bit of luck. The Penguins accomplished the low shot total on Fleury by pressing the attack in the Montreal zone for most of the night.

The Penguins received goals from Crosby (12), Guerin (6) and Gonchar (3) to stake out a 3-0 lead heading into the third period that they would not relinquish. Crosby scored on a rare shot from high at the left circle that surprised Carey Price. Guerin bashed a loose puck between Price’s pads in the second and Gonchar took a puck right up the middle and opened up Price for the Penguin’s third goal.

The win was the Penguins 17th in 25 games this season and ties a team record. The club also won 17 of its first 25 in 94-95 and 95-96.

After last night the Penguins held on to first place in the East with 24 pts just ahead of Washington who also has 24 pts but fewer wins also in 25 games. Montreal sank to 12-12-1 and are still struggling with injuries.

The Penguins however must face a back to back test this week on Friday and Saturday. On Friday the Pens have to travel to Long Island for a 2:00 PM scrum with the 9-9-7 Islanders and then return home Saturday to host the 13-10-1 Rangers.

After loosing four games in a row as the Penguins injury situation looked bleak, the Penguins have since been getting more healthy and have gone 5-1 in their last six games.