50,027 Watch Rangers Edge Islanders 2-1, at Yankee Stadium

50,027 Watch Rangers Edge Islanders 2-1, at Yankee Stadium

Photo by Joe McDonald

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, JANUARY 30- The second 2014 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series contest at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday night was a sell-out just as the game played at the historic venue three days earlier. A crowd of 50,027 filled the seats to watch the two locals, New York Rangers and New York Islanders, play the first of two games this week, under the lights. 

After the exciting and hard fought game concluded, an elated NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman told reporters, “It’s been a memorable month of special events, three outdoor games in five days with more than 150,000 fans. This is a season we’ll all remember.” Not surprised by more than 50,000 attending a night game outdoors with temperatures in the 20’s, the commissioner commented, “Nobody braves the elements like hockey fans.”

The teams played with caution early in the contest. Unlike the high scoring game on Sunday afternoon, the first goal on Wednesday night was not scored until Islanders center Brock Nelson netted the puck with assists from Matt Donovan and Cal Clutterbuck at 18:33 of the 20 minute second period. 

A goal by Benoit Pouliot on assists by Derick Brassard and Mats Zuccarllo tied the score 30 seconds after the first goal was scored. 

The game winning goal was not scored until 4:36 of the third period. Daniel Carcillo netted the puck, his second as a Ranger, on assists from Dominic Moore and Brian Boyle. Carcillo did not become a Ranger until earlier in the month when he was traded by the L.A. Kings. His first game with the Rangers was on January 8. 

Ranger coach Alain Vigneault gave credit to the newcomer and other unsung contributors in a post-game press conference, “He [Carcillo] brings energy. You need contributions from your whole lineup. In an 82-game schedule, different guys have to step up.”

Both goalies, Henrik Lundquist of the Rangers and Evgeni Nabokov of the Islanders, played outstandingly, but the hero’s mantle went to the winner, Lundquist. The Ranger goalie stopped 30 shots, and only let one get in the net.

He believed playing one game outdoors earlier in the week benefitted him, “I felt a lot more calm. I felt more relaxed. For me, it was just about doing my job.”

The Swedish Olympian expressed his joyous reaction to the occasion, “It was another amazing night. It’s a great stadium, but you need the fans to show up to make it special. [It was] everything I hoped for, two wins, two sold out crowds, the atmosphere. It was two days I’ll remember for the rest of my life.”

Islander coach Jack Capuano, despite his team’s fourth straight loss, spoke positively about his team’s current play, “I think we play well, we’re just not getting the results. We’re playing well enough to win; we just have to find a way to win.”

Vigneault praised his team, which has won 8 of its last 11 games, “We’re in a one game at a time mentality. We’re defending better. It took a lot of courage to do those things [block shots] on this kind of day. Our speed is a big weapon and I think we’re using that element better.”

The Rangers and the Islanders face off again in their next game on Friday night, January 31. Each them plays only three more games before the Olympic break.

Highbridge News: Yankee Stadium Turned into Winter Wonderland as Ra...

Highbridge News: Yankee Stadium Turned into Winter Wonderland as Ra...: Yankee Stadium Turned into Winter Wonderland as Rangers Beat Islanders Photo by Joe McDonald By Rich Mancuso BRONX, NEW YOR...

Yankee Stadium Turned into Winter Wonderland as Rangers Beat Islanders

Yankee Stadium Turned into Winter Wonderland as Rangers Beat Islanders

Photo by Joe McDonald

By Rich Mancuso

BRONX, NEW YORK, JANUARY 30- They got off the 4 train at 161^st Street stop these fans of two New York hockey teams, the Rangers and Islanders, and on their mission to spend the evening at a frigid Yankee Stadium. Yes, this was similar to a hockey version of the Yankees playing the Mets in mid-May or sometime in June.

Except the vendors inside Yankee Stadium were not selling cold drinks. Hot chocolate and coffee was the big seller. There were blankets covering the fans, gloves, scarfs, and their faces were covered from the frigid temperatures that dropped below 20.

Yes, for a night in the Bronx, in late January, Yankee Stadium was a winter wonderland. The puck dropped on the ice and it was nice to say that in about 65 days the stadium would once again hear the sounds of “Play Ball” when the Yankees open the 2014 baseball season in the Bronx with high expectations.  

The National Hockey League concept of “The Stadium Series” drew over 100,000 rabid fans of the Rangers, Islanders and New Jersey Devils for two games in the Bronx. They say this successful venture, one that has high marketability for the NHL will continue, though next year there is reportedly a plan to do this again at another venue.

Met Life Stadium, site of the Super Bowl this Sunday, reportedly will get to play host of the “Stadium Series” in the New York area next January. Why not? It is evident now that fans will come and root no matter what the weather conditions are in the height of winter.

“To our fans who were here both Sunday and tonight, simply,” incredible commented NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman who was all smiles. And he should be smiling. The NHL gained some revenue and more exposure. The Yankees were thrilled to keep their stadium busy in the off-season.

Wednesday night in the “House That George Built” it was frigid. However, the fans were loud, more of a Rangers presence as their team completed the two-game sweep over the Devils and Islanders. And at times, with the exception of the colors and an infield as a hockey rink, the ballpark resembled an October baseball playoff game in the Bronx.

About playing outdoors, where most professional hockey players got their start, Islanders goalie Evgeni Nabokov said, “You never really know until you’re out there and see that great atmosphere. I loved every second of it.”

And that was the overall consensus of the players, coaches, and the fans, the cold did not seem to be a factor. However, the one difference with playing an NHL game outdoors is the conspicuous absence of the hockey fight or brawl on the ice. As the experts explained, the game does not change.

But taking a punch in the cold elements is not a good idea for a hockey player, or for that matter any one else. The sting hurts a little more to the body outdoors in frigid conditions. So, there were no fights on the ice, rather a good and competitive hockey game with the two New York rivals.

“We’re playing well enough to win, but we’ve got to find a way to win,” said Islanders coach Jack Capuano after 2-1 loss to their Blueshirt rival Rangers. His team is 0-3-1 in the past four games. And like the game of baseball, where the Yankees are accustomed to winning in the Bronx, not getting a win in four games means a lot in the standings.

Because in the game of hockey, a stretch of not winning games in a competitive division where the Islanders, Rangers and Devils are situated, can be crucial. In this case, the Islanders did not prevail in what was their home game, away from the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale.

The Islanders got the shots, but Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist stopped a good many of them. The Rangers and their fans are content getting the road win. Their team has won five consecutive games away from Madison Square Garden and prevailed in 13 of their last 19 on the ice.

“They’re a ton of fun,” said the Rangers defenseman Marc Staal who got a feel of outdoor hockey before huge crowds the past few days in the Bronx. He said he could play in 50 or, 40 of these games during the course of a season. 

The National Hockey League scheduled more of the outdoor games in stadiums this season including the “Winter Classic.” They are all popular and now New York got caught up in the atmosphere in a week busy with the premiere game in town, the Super Bowl.

You get the feeling the outdoor game will return to the Bronx soon. The overall consensus is, hockey fans in New York are all for it.

Comment Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com   Facebook.com/Rich Mancuso   www.newyorksportsexaminer.com

Highbridge News: Chipolte, Cheesecake Factory could be coming to Ba...

Highbridge News: Chipolte, Cheesecake Factory could be coming to Ba...: Chipolte, Cheesecake Factory could be coming to Bay Plaza? By Michael Horowitz BRONX, NEW YORK, JANUARY 29- A spokesman for th...

Chipolte, Cheesecake Factory could be coming to Bay Plaza?

Chipolte, Cheesecake Factory could be coming to Bay Plaza?

By Michael Horowitz

BRONX, NEW YORK, JANUARY 29- A spokesman for the developer of the Bay Plaza shopping center said, this week, that plans for the new mall that is reportedly coming to Co-op City by mid-August, call for a food court with up to 10 small eateries and two full-scale restaurants to be among the 80 to 90 stores at the new mall.

Michael Stone, a vice president of Prestige Properties, said that the food court that is planned would be an upscale version of the food courts that are found in other parts of the Bronx.

Current eateries in the Bay Plaza shopping center include outlets of Red Lobster and Panera Bread, two of the best restaurants in the Co-op City area.

Sit-down eateries that the developers of Bay Plaza have approached for leases have included the Cheesecake Factory, Maggiano's Little Italy, Brio Tuscan Grille, and Texas de Brazil, the New York Times has reported.

Fast-food restaurants that have considered leasing space at the Bay Plaza food court that is envisioned include Bobby's Burger Place and the Chipotle Mexican Grill.

Macy 's and JC Penney will be the anchors of the combined Bay Plaza mall, which will span more than two million square feet and be totally enclosed when it is completed. JC Penney is the anchor store of the current Bay Plaza shopping center.

The plans for the new mall call for JC Penney to be at its northern end and Macy's to be at its southern end.

###

Developer says new mall will be something very special

By Michael Horowitz

BRONX, NEW YORK, JANUARY 29- A spokesman for the Bay Plaza shopping center said, this week, that he expected the long-awaited new wing of the sprawling shopping area to open by the middle of August.

Michael Stone, a vice president of Prestige Properties LLC, said, this week, that the 780,000-square-foot extension of Bay Plaza is “about two-thirds completed.”

Stone added, “The new Macy's, which will be an anchor store for Bay Plaza's new, enclosed mall and comprise 160,000 square feet on its own, is under construction as we now speak.”

The 780,000-square foot extension of Bay Plaza will mean that the shopping center, which is on the outskirts of Co-op City, will

comprise close to two million square feet.

The price tag for the extension of the Bay Plaza mall is expected to approach $300 million. The enclosed portion of the mall will be home to 80 to 90 stores, Stone said.

The new mall is expected to create 1,700 permanent jobs. And to have parking for up 2,300 cars.

The extension of Bay Plaza's new wing will be connected to the

existing JC Penney store at Bay Plaza.

In recent months, those living in Co-op City and those driving by the community have seen the new wing of the shopping center rising on its southern end of the Bay Plaza shopping center.

The shopping center's developers and elected officials have stressed that the impending of Bay Plaza's new wing is an exciting development for the Bronx and Westchester.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., among others, have touted the development of Bay Plaza's new wing as a sign of progress in the Bronx and in the city as a whole.

Bay Plaza, which first opened in the mid-1980s and spans 1,300 square feet, is already the largest mall in the Bronx.

When the new mall is completed, it will be attached to the current shopping center. The entire mall will be enclosed, making it the first mall of this kind in the Bronx.

“We are talking to all the major chains about coming to Bay Plaza,” Sam Shalem, CEO of Prestige Properties has stressed. “This is just the kind of suburban mall this area needs.”

Shalem said that he is confident that the enlarged mall will have

major appeal to the more than four million people who live in close proximity to Co-op City.

Shalem added that he expected the new shopping center to attract those living in Westchester and southern Connecticut, as well as those living in neighborhoods through the Bronx.

Highbridge News: Islanders Gear Up for Showdown with Rangers in the...

Highbridge News: Islanders Gear Up for Showdown with Rangers in the...: Islanders Gear Up for Showdown with Rangers in the Bx. By Howard Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK, JANUARY 29-  The New York Islanders made ...

Islanders Gear Up for Showdown with Rangers in the Bx.

Islanders Gear Up for Showdown with Rangers in the Bx.

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, JANUARY 29- The New York Islanders made their first visit to Yankee Stadium on Tuesday afternoon for a practice session on the ice and to experience the aura of Yankee Stadium. 

The words of the players were similar both towards the seriousness of the Wednesday night contest against the Rangers, the opportunity to play outdoors as they did as youngsters and of the awe-inspiring atmosphere of Yankee Stadium. This article will document only the views of captain John Tavares and assistants Kyle Osposo and Andrew McDonald as they are representative of the others on the team.

All here reminisced of playing outdoors when they were children. Kyle Osposo had the opportunity in his hometown of St. Paul, Minnesota. He recalled, “I played outdoors a couple of blocks from my house.” Used to cold weather, he said, “I will wear a turtleneck, nothing else [extra].”

The two Canadians expressed similar memories. John Tavares remembered, “In Ontario, I played a lot outside. Growing up playing outside was a lot of fun.” He felt the memories come back 100 percent while on the Yankee Stadium rink, “Feeling the air and hearing the sound of the puck.”

Andrew McDonald only felt the cold affect his ears and his toes. Of his childhood hockey experience, he stated, “This is where it all started. [We had] random ice patches, not a real rink.”

Being in a historic venue that houses an organization that considers great success a normal expectation every season had meaning to all. The American [Oksposo] seemed most familiar with Yankee attitude, “I have a ton of respect for the Yankees. To have an attitude of winning at all costs is a terrific way to run a business, an organization. When you come out there and it’s Yankee Stadium, it’s pretty cool. It’s awesome.”

McDonald described his feelings coming out on the field and anticipated how special Wednesday night’s game will be for the players, “You can feel the history of the Yankees team when you walk out of the dugout and see the Stadium. The Yankees are the most recognizable team in the world. I’m really looking forward to it [the game on Wednesday], being in the elements surrounded by 50,000 people. The ice will seem a little small compared to [the size of] the Stadium. It’s a very special experience. The fans will really enjoy it. The players will really enjoy it.” 

Tavares, a fan of the Toronto Blue Jays, was nonetheless impressed by the facilities in the Stadium, “They did a great job here. It’s unique. It’s going to be fun.” The team captain had a great experience at Tuesday’s practice, “It was really a great day. My family was here with me.” The players skated on the ice with family and friends after the practice concluded.

The importance of the result of every game to the islanders is huge. They are in last place in the Metropolitan Division, nine points behind the second place Rangers. A victory in each forthcoming contest is a necessity for them to qualify for the playoffs. Every player, the coach and all of their fans recognize this truth.

McDonald commented, “These are important two points. We’re going to be prepared,”

Tavares optimistically remarked, “There’s still a lot of hockey to be played. We know we have to play a lot better.”

Osposo spoke of the uniqueness of each contest, “Once the puck drops, it’s another game.”

The second highly anticipated and final outdoor game in New York City will be played before a sold out crowd of 50,000 fans on Wednesday night. It will be another great day in NHL and New York sports history.