Like the old joke, once again the NHL has decided to make fighting a priorty by letting the likes of Chris Simon play in the preseason, in spite of his suspension. Way to go Gary and Colin. You keep giving the NHL a blackeye with your shortsighted and assinine decisions. Fortunately, tonight the Rangers gave as good as they got and it was Chris Simon left the game with the black eye and a game misconduct. But, hey, it’s the preseason so who’s counting.

Andy (the Goon) Sutton tried to set the tone for the game by laying the elbow on Ryan Callahan but he got the penalty and his clock cleaned by Colton Orr. I believe it was young Dane Byers who landed the punch on Chris Simon in the big melee and blackened Simon’s eye. Yes, you heard me right. Chris Simon got owned in all his fights with the Rangers. Islander fans should all chip in and get Chris a nice Porterhouse for his eye.

It all went to hell in a handbasket at 8:11 of the second period. A donnybrook broke out including a goalie fight. Montoya crossed the blueline and got in a couple of nice shots to DiPietro’s head before Rick wrastled Montoya to the ice. I’d give this one to Montoya on points. DiPietro is a cheapshot artist. Whatever happened to the Marquis of Queensbury rules?

Gratuitous violence notwithstanding, there was a dearth of 5 on 5 hockey being played. My Line of the Night Award goes to Hollweg, Betts and Orr. Ryan Hollweg scored a beautiful, yea, skillfull shorthanded goal. Like the Flyer game, the big guns were not clicking at even strength. Dawes made a few decent plays but was otherwise invisible. Shanny needs to shake the rust off. Even Drury looked tenuous at times.

Ryan Callahan has NHL Allstar written all over him. He is brave, smart and poised. (PS. Ryan, I have a cute daughter your age.) I can’t wait to see Artem Anisimov play for the Rangers. He is crafty. I don’t think he’ll make it this year but he brings it down low each and every game I’ve seen him in. Having said that, if this game is the decider, I’d take Dubinsky over Dawes. Dubinsky just keeps on bringing it. Dawes had a good chance early on but also coughed up the puck. Doesn’t seem to try as hard as Dubinsky, Byers or Korpikowski.

Thomas Pock was a revelation tonight. He played with more poise then I have seen from him and he can throw down too! While Roszival did not look as God awful as he did on Saturday, it was perhaps because he was paired again with Malik. Next to Malik, Roszival looks like Bobby Orr. I’ll stop there on Malik. No use beating a dead horse because, unfortunately, he ain’t going anywhere.

Marc Staal will most assuredly be on the list of those next to be cut. He is not ready for the NHL yet.

Lastly, to all the Islanders and their fans, you disgust me. I hope you enjoyed your shallow victory tonight. You played a Ranger team comprised mostly of prospects while you essentially had your opening night roster on the ice. You scored 3 of you 5 goals on the powerpaly against the Rangers third and fourth string goalies. Overall, the Rangers owned you in the fights, which for the most part were instigated by your players. Maybe if you play hockey from here on out, instead of gooning it up, you won’t wind up any more of the laughingstock you are right now.