Here is the third installment of our Superteams Smackdown series (for the first two, click here and here). The Islanders won their first Stanley Cup in only their eighth season. The Rangers won their first in their second season, but nobody remembers that one. Their 1994 Cup win was the Blueshirts’ first in 54 years, so it felt like the first time. If the team that started the Islanders dynasty faced the Rangers Cup-winning team that “will last a lifetime,” who would win? And would somebody from Def Leppard be there to place the Cup upside down?

After winning the President’s Trophy the year before, but being upset by the surprising Rangers, the 1979-80 Islanders finished in second place in the Patrick Division (91 points), but went all the way this time, to win the first of four straight Stanley Cups. They were coached by the great Al Arbour, and the architect of the team was Bill Torrey. Bryan Trottier (42 goals, 62 assists) and Mike Bossy (51 goals) led the offense. Three-time Norris …

So once again it’s time to make our New Year’s resolutions. With the new year comes a sense of hope and renewal, but it’s also a time for self reflection and self improvement. My resolution for 2009 is to eat more bacon, ham and sausage. I really dropped the ball on that last year and could have done better in that area. Last year’s resolution – to drink more beer – was a complete success. The prize for this week’s Hot Stove Player of the Week is a package of Jimmy Dean sausage, so he can join me in my quest to better myself.

Winner

Mike Comrie: Out of all the New York-area teams, the Islanders had the best week. The Giants and Jets both lost, the Knicks and Nets went a combined 2-5 since Friday, and the Rangers (1-1) and Devils (2-2) both went .500. The Isles were 2-1-1, and Comrie scored four of the six goals he’s scored all season in their last three games. In the win …

Here are the answers to yesterday’s quiz.

1. The Rangers debut season was 1926-27.

2. The Devils franchise began as the Kansas City Scouts in 1974, and after two seasons moved to Colorado, where they played as the Rockies from 1976-82.

3. The one other NHL team to play in New York was the New York/Brooklyn Americans. They played in the league from 1925 to 1942.

4. The New York Raiders/Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (one team, many names) played two seasons in the WHA before becoming the San Diego Mariners.

5. The Rangers acquired their name when newspaper writers started calling the team Tex’s Rangers, after original owner Tex Rickard.

6. New York/New Jersey teams have won 11 Stanley Cups – the Rangers won in 1928, 1933, 1940 and 1994; the Islanders in 1980, 1981, 1982 and 1983; and the Devils in 1995, 2000 and 2003.

7. Andy Bathgate (1959), Bryan Trottier (1979) and Mark Messier (1992) all won the Hart Trophy.

8. Bryan Trottier is the only New York-area player to win the …

See how much you know about the history of the local hockey franchises. The answers will be posted tomorrow.

1. What year did the Rangers debut?

2. Before the Devils moved to New Jersey, they played in two other locations. Name them.

3. Besides the Rangers, Islanders and Devils, what other NHL franchises have played in the New York area?

4. What WHA franchise played in the New York area?

5. How did the Rangers get their name?

6. How many Stanley Cups have New York/New Jersey teams won?

7. In the past 50 years, only three New York-area players have won the Hart Trophy as the league’s MVP. Name them.

8. How many New York-area players have won the Art Ross Trophy (leading scorer; first handed out for the 1947-48 season)?

9. How many New York-area players have won the James Norris Trophy (top defenseman; first handed out for the 1953-54 season)?

10. Which center of the New York-area’s WHA franchise was named a first team All-Star for the 1973-74 season?

Yes, the Rangers can play well – when they choose to. Tom Renney sat them down and gave them a speech about applying themselves, working hard and not ruining the family name or they won’t get into college and will end up wasting their lives, and then gave them a smack on the back of the head and called them an idiot. Ok, that’s what my father said to me. But it’s relevant to the Rangers. And they rebounded from their three-game losing streak with a 5-4 win over the Islanders last night.

How many times have we said this: If the Rangers skate hard, forecheck, drive to the net, dump the puck in and play a simple game, they’ll win. And that’s what they did against the Isles. And they were actually physical. They can hit people after all. Nigel Dawes clocked Kyle Okposo, and Ryan Callahan absolutely leveled Trent Hunter, who crashed into an open door (and thankfully seems to be ok). Dawes even fought Mike Comrie, …

Here are the answers to yesterday’s quiz.
1. Bryan Trottier (1,123) and Dennis Potvin (1,060) are the only two players to play more than 1,000 games for the Islanders.
2. The Islanders’ inaugural season was 1972-73.
3. Billy Harris led the team in scoring in their first year, with 28 goals, 22 assists and 50 points.
4. Mike Bossy had 1,126 points while Dennis Potvin racked up 1,052.
5. Bryan Trottier is the all-time franchise leader in plus/minus, with 470.
6. Mike Vukota is the all-time franchise leader in penalty minutes, with 1,879.
7. Anders Kallur is the all-time franchise leader in short-handed goals, with 19.
8. The …

The Islanders had one of the great dynasties in NHL history. Unfortunately, that was 25 years ago. See how much you know about the team out on Long Island. The answers will be posted tomorrow.
1. How many players have played over 1,000 games for the Islanders?
2. What year did the Islanders come into the league?
3. Who led the team in scoring in their first-ever season?
4. Who has more career points, Mike Bossy or Dennis Potvin?
5. Who is the all-time franchise leader in plus/minus?
6. Who is the all-time franchise leader in penalty minutes?
7. Who is the all-time franchise leader in short-handed goals?
8. When is …

New York has had its share of great announcers, goofy announcers, pro’s pro announcers and just plain bad announcers. For this list I’m going to use the late ’60s/early ’70s as the cutoff date. Mel Allen and Red Barber were legends, but they weren’t my legends. I’ve also cheated. In some cases I’ve listed announcing teams and in others, just an individual. So here is my top-10 best announcers/teams of the last 40 years. And no, you won’t find Suzyn Waldman, John Sterling or Fran Healy on this list.
10. Jim Kaat: The 16-time Gold Glove winner and three-time All-Star pitcher was stuck in a booth with a hodgepodge of Yankee shills from 1994–2006 (and a one-year stint in 1986). Always classy, he stood out by telling it like it is, and had a humble, non-shtick way about him.
9. Mike Breen: New York native Breen …

When it comes to our sports heroes, does it matter what they’re doing in their personal lives as long as they’re performing well on the court, field, or rink? There are always rumors regarding contracts and salaries and possible trades, but I prefer to take my sports with as little celebrity-esque gossip as possible.

It seems to me, as a New York sports fan, I can’t get away from the news regarding our greatest players’ personal lives. For starters, there’s the uproar of Yankee Alex Rodriguez’s mega-divorce this summer, not to mention all the news-mania in this steroid-era of major league baseball (I’m looking at you, Roger Clemens!). Then last year when the Giants made the playoffs, every time I opened the Post or the Daily News I’d see something about Eli Manning and his girlfriend-turned-fiancee. And even though football season is long over, I can’t get away from Patriot Tom Brady and Giselle Bündchen. Then in 2007 there was former …

Jeremy Shockey is gone. Sean Avery has left the building. Ted Nolan is kaput. Stephon Marbury is teetering on the brink. These are all guys who are more trouble than they’re worth. Even though they’re not going anywhere, you can throw Jason Giambi and Billy Wagner on that list as well. Some of these guys have completely embarrassed their organizations, some have a bad habit of putting their foot in their mouth, but all are a distraction one way or another.
The Giants traded Shockey to the Saints yesterday for two 2009 draft picks. And they won’t regret it for a second. It’s an age-old case of addition by subtraction. Even if Shockey’s running wild in New Orleans catching one pass after another, at some point when things aren’t going well he’s going to throw his teammates or coaches under a bus. Or not work out or practice with the team. Or …

Here are the answers from yesterday’s quiz.
1. Dave DeBusschere pitched in 36 games for the White Sox in 1962 and ’63. He went 3-4 with a 2.90 ERA.
2. Danny Heep was the first designated hitter for the Mets when he appeared in game three of the 1986 World Series.
3. The Giants played in the Polo Grounds (1925–’55), Yankee Stadium (’56–’73), the Yale Bowl (’73 and ’74), Shea Stadium (’75) and Giants Stadium (’76–present). (They had to play in the Yale Bowl and Shea because Yankee Stadium was being renovated.)
4. The Nets won twice. In 1974 they beat the Utah Stars, and in ’76 they defeated the Denver Nuggets.
5. …

Here is the first-ever Hot Stove New York sports quiz. See how much you know about New York sports history. The answers will be posted tomorrow. There are no prizes, just the satisfaction of knowing how smart or not-so-smart you really are.
1. Which Knicks player also pitched for the Chicago White Sox?
2. Who was the first-ever designated hitter for the Mets?
3. In their long history, the football Giants have called five different venues home. Name them.
4. How many ABA championships did the Nets win?
5. Which two WHA teams did Mark Messier play for?
6. The Jets played in the first-ever Monday Night Football game on September 21, 1970. Who did they play?
7. Who was the manager for the Dodgers when they won their only World …