Eastern Quarter Finals, Game 6 - Islanders vs. Pittsburgh
Tavares: “Our lives
are on the line now, so we have no excuses and not much breathing room. We just
need to go out and focus on one game.”
Histrorically, your New
York Islanders are 2-0 vs the Pittsburgh Penguins. We know those stats look pretty, but mean nothing. Tonight, they will look into themselves and
try to stay alive in the series with a win at the NVMC tonight. A win would force a game 7 back in Pittsburgh.
That will require a
full team effort and for the Isles to play their game and dictate the style of
play. They need shots against Vokoun
and to jump on his rebounds. Checking,
hitting and puck control tempered by an active Isles defense, especially in the
neutral zone have been crucial for the success of the Isles. Special teams and composure will also be
big. The play of Evgeni Nabokov should
dictate success or failure.
Brock Nelson will
make his Isles NHL & playoff debut in for Jesse Joensuu. Frans Nielsen who was day-to-day with an
undisclosed lower body injury will also play.
Matt Carkner is also in.
Forwards: Bailey-Tavares-Boyes,
Moulson-Nielsen-Okposo, Nelson-Cizikas-Martin, Grabner-Aucoin-McDonald.
Defensive
Pairings: Strait-Hamonic,
Streit-Martinek, Visnovsky-Carkner.
Evgeni Nabokov will
get the start in goal with Kevin Poulin on the bench.
Pittsburgh takes a
time out just 1:19 into game. Isles
have come out playing some aggressive hockey.
Hart Trophy finalist, John Tavares makes it 1-0 Isles after a nice set
up by Josh Bailey, Matt Carkner. Casey
Cizikas took an accidental skate to the chin from Despres and had to skate off
quickly to the locker room. Crsoby
streaks in putting puck into a sprawled Nabokov, Igilna floows up and shoves it
through, untouched by Isles defense, score tied at 1-1. Strait wants that play back. Isles look good on the fore check and
bringing their physical game. Cizikas
returns from locker room, looks ok.
Josh Baileylooking strong tonight. Isles continue to fight in deep,
Grabner diggs out the puck, dishes to Aucoin and Colin McDonald puts it behind
Vokoun, 2-1 Isles. Nabokov looks good
so far in the game. Islanders outshooting
Penguins 12-7. Awesome period for the
Isles. Strong checking, finishing hits,
moving the puck and tough on defense.
Isles return to
second period on fire. They are all
over Pittsburgh, making it almost impossible for them to clear the puck
early. The Tavares line continues to
get after it. Isles draw a PP chance, but
come up short. Isles to the PK. Casey Cizikas with a nice short handed
chance chance, but shot was deflected.
Carkenr and Martin getting it done on the physical side of things,
throwing Pens off their game. Dupuis
takes a nice pass behind Travis Hamonic from Kennedy, game tied at 2-2. Isles need to own the front of their net,
they cant allow an opposing player to go there untouched. Casey Cizikas draws a penalty off Cooke,
nothing gained. Brock Nelson got second
unit PP time. Pens immediately called
for too many men. Isles to the PP again
at end of period. Isles apply more
pressure, but look like they have lost a little of their sizzle. Penalty expires. Nabokov with a huge save.
Officals are quick with those whistles around the Pens net tonight,
benefitting Vokoun, just saying. Isles
with a 16-6 advantage in the period and 28-13 in the game so far.
What the Isles arent
doing is using their domination and the stretches of outplaying the Pens to
gain on the scoreboard. That equals
good news for Pittsburgh. It needs to
stop. The PP needs to recover as well.
In the third period,
The Isles Michael Grabner buries it off a nice feed from Keith Aucoin, 3-2
Isles. The Isles are back to a fierce
fore check, really making pens work.
Penguins are starting to really turn up the pressure, Nabokov and Isles
are responding well. Brock Nelson
continues to look composed for his first NHL action. A shot on net deflects off Nielsen's stick, game tied at
3-3. What a tough break, late. Time expires. This game is going to overtime.
Shots were 6-6 in the third and 35-19 through 3 periods.
In the O.T. period,
The Penguins (Orpik) win it at the 7:49 mark of the period. Shots finished with the Isles outshooting
Penguins 38-21. Nabokov finished 17-21 and a .810Sv% in the game. For the Playoffs, he was .842Sv% and 4.44 gaa. Pens win series 4-2 and
advance to the second round.
Recap:
Tonight, in the do it
or die game, the Isles came out fighting right from the gate. They were strong on fore and back checking,
finished their hits, moved the puck and were tough on defense for most of the
game. When they do this, they are hard
to play. The top two lines are
dangerous and the bottom two, relentless in their grit. The team will try their best to get up like
a prize fighter each time they get knocked down. They were able to frustrate the Pens for most of the game, even
forcing a Pittsburgh time out within the first two minutes of the game.
The team continued to
fight on and give the Penguins all they could handle. I am proud of my team and I am very excited about next season,
from the draft to free agency to camp.
Next season will be another great ride.
I am so proud of the
fans at the NVMC. Thank you for showing the Penguins players watching on the
ice what the Isles & their fans are all about.
Thank you Islanders.
"We had our ups
and downs. We had injuries. We didn’t play well. We lost confidence. But I
never lost faith in these guys. I love them too much." Al Arbour
Travis Hamomic
"Honored to wear this jersey everyday"
Grail Knight of the game is a new
category for KoC that awards a player
for his standout performance that kept his team in
the game, helped them win or just never surrendered.
Grail
Knight for Game 6: John Tavares brought
it tonight. From his scoring, to his defense, he was a
team leader and showed why his team will soon be a force in the NHL.
#beLIeve
#STRONGisland
Isles Notes:
Crosby, Ovechkin
& John Tavares have been named Hart finalists. It marks the first time all 3 finalists were 1st overall picks in
their draft year
Per Arthur Staple,
"NHL announces Sunday start time scenarios: Regardless of tonight's
outcomes, Game 7 of Isles-Pens will be 7 p.m. If necesary, of course."
NHL Notes:
Per IIHF, BREAKING:
IIHF, NHL, NHLPA all optimistic that NHL will participate in Sochi2014 after
meeting in Stockholm.
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