Islanders – Bruins, Preseason Game 1

In the first period, the Isles played well; except for too much time on the penalty kill.  Dylan Reese impresses with a solid effort tonight.  He looks like he belongs here in every way.  Reese has two excellent goals on a good goalie in Thomas.  Bruins have most of their big guns on the ice tonight.  The “undermanned” Isles competing well against the Stanley Cup Champions and leading in the game 2-0.

Rick DiPietro seems to be settling in very quickly.  He seems more relaxed in his positioning and more proficient with his economy of movement than he has shown in quite a while.  He put together a very good period and really seems focused on the game while making saves on all 11 shots he faced.  It’s obvious he feels healthy for the first time in a long time.

The second period has more of the same.  Ullstrom continues to have a strong game, but can’t seem to finish with a goal.  Decent play, but too much time given on the PK and it cost the Islanders the lead.  After a rebound and a deflected shot bouncing off an Islander to the front of the net evens the score for Boston,  The Bruins turned up the tempo and started to control the play.  They succeded in reversing the play of the first period until a nice effort by Marcinko and Pandolfo set up Frischmon for a goal that ended the second period.  DP has stopped 20 of 22 shots giving the Isles a 3-2 lead after two periods of play. 

Newsday’s Arthur Staple is reporting F Jeremy Collinton left during the second for an undisclosed injury.  It was later reported to be a groin injury and he would not return.

In the third, Anders Nillson gets the call to defend the Islander net.  Two nice cross cease set ups help Boston take the lead for the first time in the game half way through the third.  The Bruins find a way to turn up their intensity level and they get the result they want.  After scoring two more goals in the last 5 minutes, the score was 6-3 Bruins.  The Islanders spent too much time chasing the puck in the third and seemed to lose control of the game throughout the period.

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I definitely saw some positives from tonight’s game.  DP looked very good throughout his time in net.  Dylan Reese showed me something as well.  In the first two periods, The Isles had some good passing and good movement into the offensive zone.  Several players contributed.

The low point of the game was spending too much time, man down.  The Islanders kept letting Boston back into it and it cost them later in the game.  That, coupled with a good effort by the Bruins led to the loss.  I am sure the Islanders will be prepared for tomorrow night.

Oh well, bring on the Devils.