Islanders Dethrone Kings

Forwards:  Moulson-Tavares-Okposo, Grabner-Nielsen-Parenteau, Rolston-Bailey-Martin, Wallace-Pandolfo-Niederreiter.

Defensemen:  Streit-Staios, Ness-MacDonald, Eaton-Jurcina.

Nabokov got the start in goal with Montoya backing up.

Brian Rolston was in for Rhett Rakhshani. Kyle Okposo stayed on Tavares line. Aaron Ness paired with Andrew MacDonald.

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In what would turn into an ugly and mean spirited contest on "KJ" day, the Islanders opened up with some good pressure on LA.  Nabokov made the first save.  Grabner scored off a defected shot from Eaton and K.O., Isles up 1-0.  Grabner and Streit are buzzing.  Aaron Ness continues to look like he belongs on Long Island in this emergency call up scenario.  The Kings out shot the Isles 12-8 in the first period.

The physicality continued in the second period.  The Isles generated some good scoring chances.  Kings tied the game on a rebound from Brown, uncovered in front of Nabby’s net.  Isles turned up their physical play again, got outworked by Kings in that period.  John Tavares even got physical.  Arthur Staple had it right, “Isles being outshot 24-12, scrambling in own zone and tied 1-1 with Kings after 2. Must have 2 points out of this.”

In the third, Matt Martin went hard into dasher finishing a check, went into locker room.  Jordan Nolan, son of Ted Nolan with a cheap shot to J.T.’s head for Kings.  More cheap shots applied by the Kings against the Isles on PP chance.  Then Moulson limped to bench after cross check, would return.  More stellar officiating by the NHL’s elite Referees.  Isles got a penalty called after 4-5 non-calls against the Kings.  Martin returned to bench and not soon enough.  You know it got ugly when Quick played dirty.  Quick looked strong to finish the third period, Isles out shot Kings 12-11. 

Mark Streit with the winner in O.T.  Streaks in with fancy foot and stick work through 3 L.A. Kings and buries it through Quick’s five hole.

Islanders get back to an NHL .500 at 23-23-8 with 54 points, 11^th in the east and 8 pts out of the eighth playoff spot.

Nabokov looked solid at 34-35 and a .971 Sv% in the win and improved to 5-0 in O.T.’s and Shootouts.  In his last ten games, Nabokov is 7-2-0, 1.21 GAA., 2 shutouts.

Nabokov is becoming more and more un-tradable for N.Y. with the value he brings to the Isles net.

Isles Notes:

Dylan Reese has been placed on the team's IR list retroactive Feb. 7 (left knee MCL sprain)

Chris Botta stated, “Whatever #Isles could get for @PAParenteau would not equal his production until after the Coliseum lease ends.”  I agree.

Islanders are at home tomorrow, vs the Panthers at 3pm, and away at Winnipeg @ 8:30pm on Tuesday and St. Louis @ 8:00pm on Thursday.  They return home to face the Hurricanes on Saturday @ 7:00pm.