Islanders fall flat in Tampa Bay

At 30-32-11, your New York Islanders go to Tampa Bay to face the 33-33-7 Lightning.  The Isles are 2-0-1 in the season series and coming off two nice wins in Canada.  Captain, Mark Streit comes into tonight’s contest with a goal and six assists in his last 5 games.  Jesse Eisenberg of Islanders.nhl.com mentions, “As he has during each year that he’s played for the Islanders, Streit is once again leading the team’s defensemen in goals (6), assists (36) and points (42). He is the fourth defenseman in Islanders history to post 40+ points in at least three seasons, joining Denis Potvin, Tomas Jonsson and Stefan Persson.”  As the season winds down, it is important for New York to pull the positives from where they can.  Keep watching vets like John Tavares, Matt Moulson and P.A. Parenteau, but keep a close eye on David Ullstrom and Casey Cizikas as they push for a roster spot next season. 

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Forwards:  Moulson-Tavares-Okposo; Bailey-Nielsen- Parenteau; Grabner-Cizikas-Ullstrom; Niederreiter-Reasoner-Martin.

Defensive Pairings:  Streit-Reese; Hamonic-MacDonald; Staios-Eaton

Al Montoya is in net for the Isles tonight, Evgeni Nabokov will back him up.

Jay Pandolfo, Milan Jurcina are scratches.

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In the first period, Both teams are jousting for the better play.  Roloson making plays early.  Stamkos with a follow through to Hamonics head.  Hamonic off ice.  Stamkos scores, 1-0 Lightning.  Isles out shoot TB 14-9.  Streit leads TOI 8:32; Martin with 3; Hamonic has 3 hits.

In the second period, 2-0 Tampa Bay.  Nielsen (Moulson and Tavares) scores, 2-1.  Nielsen sets a new career high with 15 goals.  Kyle Okposo (Bailey and Neilsen) scores, 2-2.  Isles outshoot TB 15-6 in the period and 29–15 in the game.

In the third period, Matt Moulson scores his 33rd of the season (100th career), 3-2 Isles.  Lightning score twice to take a 4-3 lead.  Isles call timeout and pull Al Montoya for the extra attacker.  Tampa Bay out shoots the Isles 11-8 in the period.  The Islanders out shoot TB, 37-26 in the game.  Al Montoya gets the loss at 22/26 and a .846Sv%.

A missed opportunity for New York.  Former Islander and Tampa waiver pick up, Tim Wallace scores the game winner for Tampa Bay.

Isles Notes:

Per Christian Arnold, NY State Looking into Asbestos Claims by Coliseum Workers : http://www.islandershockeyblog.com/2012-articles/march/state-looking-into-asbestos-claims-by-coliseum-workers.html

B.D. Gallof quotes Nassau source cont: "In fact, that battle is already in the works. If I am Wang, I am spending the weekend figuring out how use this.”  Source: "The big question is: how long did they know? Not coincidental.”  What would this mean to the current lease situation?  How could the Islanders Organization benefit from this?

Tom Mascioli mentions, the Islanders can try and sign RW Kirill Petrov on April 30^th since his contract with KHL Ak Bars Kazan is done after their playoff elimination this morning.  He continues, Petrov had his best season in the KHL in 2011-12 going 16-13-29 in 52 GP.

Tom Mascioli reports that, “Ferris State has defeated Scott Mayfield & the Denver Pioneers 2-1, eliminating them from the Frozen Four tournament.  Brenden Kichton one of two finalists for WHL Defenseman of the Year, Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy. Alex Petrovic the other finalist.  Kichton was also named to the WHL Western Conference First All-Star Team after leading all WHL dmen in scoring 17-57-74 in 71 GP.”

COREY TRIVINO UPDATE: Prosecution drops major charge - http://dailyfreepress.com/2012/03/23/prosecution-drops-major-charge-in-trivino-case/

BD Gallof on Trivino: still faces 6 felony charges: 3 counts of indecent assault and battery and 3 counts of breaking and entering in nighttime.  Trivino: "evidence in the case was not enough to support a conviction beyond a reasonable doubt,” says spokesperson for DA.