Tonight, your New York Islanders face the rival Pittsburgh Penguins at the Consol Energy Center. They can bear witness to the new statue of Mario Lemieux beating statues of Rich Pilon and Jeff Norton to an eventual storied goal of Pittsburgh greatness. Huzzah! Pat Flatley will be between the benches lending his usual wit and unique perspective. With the last Isles win in 2007, the Pens have beaten the Isles 13 straight times at home. They are riding a 10 game unbeaten streak at home, are 8-1-1 in their last 10 and have a chance to capture 1st place in the east from the Rangers with a win tonight. The Islanders have gone 4-4-2 in their last 10 and put together some good games against desperate teams. To run with the #Pengwhines, they need to start fast and play a solid road game. And Thursday will be a chance to do it all over again at home.
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Forwards: Moulson-Tavares-Parenteau; Bailey-Nielsen-Okposo; Grabner-Cizikas-Ullstrom; Martin-Reasoner-Pandolfo.
Defensive Pairings: Streit-Reese; Hamonic-MacDondald; Staios-Jurcina.
Evgeni Nabokov is in net with Al Montoya backing up.
Nino Niederreiter and Mark Eaton are scratched.
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The Islanders start out strong at the start of the first period, skating well and finishing their hits. Frans Nielsen (Reese and Bailey) scores! Islanders lead 1-0. The good effort continues by New York as they match Pittsburgh in all aspects of the game. Evgeni Nabokov has made some great saves to keep Isles in the game. Isles with a good back checking defensive game thus far as well against a very good Penguin team. Malkin is being kept in surprising check tonight. Michael Grabner scores! Its 2-0 Isles. It looks like Grabner just put it on net and Fluery deflected it into his own net. Pittsburgh out shot New York 17-11 in the period.
At the start of the second period, Pittsburgh gets on the board early. 2-1 Isles. Coach Capuano calls a time out to settle things down. P.A. Parenteau continues to make good with a corrective defensive fore-check on Malkin. And just like that, less than 5 minutes into the second, the Penguins tie the game at 2-2. Nabokov slips and falls awkwardly. Seems to be ok. Kyle Okposo goes high, glove side on a self-made fast break. 3-2 Isles. Okposo has goals in 3 straight games. Shortly after, David Ullstrom gets his 4th of the season hanging out in front of the net. Right place, right time. 4-2 Isles. Frans Nielsen (Bailey and Okposo) gets his second of the game off a Penguin turn over. The Consol Energy Center is silent. 5-2 Isles. Credit the Isles for settling things down and refocusing. Too bad they weren’t able to do this a few weeks ago. Brian Compton points out that the Isles have scored 5 goals through two periods with no points for Tavares, Parenteau or Moulson. That’s big. Pittsburgh leads in shots for the period at 15-7 and the game at 32-18.
In the third period, Al Montoya and Brad Thissen replace Evgeni Nabokov and Marc Andrej Fleury. Nabokov reported to have a “lower body injury,” and will not return. Arthur Staple reports David Ullstrom is not on the Islanders bench either. Per Islanders, “with three assists tonight, Bailey gets his first 3 assist game of his career and extends his point streak to five games. He has one goal and six assists in that span.” Montoya comes up big with a few saves mid way through the third period. Isles need to kill off a 4 on 3 penalty for 1:47 with just over minutes in the game. Pens pull their goaltender to create a 5 on 3. Penguins score, 5-3 Isles. Pittsburgh turning up the pressure on Islanders, Montoya answers. The Pens net is empty for the extra man. Montoya comes up big again and again. Islanders are out shot 20-7 in the period and 54-25 in the game and win 5-2.
Nabokov (lower body) and Ullstrom (unknown) did not return to the ice for the third period.
The home unbeaten streak and consecutive win streak against the Islanders ends for the Pittsburgh Penguins tonight. Despite being dominated in shots against, the Islanders played a nice game. While scoring 5 goals against a top team in the NHL, the Isles made the defensive plays when they had to and frustrated the Penguins by limiting the productivity of their top players. NHL leading scorer, Evgeni Malkin and star player, Sidney Crosby were kept in check while Marc Andrej Fluery was solved by the Islander offense not named Tavares, Moulson or Parenteau.
As I mentioned in previous blog entries, these so called “meaningless” wins that hurt draft positioning are just the thing the Islanders may need as an organization. High draft picks are always nice, but truly learning how to win against quality teams is invaluable. Pride and belief in each other will serve the Isles well and mean more to the core than the chance at a better prospect.
If these guys ever find consistency and a readiness to compete each and every night, they will be a very dangerous team in the NHL. With depth and efficiency and the ability to take their opponents off their game while playing to their own strengths, the Islanders will be able to reach the next level that has eluded them thus far. I say it’s a coaching issue that factors into preparedness and the ability to maintain a positive psyche regularly, night in and night out.
Here is to building something as important as a new arena, a winning culture.
Isles Notes:
Per Chris Botta, “Brock Nelson weighing options with advisor, family and UND Coach Hakstol. 3rd year of college/Frozen 4 bid vs. year in minors. Isles tell first-rounder Brock Nelson they're ready when he is. They're putting no pressure on UND center to leave school.”
Per College Hockey News, North Dakota Forward, Brock Nelson was added to its 2011-12 All-CHN Second Team. In his sophomore season, Nelson led the WCHA and his team in goals with 28 and points with 47 in 42 games played, making him the youngest 20-goal scorer since Jonathan Toews (22 in 05-06.) ”Nelson was named to the all-tournament teams at both the Red Baron WCHA Final Five and the NCAA West Regional. He finished the year with five goals in his last five playoff games, leading UND to a third straight Broadmoor Trophy as WCHA playoff champion and a berth in the regional championship game.”
Per Tom Mascioli, “Islanders defensive prospect, Brenden Kichton is out for the rest of the WHL playoffs for the Spokane Chiefs after undergoing surgery to repair broken jaw.”
Ryan Strome named OHL Player of the Week for 1st week of OHL playoffs, going 3-5-8 in 3 GP. Niagara leads Oshawa 2 games to 1.
This team looks ready to break out next season.
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