In Game 2 of the Islanders and Devils trilogy, revenge is on the mind of Marin Brodeur and his New Jersey Devils squad. The Devils are coming off a 4-1 crushing of the first place New York Rangers, and are two points behind the fifth place Flyers in the standings. New Jersey would very much like to get one back against the Islanders who outplayed them in the first game of the series. Rookie Goaltender, Anders Nilsson shut out the devils in game 1. With that win, the Isles were able to string a couple of wins together, and need to continue that trend into the weekend if they intend to keep their slim playoff chances alive. What will happen tonight in N.J.?
Forwards: Moulson-Tavares-Parenteau; Ullstrom-Nielsen-Bailey; Niederreiter-Cizikas-Okposo; Martin-Reasoner-Pandolfo
Defensive Pairings: MacDonald-Hamonic, Streit-Staios, Eaton-Jurcina. Nabokov in goal, Nilsson backing up.
Evgeni Nabokov is in goal for Isles in Newark tonight.
Grabner, Reese healthy scratches.
All three games this season between the Islanders and Devils have been decided by one goal.
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The Isles start the game with the Ullstrom-Nielsen-Bailey line, who have been starting to be an answer the Isles need of secondary scoring reliability. Nabokov left alone on the rebound, Kovalchuk scores, Devils make it 1-0. Islanders are getting out worked for most of the first period. Isles get some pressure late on a PP chance, but take penalty at end of period. Shots on goal are even at 6.
The Islanders need a better effort in the second period to get back in the game. The Devils continue to pressure, Kovalchuk scores again on the PP. 2-0 Devils. The Islanders effort is there, but they need to step up against the Devils who have dictated the play in the game thus far. Isles have shown they are not good with spotting multiple goal leads. Pressure of play evening out half way through the second. Isles get some good chances, but come up short. Andrew MacDonald (Ullstrom, Bailey) scores! 2-1 Devils. Isles continue to fight, making it tough for Brodeur. Isles are out shooting Devils 19-11, and out hitting them 19-15.
Isles come out strong to start the third period. Nabokov with some big saves early. Devils changing momentum. Devils score on a delayed penalty to Pandolfo, and take the 3-1 lead off a sloppy defensive effort again by the Isles. Only 1:04 later, Kovalchuk gets another one for the hat trick, 4-1 Devils. Islanders are chasing their tails, off their game and taking too many men on the ice penalties. Too many melt downs, mental mistakes for New York. Is it the Coaching? Brodeur continues to thwart the Isles attack. 5-1 for N.J. Clarkson was all alone in front of the Isles net. Where’s the coverage? The Isles outshoot the Devils 30-20. Evgeni Nabokov was 15-20 with a .750Sv%.
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Between all the rebounds and uncovered Devils in front of Nabokov, scoring goals have been easy for N.J. tonight. The same issues have plagued the Isles all season long. Katie Strang notes, Nabokov has given up 12 goals combined over last three starts. I would say his individual effort has been there, but the defensive help has not. The Isles are way too soft in their end and they team seems unprepared to me. I am going to have to point back to the Head Coach on this loss. The offense is hot and cold. The team has skill, passion and doesn’t quit, but they are too inconsistent and seem to get frustrated and melt down quickly.
Coach Capuano wants the guys to play with more passion and urgency. He has once again called out his team’s effort and compete level. His take is the execution just isn’t there tonight. While I would agree, it has been in the past. Why wasn’t it there tonight? Am I to understand that, all of a sudden, they are just content with getting smashed by the Devils in their home arena?
Per Isles, Capuano clearly not happy with aspects of the game. Said, without naming names, "we can't have passengers." I don’t think Coach Capuano has been able to foster a winning culture. The Isles are 28-30-9, still 7 points out and running out of time.
Isles Notes:
The Islanders are 15-7-4 when Andrew MacDonald leads TOI coming into tonight’s game.
Per Tom Gulitti of Fire and Ice, The Islanders blocked 27 Devils' shot attempts in game 1 of the trilogy -- 14 in the 3rd period.
Per Brian Compton, Anders Nilsson is the 5th different goalie to win a game for the this season (Montoya, Nabokov, DiPietro, Poulin).
Per Arthur Staple, Rick DiPietro, Al Montoya were on ice after practice to get work in, although neither is close to returning.
Per Jeff Capellini, As far as goal-scoring goes Isles Moulson ($3.1 mil) is best value in NHL: D. Sedin ($6.1 mil), Stamkos ($7.5 mil), Kessel ($5.4 mil)
For the Bridgeport Soundtigers, Rhett Rakhshani scores twice on his birthday, Kevin Poulin makes 32 saves in 3-2 win to move into 1st place. Poulin left off the three stars despite big saves throughout, 32 in all. Romano 3rd star with 2 assists, Mashinter 2nd, Rakhshani 1st.
The #Pengwhines had a large statue erected to stand in glorious tribute to Mario Lemieux beating former Isles Defensemen, Rich Pilon and Jeff Norton to an epic goal scoring moment. Classy.
Per Darren Dreger, GM meetings next week. Return of the red-line will be discussed. Video review for goalie int. will draw interest. Concussion and CBA talk as well.
Give some love to Dave Schneider’s band, The Zamboni’s. http://www.spinner.com/2012/03/04/the-zambonis-captain-free-download/
## I will be seeing to other commitments this weekend, and sadly, missing game 3 vs the Devils, and Sunday's game vs the Rags, but I will at least post a summary of said games, that will hopefully be wins.##
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