The Islanders' Weekend

Road Trip, Part I:

Over the Weekend, the New York Islanders started a 5 game road trip.  They would travel to face the Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins and Winnipeg Jets.  They showed that they were better equipped to stay in games and fight back from multiple goal deficits, and they played pretty well, even in a loss.  Their defense is still struggling to find their stride.  I am sure Lubomir Visnovsky will help after his arrival on the Island in February, but team play needs to improve overall.  I am not impressed with Joe Finley or Matt Carkner thus far.  I but do like how Brain Strait has fit in, although his play can improve.  I want to see more of Thomas Hickey on Defense.

Kyle Okposo needs to regain his form from last season, but I see him struggling with the puck and in his forechecking.  I agree with Anthony Stabile when he says about Okposo, "He is playing his way off that (First) line."  Since last season, Marty Reasoner has been difficult to watch.  His is often a liability on the ice and I'd much rather see a spirited younger player like Casey Cizikas get the minutes on the bottom two lines.  David Ullstrom is the real deal and I've said it since last season.  His play has been impressive with the big club and he should only get better.

 

 

 

Below is a brief summary of the 3 weekend games:

 

The New York Islanders came back from an early deficit, only to answer back with six of the last seven goals to win by a 7-4 score over the Maple Leafs.

Michael Grabner went 2 and 1 for 3 pts, and Brad Boyes went 1 and 2 for three points.  Matt Moulson scored 2 goals in the game.

“It’s huge,” Aucoin said. “Especially with the new group of guys we have here, getting to know each other. To come back from a 3-1 deficit like we did took a group effort tonight. It was good to see, and great to get this road trip off to a good start.”

Per Eric Hornick, "6 goals tonight; didn't do that in any game all last ssn. 1st 6 goals on road since 2/13/11 in Buffalo (W 7-6 in OT on Grabner goal)."

 
Forwards

26 Matt Moulson - 91 John Tavares - 21 Kyle Okposo
40 Michael Grabner - 51 Frans Nielsen - 24 Brad Boyes
41 David Ullstrom - 10 Keith Aucoin - 13 Colin McDonald
17 Matt Martin - 16 Marty Reasoner - 53 Casey Cizikas

Defensemen

2 Mark Streit - 37 Brian Strait
47 Andrew MacDonald - Travis Hamonic
52 Joe Finley - 7 Matt Carkner

Goaltenders

20 Evgeni Nabokov
39 Rick DiPietro

 

##

Even with Keith Aucoin netting a pair of goals, The New York Islanders lost by the score of 4-2 to the Boston Bruins on Friday. Rick DiPietro, made 23 saves on 27 shots with a .852Sv% for the Islanders, his first start since Dec. 3, 2011.

Per Islanders.nhl.com, Islanders Defenseman Andrew MacDonald said, “It’s pretty frustrating because we played a pretty solid game and we thought it was a winnable game,” he added, “Maybe we ran out of gas a little bit in the third, but we still expect a lot more.”

Forwards

26 Matt Moulson - 91 John Tavares - 21 Kyle Okposo
40 Michael Grabner - 51 Frans Nielsen - 24 Brad Boyes
41 David Ullstrom - 10 Keith Aucoin - 13 Colin McDonald
17 Matt Martin - 16 Marty Reasoner - 53 Casey Cizikas

Defensemen

2 Mark Streit - 37 Brian Strait
47 Andrew MacDonald - Travis Hamonic
52 Joe Finley - 7 Matt Carkner

Goaltenders

39 Rick DiPietro
20 Evgeni Nabokov

##

The Islanders looked unpolished throughout the first half of the game, but in the third period, held a two-goal third period lead.  Winnipeg tied the game and forced O.T. after scoring 2 goals in just over a minute of play.  In overtime, after making the initial save in O.T., Islanders goaltender Evgeni Nabokov let in the losing goal after Evander Kane crashed the net and knocked the puck over the goal line.  Its how Kane likes to score I guess.

John Tavares scored his first goal, going 1 and 2 for 2 pts in the game, while Matt Moulson went 1 and 1, helping the Isles get a point in the O.T. lost.

Per Islanders.nhl.com, Capuano said “We got pucks to the net, which was something we talked about over the last couple days."  He added, “That was a positive. We still had some guys that need to battle a little bit harder, and were a little soft on the walls tonight. We’re going to have to address that problem.”

Thomas Hickey made his NHL debut with New York against the Jets in Winnipeg. The 23-year-old Defensemen, registered 12:22 of ice time and had 3 shots on goal.

Forwards

21 Kyle Okposo - 91 John Tavares - 26 Matt Moulson
40 Michael Grabner - 51 Frans Nielsen - 24 Brad Boyes
41 David Ullstrom - 10 Keith Aucoin - 13 Colin McDonald
36 Eric Boulton - 16 Marty Reasoner - 17 Matt Martin

Defensemen

2 Mark Streit - 37 Brian Strait
3 Travis Hamonic - 47 Andrew MacDonald
14 Thomas Hickey - 7 Matt Carkner

Goaltenders

20 Evgeni Nabokov
39 Rick DiPietro

 

Isles Notes:

The Islanders have a record to 2-2-1 and sit 8th in the Eastern Conference.  The Islanders have games this Tuesday in Pittsburgh vs. the Penguins at 7:30 pm and Thursday, vs the New Jersey Devils, 7 pm.

 

Per Arthur Staple, "D Travis Hamonic has a sprained ankle. Left MTS Centre last night in a walking boot. Likely out tomorrow vs. Pitt."

Per NHLhistorygirl, "On this date in 1986, Isles Denis Potvin scored his 271st NHL goal and supplanted Orr as the top goal-scoring defenseman in NHL history."

 

Per nhlfreeagents.com, former Isles Defensemen, "Wilkes-Barre/Scranton signed (D) Mark Eaton to Pro Tryout Contract."

 

On 1/24 in Isles History: "Mike Bossy becomes 2nd player to score 50 goals in 50 games, joining the great Rocket Richard."

 

Sound Tigers Notes:

 

1/26  The Norfolk Admirals shut out the Bridgeport Sound Tigers 5-0 at Norfolk Scope on Saturday night. The Sound Tigers fall to 19-19-2-2 record after the loss.

 

1/25  The Norfolk Admirals came from behind to defeat the Bridgeport Sound Tigers 2-1 at the Norfolk Scope on Friday night.

 

1/23  Bridgeport SoundTigers released (D) T.J. Fast from Pro Tryout Contract.