Banishing The Devils

 

Road Trip, Part 3:

Your New York Islanders met their rival New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center last night with the same purpose that they had against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

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 - 53 Casey Cizikas
17 Matt Martin - 16 Marty Reasoner - 36 Eric Boulton

Defensemen

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

Goaltenders

20 Evgeni Nabokov
39 Rick DiPietro

John Tavares scored in the 1st and 2nd period to help JT tie for seventh spot (Stamkos) in the league with 11 points. Keith Aucoin scored in the second period and Mark Streit in the 3rd period of the game.  Brad Boyes got his 2nd of the season to win it for the Isles, 5-4 in OT.  The rematch is at the NVMC on Sunday @ 3pm.

The Isles got 7 out of a possible 10 points on their five game road trip.  Their special teams were awesome.  The Isles currently have the #1 ranked powerplay in the NHL at 37.5% and the #2 ranked PK at 96% success.  Per islanders.nhl.com, With the win, the Islanders conclude a five-game, eight-day road trip with seven points (3-1-1), and tie the Devils atop the Atlantic Division with nine points (4-2-1).  Casey Cizikas continues to show why I made my lofty prediction of his role with the NYI rebuild. David Ullstrom consistantly illustrates the he belongs right where he is.  What will his NHL potential be?

Evgeni Nabokov was solid again and kept the Islanders in the game.  He made 28 saves on 32 shots with a .875Sv%. "We're realizing what it takes to win, and we have to keep doing it. We wont succeed taking shortcuts. "

Whenever the Islanders play a good game, why is it that detractors seem to say, "Well that was because their opponent played terribly." I guess it doesn't matter what they say moving forward, because the rebuild is bearing fruit and Garth Snow's proficiency at being Isles GM is starting to gain more and more positive attention.  With the team tied for 1st place in a tough Atlantic Division, the Isles will need to do a lot more work to undo their stigma and gain appropriate respectability.

 

Also, D Brian Strait has agreed to terms on a three-year contract worth $2.325 million, $775K AAV.  Strait has been paired with Mark Streit on the teams top defensive pairing.

 

Per isles.nhl.com, Strait said “I was ecstatic that they wanted me to be an Islander for three more years,” He added, “I jumped on the opportunity obviously. Since I came here, it’s been great. I couldn’t ask for a better change. I appreciate everything the Islanders are doing for me. It’s a dream come true.”

 

Per B.D. Gallof, "Per NHL source in regard to Isles waiver success: "Garth is good listener & has some good people around him. But he is ultimate decision maker... and should get credit. God knows he's had his share of blame, including much undeserved."

 

 

His recent waiver pick ups of note include, Aucoin, Grabner, Moulson, Nabokov and Brian Strait.  One could say Snow is a Waivermancer.  At first, snows waiver focus was ridiculed or compared to "dumpster diving," but now the Isles have found significant success with it thus far in the season, there has been a more positive spin placed on what the Isles GM has been able to do.  Typical.  This will no doubt start a trend with other clubs.  Much in the same way long term contracts snuck into NHL normalcy after the Islanders were mocked by the news media. (DiPietro)

 

Isles Notes:

@NHLPlayerSafety: Colin McDonald suspension video.  He has been given a two game suspension for his hit on Penguins D, Ben Lovejoy.

Per Christian Arnold, Per an Sports.SK report, Visnovsky is planning to fly to Long Island on Wednesday. H/T.  What will the addition of Lubomir Visnovsky do for New York after his arrival on the Island Wednesday.

Per Arthur Staple, Josh Bailey was on ice for optional Isles skate yesterday morning in Newark.

Per Eric Hornick, Isles will wake up with a share of 1st place in the month of Feb for first time since 1990! (Led by 6 on 2/10)

Per @NYIslesNation, This is the 16th time in Isles history that they've scored at least 22 goals in the first 6 games. They made the playoffs in 14/15 previous.

Jeremy Roenick predicts on NBCSN that the Isles will make playoffs.

Per Pasi Tuominen, Former Isles D-man Milan Jurcina signs with Finnish league's Lukko. The club operates in the small west-coast city of Rauma.

On this day in 1992, former Isles Captain Denis Potvin's number 5 was retired. It was a first for the franchise.

@islesfanmurph reminds us of our favorite chant, "If you know the rangers suck, in 94 they stole the cup, if you know the rangers suck clap your hands." 

 

Sound Tigers Notes:

The BST lost a close game last night against the Providence Bruins at the Webster Bank Arena by a score of 3-2 in the shootout.  Ty Wyshart had the two goals for the BST.  Tonight, they face the Connecticut Whale in Hartford and the Milwaukee Admirals at home on Saturday.


Thanks to the   Talking Finger, Social Media Marketing Agency   for awarding me the tickets to the game.  Great seats!

 

Per Michael Fornabaio, ECHL transactions and his tweet have Kenny Reiter coming up.  Nilsson again "not 100 percent," Pellerin said, hence the Reiter call-up.