An independent blog on the New York Islanders, the NHL and AHL by a guy from New York.

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Better But Worse Off


Your 11th place New York Islanders have an opportunity to play for some serious pride tonight and try to make up for their lackluster effort at home yesterday against the Flyers.  The fans rallied with pitchforks and torches while calling Coach Capuano's name. 


Tonight, the Isles start a 3 game road trip (4-2-1 on road) in Ottawa against the 7th place Senators.  Ottawa is 5-1-2 at home.
 

Will the Islanders rally or just sit back and wait for John Tavares to make it happen?



Forwards: Moulson-Tavares-Boyes, Bailey-Nielsen-Aucoin, Grabner-Reasoner-Okposo, Martin-Cizikas-McDonald.

Defensive Pairings: Finley-Streit, Hickey-Visnovksy, MacDonald-Hamonic

DiPietro starts in net with Nabokov backing up.

 

In the first period, the 4th line of Martin-Cizikas-McDonald set a strong pace for the Isles in the game.  The Islanders have been more aggressive on the fore check and more positional of defense, good offensive pace.  Adjustments appear to have been made.  Lets see if it holds up.  New York finishes the period a little sloppy after strong start, Josh Bailey hits a crossbar off Aucoin feed, Isles fail to score 5 on 5, or on the PP.  Isles outshot Sens, 8-7.  Isles 0-1 on the PP.

 

Isles start the second period very strong and apply immediate pressure to Craig Anderson.  Islanders give Ottawa a PP, and they convert.  1-0 Senators off a defensive breakdown with both Isles defenders going behind the net leaving Greening wide open.  Second one is all on DP sitting way back in his nets and shot goes in from the blue line.  Danger zone approaching.  2-0 Senators.  Anderson continues to thwart any Islanders comeback effort.  Give the Isles that, they have not quit.  Islanders get lazy and give away PP chances to Ottawa.  Isles still outshooting Ottawa, 25-15.

Per Eric Hornick, so far, the Isles have been blanked for last 100:35, outscored 9-0.

 

The Isles hard work pays off with a goal by Travis Hamonic (Reasoner and Okposo), 2-1 Senators.  Arthur Staple adds, " Hamonic's first goal since the opener; first goal by an Isles D since Jan. 31."  Credit the Isles 4th line for contributing to that goal as well.  Good looks on the PP for the Isles, moving the puck well and disrupting Anderson's game a little.  DiPietro forces a clear right into Ottawa player who puts it back on net, DP covers.  Ottawa shot goes off post and out.  DiPietro bobbles puck from glove, attempts an awkward sweepand it ends up in the net.  3-1 Ottawa.  Brian Strait was missed in the defensive scheme.  Benoit and Dziurzynski get first NHL goals tonight against DP.  Isles net is empty.  Kyle Okposo takes penalty late in period, DiPietro goes back to the net.  Ottawa finish the game on 5-3 PP.
 

Isles fall to 6-9-1 on the season.


Game ends with Ottawa winning 3-1, despite being outshot by New York 38-26 and without key players like Spezza and Karlsson.  John Tavares was neutralized and frustrated by Eric Gryba and Matt Moulson missed a few opportunities that he might normally make.  The bottom line is that the team played better and worked hard.  But they lost.  Again.  Working hard is not good enough anymore if it doesn't result in a win.  You can not spot teams a 2-3 goal lead and try and comeback against a goaltender with an NHL leading .950 Sv%, 2nd best GAA of 1.57 and 3rd in shutouts with 2 in Craig Anderson.  Per Brian Compton, Rick DiPietro has not given up less than 3 goals in a game since 11/3/11. 
 

I am sure there needs to be a head coaching change.  Players like Marty Reasoner should not play over David Ullstrom or a call up for Nino Niederreiter, Ryan Strome or even Brock Nelson.  Lets see Aaron Ness and Matt Donovan get a shot on defense.  If the team continues to lose these kind of games, at least give these guys some minutes and see what they can do.  Kevin Poulin can use some more NHL games as well, he is the projected #1 goaltending prospect for the Isles.  Management needs to make a statement and it needs to be a big one.  The fans are beyond angry.
 

What was up with the network crashing into commercial when Travis Hamonic was asked about the Isles goaltending tonight?  Either way, it looks bad.  If Hamonic did say something negative, then the organization better take note again.  When core players are melting down, there is trouble. 


When Management looks past this and ignores disfunctional team coaching and the roster it has been struggling with without making changes, thats when guys like that don't care anyomore.


But I think that the team will stay the course and be conservative.  It is technically still early and they will most likely look to the positives to not act to aggressively against "the plan." 
 

I just hope there is something left in the players and fans when the smoke clears.


 
 
 

Isles Notes:

 

DiPietro in net tonight. Ullstrom and Boulton scratched, Reasoner in. Hickey in on D for Strait
 

It has been confirmed that Isles Defensemen Brian Strait is out with a broken ankle. He will be out 6-8 weeks.


Mark Streit is in talks on a contract extension to remain a New York Islander.  Streit has stated he wants to remain with the team.
 

Today's the day that Matt Moulsn ties Denis Potvin for 3rd on Isles all-time leader board w. 262 consecutive games played.


On this day in 1979 - Mike Bossy scores his 100th career goal in his 129th game. It is the fastest 100 goals ever scored by a player in the NHL.


Chris McNally of Lighthouse Hockey does his homework - Cap'n Momentum?: Islanders Streak the Wrong Way Under Jack Capuano

 

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