Sunday, March 3, 2013

Homesick: Finding A Way To Win




This afternoon your 13th place, 8-11-2 New York Islanders face the 5th place, 2-7-3 Ottawa Senators.  The Islanders need this game to stop their home slide and climb back into the race for 8th spot, to which they are 5 pts out at the start of todays game.  Ottawa is still without Spezza, Karlson and Anderson.  The Isles will need to put shots on the third Sens goaltender, Robin Lehner.



Forwards:  Moulson-Tavares-Boyes, Bailey-Nielsen-Okposo, Grabner-Reasoner-Ullstrom, Martin-Cizikas-McDonald. Aucoin warmed up as well.

Defensive Pairings:  MacDonald-Hamonic, Hickey-Visnovsky, Finley-Streit.

Evgeni Nabokov gets the start with Kevin Poulin backing up.

* Tavares will play today (Flu) and Ullstrom is in for Boulton.

 

In the first period, the Islanders start with good speed and putting shots on the Ottawa goal.  After the 7 minute mark, the Isles hard work creates fast break and Brad Boyes scores (Moulson and Striet) to give the Isles an early, and key 1-0 lead.  They are 5-2-2 when scoring first.  New York is outworking the Sens so far in the game.  Matt Martin teasing Neil by not dropping the gloves, and continuing to play physically with 8 hits in the first.  As a team, they had 18 hits.  They need this element in their game to win.  New York out shot Ottawa, 11-6.


Islanders pick up in the second where they left off in the first.  Some good pressure on the Ottawa goal and a good fore check.  The second line continues to work, but cant seem to finish consistently.  Cizikas and his linemates continue to make themselves known, to the dismay of opponents.  Ottawa reverses the pressure.  MacDonald makes a terrible play in Isles own zone, creates a turnover near the net and Ottawa scores.  Game tied at 1-1.  This happens way too much.  Hamonic and MacDonald NEED to recover from this kind of thing.  He put it right on Zibanejad's stick.  The game opens up and both teams get their chances.  Ottawa hits a post and Isles get several shots on net at the end of the second.  Lehner is keeping Sens in it.  Isles have a 23-16 edge in shots.  Arthur Staple, "Isles will now have been tied or led in the 3rd period in 17 of their 22 games. 8-6-2 thus far."
 

Matt Martin is up to 10 hits in the game (14 would be a new NHL record) as the third period begins.  Evgeni Nabokov remains a stabilizing force in the Isles net thus far as the Senators try and take advantage of what the Isles have allowed them to do.  The Isles have 1 shot on net this period with less than 7:00 remaining.  Michael Grabner makes it 2-1 Islanders with 3 minutes remaining.  After a late penalty on a contraversial tripping call by Kyle Okposo, Ottawa ties the game at 2-2.  We are going to over time.  Ottawa out shot New York 10-7 in the period.  The Isles led 30-27 in regulation play.  Nabokov made 25 saves with a .926 Sv%.  The Islanders will pick up at least a point.  Matt Martin finished the game with 11 hits, thus falling short of the NHL record.


In O.T., the Isles have a few good rushes that come up empty, including a nice shot earmarked for top right, Lehner with a big save.  Hickey and J.T with pressure, Lehner answers.  Streit with a nice shot from Boyes, misses the net.  Streit with two good shots in final 4 seconds, Sens blocking shots.  The Islanders look good in O.T., but fail to score.  Isles outshot Sens 7-4 in O.T. period.


We are going to a Shootout.


Frans Nielsen scores!  (24/39 -62% in shoot outs.)

Ottawa is denied by Nabokov.

Brad Boyes misses.

Ottawa is denied by Nabokov.

John Tavares scores with a sweet move to win it in the shoot out.

 
 
Islanders win 3-2.
 
 
 MaryBeth's Bitstrips comic of us at the end of the game.
 

Some positives today were the home losing streak is over.  That Josh Bailey and Kyle Okposo are making their presence known, while Michael Grabner got a goal.  David Ullstrom continues to make me wonder how Capuano scratches him for Eric Boulton.  Given half a chance, he may be able to make a regular impact on the Islanders offensive game.  The fourth line brings energy on a regular basis and win some face offs.  John Tavares scores in the shootout to win it for the Isles in grand style with a right to left, freezes Lehner and tucks it into the far side.  Evgeni Nabokov quietly remains a solid positive for the Islanders and their team stability.
 

Consistency.


The Islanders really need to focus on playing a quick and physical game.  They need to finish and score more goals.  When they are able to dominate, they need to put away their opponent and keep up the pace until the end of the game.  That's why they give away games in the third period.  They need to control the remainder of their games after getting the lead and close these games out.  If you keep the pace and fight through the opposition, you have a much better chance of getting the win.  If you lack discipline and play an inconsistent game, you have a problem.  Factor "bad" penalties into that, and you will lose a lot of  NHL games, especially in the third period.  They need a total team effort, home or away, each and every night.  The Islanders cant always expect their super stars to win the game for them, especially when they are sick with the Flu. 

 


Isles Notes:


Per Chris Botta, in today's Newsday piece, sources: Nassau owes Isles $ and haven't met lease requirements for years. I expect this to go to court.  There is also speculation that the Isles will use this situation to get out of their lease with SMG and Nassau County early.


The Islanders have the Montreal Canadiens @ 7:00pm on Tuesday, the New York Rangers @ 7:00pm on Thursday and close their homestand against the Washington Capitals on Saturday @ 1:00pm.  On Sunday, they go to Pittsburgh to face the Penguins at 7:00pm.  I will be away this weekend and catch up early next week on the Caps and Pengwhine games.


Per Islander Mania, Today in 1992 - Mike Bossy's number 22 is retired.


Today in 1998 - Trevor Linden was named Isles captain.

 

Sound Tigers Notes:


On 3/3 - Kenny Reiter and the BST met the Connecticut Whale.  BST fall to Whale 3-2 in O.T.  They are seven points back with 21 games to go.


On 3/2 - Sound Tigers win.  Nelson w/ the highlight-reel GWG, Combs w/ 3 pts (1g/2a), Rick DiPietro w/ 22 saves in a 4-3 win over the Phantoms.  DiPietro on winning: "Amazing. Can't even begin to describe it."


On 3/1 - The BST fell, 7- 3 to the connecticut Whale.  It was the third time Bridgeport has allowed seven, 15th time five or more.  Reiter replaced DiPietro for the 2nd period after DP allowed 5 goals on 12 shots.

 

NHL Notes:

 
Per Nick Kypreos, Hearing NHL, NHLPA will soon announce an agreement in principle on realignment. Players appear comfortable enough moving forward.


No comments:

Post a Comment