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

Thursday, March 7, 2013

This One Hurts


 
Game 24.  The half way point.


The 8th place Rangers and the10th place Islanders are on winning streaks and only separated in the standings by only 2 points.  Not that either team needs any extra motivation, but this is a big game for Long Island to come closer to playoff contention.  Michael Haley has been called up and is on the Rangers roster tonight.  Matt Martin looking forward to physical game against the Rangers: We'll be ready. Everyone follows through on their checks a bit more when we play them.


Consistency.

 

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

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

Evgeni Nabokov gets the start in net with Kevin Poulin backing up.



In the first period, the typical energy is there for and Islanders vs. Rangers game.  On the ice, there has been a lot of dump ins and hitting with no real room to start shooting for either team.  John Tavares start the Isles buzzing as he generates some offensive pressure.  Michael Grabner (McDonald and Mac Donald) scores a 5 on 5 goal!  His 10th on the season making it 1-0 Isles.  Brian Compton makes an observation, "Grabner becomes the third player on the roster to reach double-digits in goals."  JT continues to set the tone for his Islanders against the Rangers best attempt to contain him.  The Isles D and check game has been good so far by both Forwards and Defensemen.  Evgeni Nabokov has been called upon and responds with some strong saves in the final few minutes of a penalty free period.  The Rangers outshot the Isles 13-12 and dominated the faceoff circle, 9-3. Isles are 7-1-0 when Michael Grabner scores.


The second period starts with Michael Grabner using his speed to generate a good, but unsuccessful scoring chance.  Bailey follows suit, good save Lundqvist.  Rangers are turning up their compete level here in the second.  Isles defense starting to fail creating odd man breaks.  Matt Moulson breaks in and goes high, right.  Isles continue to pressure, but not been able to score as of yet.  Islanders need to get better in the defensive zone.  Isles to the PK.  Martin with a sweet breakout, but no goal.  Nielsen and Grabner with another short handed breakout, no goal.  Domination with no more goals can be bad.  Isles big in that period, but aside from keeping Rangers on the defensive, there was nothing to show for it on the scoreboard.  Nabokov, another quiet saving performance thus far.  Rangers outshooting Isles 20-19.  Isles are 5-1-0 when leading after two periods.
 

The third period has traditionally not been kind to the Isles.  They will have to change that tonight to take another step forward against a good Rangers team.  This is a huge period for your New York Islanders.  How will they respond?


The Rangers turn up their game early and spend a lot of time in the defensive zone for the Isles.  Nabokov answers.  Isles generate a few chances and put shots on net, Lundqvist is equal to the task so far.  Good fore check and good transitional play by both teams.  Rangers buzz around Isles net, Nash with pressure.  Strong play by Nabokov.  Isles return the pressure.  This game has great flow and is a great example of an Isles vs. Rangers game that means something for both teams.  Nash avoids a tripping call with K.O. trying to break out.  Isles continue to pressure Lundqvist who bobbles puck.  I love the odd man rush, fast break moves the Isles have threatened all game long. Keep that going.  The puck has been in the Isles zone far to much in the third period.  Rangers are running around.  Isles take curious time out.  Rangers tie the game 1-1, off a deflection (Nash) with 5:23 to go in the third period.  Time expires tied at 1-1. The Rangers lead in shots 37-28 during regulation play.  Isles get a point, but so do the Rangers.
 

In O.T., Grabner takes a hooking penalty to hamper a shot on net only :30 in.  Rangers score soon after with the man advantage and win 2-1.  The Isles remain two points out of the 8th and final spot.

 

Positives include the Islanders starting the game with a strong physical pressence, solid defensive play, looked good 5 on 5 and had some nice offensive looks.  Travis Hamonic and Andy Mac Donald had a much better effort tonight.  Matt Martin gets better each game.  His tougness is always there, but he has good vision for developing plays.  John Tavares played offense, defense and everything in between.  Michael Grabner.  What can you say about his speed?  Its rediculous how gifted he is.  The 4th line made an impact again tonight, even with Boulton.  Evgeni Nabokov is a stabilizing force for the Isles.  He may be their strongest defensive asset and one of the most important guys on the team.
 
 
Nabokov: Toughest loss all year. Good game from both teams and I won't complain about the officiating. We had a game on our hands.


The Rangers got 3 PP chances where the Isles got none.  The lack of power plays awarded to the Islanders seems staggring.  It has frustrated John Tavares in a big way.  The Isles couldn't find a way to get another goal.  Credit Lundqvist for stealing that game.  The Isles dominated most of the game, but fell short.  55 minutes of domination with a 1-0 lead wont usually get it done.  Thats the bottom line.  I feel bad for the team because everyone played hard and showed how badly they wanted to win by the way they played tonight.

 

This one hurts.

 

 

They have Washington at home on Saturday @ 1pm.

 

 

Isles Notes:


The ceremonial puck-drop tonight was hosted by Author and Long Island native, Katie Beers who was a victim of abduction and abuse along with Crusader and children's advocate, John Walsh. $2 of every ticket sold for tonights game will be donated to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, and Isles owner, Charles Wang will match the proceeds.

NYR claim former Isles defensemen, Roman Hamrlik from the Washington Capitals waiver wire.

Per Arthur Staple, Micheal Haley on playing Isles tonight: "There'll be emotion for sure, but there's no ill feelings towards them. They gave me my break."

Per Islander Mania, Today in 1980 - Eric Godard was born in Vernon BC.


 

Sound Tigers Notes:


Sound Tigers lose 3-2 in overtime at Manchester. Bridgeport is seven points out of playoff position with 20 games to play.

Sound Tigers forward Brett Gallant had successful surgery on his left shoulder today and will miss the remainder of the season.


 

NHL Notes:

 
Per Arthur Staple, NHLPA gives consent to realignment. Isles will be in 8-team division with NYR, NJ, PHI, PIT, CAR, WSH, CBJ starting next season.



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