Isles Ground Jets

This afternoon, your 7th place New York Islanders face the 9th place Winnipeg Jets who are riding a 5 game winning streak.  Only 3 pts separate the two squads and the Isles are looking up, just 2 pts below the 5th place Maple Leafs.  The Isles have climbed to a +2 goal differential and control their own destiny if they keep winning.  If the Islanders continue to win, they do not need to rely on other teams for help.  #wewantplayoffs

 

Hopefully, the technical difficulties preventing the Islanders pre and post game shows in WPG from being seen today on their alternate network wont happen again.  Fans want to see their team, especially when they make the playoffs.  Lets hope the transmission truck makes it to the next game in Carolina.  Effort was appreciated working with what they had to work with.

 

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

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

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

 

In the first period, the Isles moved the puck well.  Frans Nielsen (Okposo & Bailey) gets his 6th goal of the season.  1-0 Islanders.  Jets even the score at 1-1 off a fast break opportunity.  Josh Bailey gets a nice feed from Kyle Okposo to regain the lead, 2-1 Islanders.  The Bailey-Nielsen-Okposo line has been huge for the Isles and today is no different.  Islanders lead 11-4 in shots and have plenty of chances on net, lead only 1.

 

The second period opens with Byfuglien called for tripping on John Tavares, sending him crashing into the boards.  Tavares seems ok, but Isles waste another PP chance.  Jesse Joensuu digs the puck out of the corner under pressure and puts a nice pass (2nd assist in 5 games) on Matt Martin's stick for an Islanders goal, his 4th of the season and a 3-1 Islanders lead.  The Jets Wellwood makes it 3-2 off a uncharacteristic blown defensive assignment by Nielsen.  Wellwood scores with Isles on him in close to tie the score at 3-3.  Isles get a late PP and generating some really good chances, but still unable to score.  Bogosian runs Nielsen and Okposo from behind, and the Jets end up on the PP to end period.  Martin and Wheeler get into it after an off sides call and the Officials trying to take control of the game again.  Grabner covers puck after losing stick, gives the Jets a 5 on 3.  Jets score after whistle, will be called back.  No goal.  Isles out shot the Jets 12-9 in period, and 23-13 in the game.

 

You cant "dominate" an opponent in a game, but not dominate on the scoreboard.  If you allow your opponent to stay in it, they can find a way to tie the game and make everything you have done prior, absolutely meaningless.  Momentum changes.

 

The Isles kill off remaing penalty time on Bailey an Grabner's PK.  Michael Grabner (McDonald & Visnovsky) scores his 16th goal of the season to give the Isles a 4-3 lead.  Hckey crushes Kane in the Isles zone.  Coach Capuano calls a time out with about 4:30 to play in the third.  Jets pull Pavlec on Visnovsky penalty call.  Jets win face off and score tieing goal.  4-4 with under 2 minutes remaining.  Isles gain huge pt, but so does Winnipeg, this game is going to O.T.  The Jets have a 12-6 shots advantage in the period and the Isles, a 29-25 in the game.

 

In the O.T. period, the Isles get good pressure in the Winnipeg zone early.  Isles get lucky off bad rebound with from Wellwoods shot with Nabokov down, Visnovsky able to sweep puck away negating an open net for the Jets.  Nabokov stops clock at :34 with a strong save.  Time expires after faceoff in Winnipeg zone.  Isles outshoot the Jets 4-3 in O.T. and the game 33-28.  Evgeni Nabokov went 24-28 with a .857Sv%.

 

This game will go to a shoot out.

 

Winnipeg misses.

Frans Nielsen misses on the backhand.

 

Winnipeg misses.

 

Brad Boyes scores!

 

Winnipeg scores.

John Tavares scores!

Isles win 5-4 in Winnipeg and gain the extra point!

 

Strait and Joensuu played well and the Isles resiliency come through as the Isles finished their opponent off in the shootout.  11-1-2 in their last 14.  The Isles are tied for 6th spot with 53 pts.  The magic number for playoff in down to 4 pts won or lost by those around them. 

 

 

beLIeve STRONGisland!

 

 

 

Isles Notes:

 

The Isles will finish the regular season with Carolina @ 7:00pm on Tuesday, Philadelphia @7:00pm on Thursday and Buffalo @ 7:00pm on Friday.

 

Per Arthur Staple, Strait is in for Carkner and Joensuu is in for Boulton.

Per Arthur Staple, Isles have won 5 road gms when down by 2 goals: 1/24 (TOR), 2/14 (NYR), 2/21 (MTL), 3/28 (PHA), 4/18 (TOR). They've only played 20 on road.

 

Sound Tigers Notes:

 

On 4/19 - Pirates with an empty-netter with 15.9 left in the 3rd. Portland wins 3-1, Sound Tigers officially eliminated from playoff contention.

 

Player Transaction - Joey Diamond (@JDiamond39) has agreed to terms on a 1-year ELC with Bridgeport.

 

Player News: D-man Mike Dalhuisen, forwards Riley Wetmore & Greg Miller agree to AHL deals for 2013-14 season.