Respect Is Earned. Not Given.

 

 

John Tavares: "We can’t sit on just making the playoffs, because it will be over before we know it.”  

Making the post season needs to be seen as the first step, nothing more.

 

Tonight, your 8th place New York Islanders face the struggling Buffalo Sabers.  Jeff Capellini points out the Isles can finish 7th with win tonight, NYR loss vs. Devils Saturday, play Montreal, which ekes out Boston for Northeast.  Or lose and face Pittsburgh from 8th spot.  I think the Isles would take Pittsburgh over Boston in a best of 7 series if they had the choice.  Someone call Garth to sign Ray Ferraro and David Volek.  Seriously, the Isles need to explode into this game a ride some momentum into their first round match up.  #beLIeve  #STRONGisland

 

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

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

Evgeni Nabokov is in net with Kevin Poulin backing up.

 

In the first period, the Isles seem out of sync again on Defense.  Buffalo has little trouble transitioning into Isles zone and Nabokov has been forced to be the answer for the Isles.  They seem to be content in lowering their level of play.  Isles to the PP.  Their 7th ranked PP vs. Buffalo's 26th ranked PK.  Matt Moulson fans on an open net after nice pass from Boyes.  PP time expires.  Isles are slow, soft and lacking physicality yet again.  Seem to be fanning on clears and D zone passes.  Reason for concern evident in the first.  All Nabokov in that period.  Buffalo has a 10-9 shots advantage in the first. 

 

At the start of the second, an Isles turnover by Okposo in the Isles zone results in a 1-0 Sabers lead.  Seconds later, Strait goes off for a delay of game, Buffalo PP.  Islanders continue to look lost.  Officials miss Ennis splitting open Hickeys chin with a high stick. Hickey has become a necessary element of the Isles defense.  The team is better with him out there. Isles on brief 4 on 3, then 5 on 3 for :54.  The 26th ranked PK won that special teams battle.  Isles offense looks out of sorts.  3rd and 4th lines unable to generate punch thus far.  I am not sure what is wrong with the Isles team we have watched over the last month.  Carkner and Scott throw down by the benches.  Grabner with a nice breakaway at the end of period but comes up short.  Isles show some inspiration to end the period.  Isles out shoot Sabers 9-5 in the period and 18-15 after two.

 

In the third period, Evgeni Nabokov makes a huge save against Vanek off a 1 on 1 breakaway.  Isles keep stretching to try an open up their attack, but give-aways to Buffalo are allowing shots against.  Keith Aucoin (Andrew MacDonald) jumps on a rare mistake by Ryan Miller and ties the game at 1-1.  Aucoin is another great story of the 2013 Islanders.  The third period expires with the score still tied at 1-1.  Isles out shoot Buffalo 7-6 in the period and 25-21 after 3.  The Isles get an important point in the standings and will play for another one.  O.T. is coming for the 3rd time in the last 4 games.

In Overtime, Isles will get a 4-3 PP chance at 3:35 of O.T. thanks to Aucoin's hustle.  Isles use their time out.  Isles get some pressure on Buffalo and move puck well, but fail to score again with the 4 on 3 man advantage, despite dominating the period.  Time in O.T. period expires with Isles 5-1 in shots.  Isles 31-22 for the game.  Shoot out is next. 

 

Shootout.

Buffalo scores.

Frans Nielsen is stopped.

Buffalo is stopped.

 

Brad Boyes is stopped.

 

Buffalo is stopped.

John Tavares is stopped.

 

Buffalo wins 2-1.

 

Isles move up to sixth spot, at least for the moment with the Rangers and Ottawa idle tonight.

 

Recap:

 

The Isles spent too much time in their own zone due to sloppy play and an inability to apply a forecheck or hit consistently.  Their offense was missing as was their team spirit that enabled them to storm into the playoffs.  You can not be denied from entering the offensive zone and cycling the puck, nor can you have you efficient PP stifled by one of the worst PK units in the league this season by a non playoff team.  Evgeni Nabokov kept the Isles in the game, 21 saves and a .955Sv%.  Without him, they may have been out of it or far behind early.  Obviously, its not over yet, but the Isles have a lot to be concerned about. Listless and numb effort wont get it done. Bad precedent into playoffs.  They were better in O.T. tonight, but were again bested in their usual position of strength - the shootout.

 

I know match-ups, stats and semantics are secondary to playing your game and competing against any opponent, regardless of their pedigree.  The Isles took a big step in making the playoffs, but more than just this writer wants to see them make the most of their chance.  I'm not saying they will win the cup, but if you lose, go down swinging and clawing.  Let your opponent know they survived you and that you made them work hard to beat you.  These are the NHL playoffs.  Long time fans know how feared the Isles were "in the day."  New fans deserve some of the same.  Its time for these Isles to carve out their own story and force the hockey world to take notice.  Respect is earned, not given.

 

 

I hope these last two loses were not what we can expect to see our team bring into battle, because the fans deserve the same effort from the team on the ice that they give supporting them.  I still think the plan should come together, because the team I saw go 11-1-3 were consistent, well disciplined and methodical in their attack. 

 

 

 

They never quit and found a way to win.  Bring that spirit back.

 

 

@tristateco said it well:  Great regular season and amazing final push. So proud of our boys! Come what may...PLAYOFFS!!!!!! #Isles #whynotus #wegotplayoffs #beLIeve

 

Isles Notes:


Retweet #Isles fans! @NYIslanders playoff song here!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhKNuoaGHO0 … … … … … … #beLIeve #STRONGisland @FFDP

 

PerNHLhistorygirl, "On this date in 2000, Charles Wang and Sanjay Kumar purchased the Isles."

 

"On this date in 1975, Isles came back from a three games to none deficit to defeat the Pens 4-3 in the second round of the playoffs."

 

"Don't focus on the entire game. Just win this battle. Then the next one, and the next one." - Isles coach Al Arbour

 

Per Corey Graham, "The Oil Kings announce that Griffin Reinhart will miss a possible 6 weeks after undergoing surgery on his foot."