Sunday, May 5, 2013

Never Say Die! : Isles vs. Pens, Game 3



Eastern Quarter Finals, Game 3 - Islanders vs. Pittsburgh


Pens coach Dan Bylsma: "Our players have not seen this building like the way it’s going to be tomorrow."


Today, your New York Islanders are on Colisieum ice to battle the Pittsburgh Penguins in game 3.  It was in game 2, the Isles answered for their loss in game 1 and the return of NHL golden boy, Sidney Crosby with a come from behind victory, fit for the storied pages of Isles history.  The Isles showed character and the kind of bond they have forged with a solid game in a hostile building.  Today, the stakes and reward, will be even higher as they play before a packed house of Long Islanders and NY fans that have earned their place in the hoopla.  Isles fans are the greatest in sports.  Our passion shows itself in good times and in bad and despite all the struggles of the past, Your New York Islander have some more noise to make this year.  Together, we will see how much more.
 



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

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

Evgeni Nabokov is in net with Kevin Poulin behind the bench.



In the first period, The crowd is electric and the Isles came out on fire to match.  The Isles have some strong puck movement, and cycle past Fleury in the Pens net.  Matt Moulson (Visnovsky & Okposo) slides it between Fleury's leg and left post, 1-0 Islanders.  Isles come up empty on a PP chance.  Nabokov robs Crosby with an awesome glove save.  Casey Cizikas (Grabner) puts in a one timer off Niskanen and doubles the Isles lead, 2-0 Isles.  Islanders are firing in all aspects of their game.  They are moving the puck, hard on the check and playing a physical game.  Colin McDonald draws another PP opportunity.  Isles and the barn are buzzing.  Islanders with some good pressure, but fail to score with the extra man.  McDonald huge in his defensive assignments.  Strait and Hamonic strong on D for Isles (Arthur Staple).  Grabner stopped on a breakaway chance.

 

Pens draw a PP chance off Streit.  Hamonic holds to give Pens 5 on 3 PP.  This could be trouble.  Pens score right away to make it 2-1 Isles, still 1:37 on Hamonics penalty.  Game tied at 2-2 off a touchdown pass from Malkin to Kunitz between the Isles D.  Two goals at :19 seconds apart.  Now, its back to a game and the momentum has shifted.  Granber and Cizikas making Fleury work, Isles bringing more effort, pressuring Penguins defense.  Penguins take the lead off a pass from Crosby across crease to Dupuis with 1:00 remaing, 3-2 Pens.  Arthur Staple reports Ullstrom not on bench.  Could be from Cooke hit earlyier in the period.  Isles outshoot Pens 13-8 in the period.  Islanders need to keep up their level of play and regroup.  Another lesson learned.  I am impressed with how they came out and have still not slowed down.  They need to bring the crowd back in it.  Work Fluery and Pens defense hard.  Better things coming.

 

David Ullstrom back on the bench to start the second period.  Isles need to dictate flow, play hard and physical - get the crowd fired up.  Most importantly, stop taking penalties.  Michale Grabner having a strong game.  Cooke and Carkner called for an odd interaction at the isles bench with Carkners stick blade.  4 on 4 situation for 2:00.  Nabokov has looked better so far in the second period.  Cizikas and Hamonic make friends with Malkin.  Isles have raised their energy level.  I want to see Michael Grabner get rewarded today. He has been playing his ass off in this game.   Isles bench calls a timeout.  Despite everything, Murray hits top righ corner, 4-2 Pens.  Colisieum is quiet.  The period ends with shoots even at 8 each.  Isles have the 21-16 edge in the game so far.

 

To start the third period, the Isles need to turn it up down two goals.  John Tavares and Evgeni Nabokov need to be the saviours.  They need to make Fluery work, control the flow of play and bang bodies. Forcing defensive turnovers and Fleury is their weakness.  Despite what happens, I love their fight.  Good things are coming fans.

 

Isles watch Crosby get the golden boy nod against Strait for a PP call.  Josh Bailey springs Kyle Okposo for an awesome short handed break away goal with a Penguins player draped all over him.  4-3 Penguins.  Crowd all over Crosby, Fleury and the game.  Isles with strong puck control enetering the Pens zone.  John Tavares (Bailey) gets a huge goal for his playoff first!! Game tied at 4-4.  Fans chant, "M-V-P."  Isles on the PP.  Teams fighting back and forth, but Isles continue to control the play.  This game will go to O.T.  Isles outshot Pens 13-3 in the period and 34-19 in the game.


 

In O.T. of game 3, your New York Islanders entered the extra period with some good defense against the Pens and some solid chances in the offensive zone.  Pens get another weak PP chance from Strait on Crosby.  Kunitz, Strait can not take his sceond hand off the stick there.  Pens win it 5-4 in 8:44 of O.T.  Evgeni Nabokov went 20-25 with a .800Sv%.  Pens with a 6-2 shots advantage in O.T., Isles finish 36-25 in the game.
 
 
 


Recap:
 

It would be nice to blame the officiating for bad calls and non calls against the Isles, but the Penguins made the most of another PP chance.  While Strait can not take his second hand off the stick while covering a diver like Crosby, the Officials should not and can not make that call.  Especially as Crosby is purposely falling down in an NHL Playoff O.T. period.  The result of the call can and did, mean the difference in the game. 
 

This one hurt to lose, but credit the team and the coaching staff for coming out and playing one hell of a game.  Coach Capuano has recovered well in games two and three with leadership and a good game plan.  He deseves the credit.  I am glad to see that the Islanders are playing a game that makes its fan base proud against a very good Pens team.  The Isles have been good at jumping on their opponents  mistakes, applying pressure that force turnovers and pushing through adversity to keep themselves in a difficult game situation.  You should be proud of this team fans.  They will just continue to learn from experience and get better as a team and an organization.


Game 4 is set for tuesday at the NVMC and I'll be there in section 331.
 
@Schultz88  Hamonic: Fan support “sent chills down my spine” after anthem.


 

#beLIeve #STRONGisland
 
 
 
 
Grail Knight of the game is a new category for KoC that awards a player for his standout performance that kept his team in the game, helped them win or just never surrendered.
 
 
Grail Knight for Game 3: Michael Grabner and Kyle Okposo will share the honors for game 3.  Grabner was everywhere with an assist & winning battles and Okposo's SHG and leadership were big.  Throughout the game, both made plays, made things happen and fought hard for the Islanders.




Isles Notes:

Per @NHLhistorygirl, "On this day in 1984, Isles Billy Smith became the NHL's all-time leader in career playoff victories (81)."


Retweet #Islesfans! Never Say Die!!!!@NYIslanders playoff song here!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhKNuoaGHO0 … … … … … … #beLIeve# STRONGisland @FFDP







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