Resilient - NEVER SAY DIE-LANDERS: Isles vs. Pens, Game 2

Eastern Quarter Finals, Game 2 - Islanders vs. Pittsburgh


Sidney Crosby will be in the Penguins line up for game 2.  He is 20-55-75 in 41 games played vs the Isles.

John Tavares and Matt Moulson will be on different lines for the start of the game.  Carkner and Ullstrom are in the line up.  Your New York Islanders are trying to stir things up to take the next step in the playoffs.  I would say keep the line up that helped the team go on their end of the season run, but I'll settle for a genuine, hard fought effort to erase the nightmare that was game 1.

John Tavares was smothered by Morrow while Letang and rest of team harassed Tavares at every turn.  The Isles need to protect JT, but get their other lines working, have the defense be accountable for rebounds and jump up into the play when they can.  Its a 7 game series and game 1 is over.  What will happen tonight?

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.

The first period will see "Martin-Cizikas-McDonald" line starts tonight for Isles.  Looks like Capuano trying to keep Pens -- and you and me -- guessing. (Arthur Staple.)"  The Penguins go up 1-0 via Malkin just :43 into the game.  Isles already failing to clear the area in front of Nabokov and control the defensive zone.  Pens to the PP at about the 17:30 mark.  PP goal for Crosby, 2-0 Penguins.  Cizikas draws a penalty to get the Isles on a PP.  Nice adjustment on the PP, Matt Moulson (Tavares & Streit) puts New York on the board, 2-1 Penguins.  Crosby comes right back to make it 3-1 Penguins.  Pens call time out.  Evgeni Nabokov may be off his game, but the Isles have forgotten how to play defense.  The offense is more active and getting more decent chances than in last game.  Pens call a timeout.  Boyes draws another PP, fail to convert.  Love the efforts by Cizikas and McDonald so far.  Isles really taking it Penguins, moving the puck well and generating pressure.  They need to work Fleury hard.  Just need to do a better job in their own zone.  Isles outshooting Penguins 20-12.

 

 

Both teams at 4 skaters to start the second period.  Ullstrom-Aucoin-McDonald line working Penguins hard, Ullstrom has looked good so far after his layoff.  Okposo and Niskanen get into an epic bout, 5 minute majors each.  Niskanen's face is covered in blood.  Colin McDonald takes a lose puck around the net and tucks it inbetween Fleury's left skate and the post, 3-2 the score.  Nabokov getting better as game goes on.  Pens to a PP from Visnovsky.  Strait draws a PP from Igilna after he knocks Crosby down.  4 on 4 for :30.  Good pressure with the 5 on 4, Visnovsky from the box.  Time expires.  Matt Martin (Bailey & Neilsen) puts it off end boards and in, game tied at 3-3.  Isles continue to create blue line turnovers and work the puck back into Pens zone, moving puck well.  Fleury is letting up big rebounds.  Ullstrom making things happen.  John Tavares is called for a 4:00 minor, Pens to PP.  Much stronger defensive effort by the Isles on the double minor.  Team clearing rebounds, moving loose pucks and protecting Nabokov.  Period ends with seconds left on the PP.  This has been the Isles best period by far.  Isles out shoot Pens 14-13 in the period, and 34-25 in the game so far.

 

 

The Isles complete a huge PK to start the third period.  Nabokov with two huge saves early.  The game has gotten chippy with both teams applying the pressure.  Kyle Okposo (Moulson & Streit) sends it off the boards behind Fleury and gets a "fortuitous" bounce, 4-3 Isles late in the third period.  Fleury put that one in himself.  Brian Strait seemed to be in his groove and played well.  Under a minute remaing, Penguins net is empty.  Time expires and the Isles with a storybook type win in Pittsburgh for game 2.  Shots in the third were even at 8-8, Isles with a 42-33 edge in the game.  Evgeni Nabokov went 30-33 and a .909Sv%.

 

 

Recap:

 

The Isles embarassed themselves in game 1.  Tonight, they came out with something to prove and were stomped right out of the gate and down 2-0 early in the first.  It would have been easy to quit, say its Pittsburgh, then wait to go home and regroup.  Not this team.  Remember, we witnessed a turning point towards the end of the season.  This team has learned how to win and even though they faltered in final few games, the never say die spirit is in there.  It took some grit and some emotion to match a talented team like Pittsburgh tonight.  It took team leaders like Tavares, Moulson, Visnovsky, Martin & Nabokov to grab hold of this thing and make it behave.  The Isles used their line up to fight back into the game and got momentum from Kyle Okposo doing whatever it took to show how bad he wanted to win. He fought and bloodied his opponent.  The Isles rallied after that and won a tough road game.
 

On the Isles victory, Sidney Crosby said, "They got some bounces."  No respect.  That's OK.
 

The Islanders go home on Sunday to face the Penguins at the NVMC.  The old barn will be rocking and our intimidation factor will test this veteran team.  Our fans will let them know where they are.  Section 329 will be in their ear all night long.  Credit the team for coming back to win and overcoming adversity as a team.  They fought for each other and answered the challange.  As Evgeni Nabokov said, Its going to get harder and we have to be ready.

"We didn't panic. We just kept going at them and found a way to win. That was a big win for us." - Okposo

"It’s huge. For us being in the playoffs & losing the 1st game the way we did, this game was a little bit of a statement game." -Nabokov

#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 2:  Kyle Okposo played well in the game and dropped the gloves in the second period, sparking a huge Islanders comeback.

 

@IFiBklyn   Thanks to everyone who came out to our Gamewatch tonight, it was a huge success!

 

Isles Notes:


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

B.D. Gallof mentions, "Playoffs: great step for Isles- great statement of progress, great exp for players, indicator of where they are & where need to go as org."

In IIHF play, Nino Niederreiter first star of the game as Switzerland wins 3-1 vs. Sweden. @MrDanHu

Brenden Kichton has been named WHL D-Man of the year.

 

Yesterday, Developers pitched their plans to develop a new NVMC.  Forest City, Ratner Co. exec Brett Yorkman says Islanders would play 6 games a yr at coliseum & have received 100 commitments for other events if they are chosen to develop NVMC.  MSG was in on the bidding to develop a new Colisieum.  So a possibility of updated & improved Coliseum to host of relocated AHL Rangers affiliate on very site of the Isles last American Dynasty. Why not.

 

NHL Notes:

 

@NHLschuylerb, "This season’s NHL award winners will be announced during the 2013 Stanley Cup Final. The NHL Awards will return to Las Vegas in June 2014."