Tonight, your New York Islanders will face John Tortorella's
Vancouver Canucks. It will be the 300th
game for Isles Captain, John Tavares and the final game of the Isles 4 game
home stand before going back on the road at Pittsburgh of Friday, then back home
to face Philadelphia and NYR, on Saturday and Tuesday @7pm.
Forwards:
Moulson-Tavares-Okposo,
Bouchard-Nielsen-Bailey, Nelson-Regin-Clutterbuck, Martin-Cizikas-McDonald
D-Pairings: Hamonic-MacDonald, Donovan-Strait, Carkner-Hickey.
Evgeni Nabokov gets
the start, Kevin Poulin is on the bench
Isles F, Brock Nelson and D, Matt Donovan will
return to the Islanders line up tonight with the absence of Grabner
(suspension)
and Visnovsky (concussion).
In the first, the Isles come out hard, hitting
and finishing their checks. A much
better start than recent games. Recent
call up and roster insert, Brock Nelson (Clutterbuck & Regin) picks up the
rebound and gets his first NHL goal, 1-0 for N.Y. Isles get a PP opportunity and Matt Moulson (Nielsen &
Tavares) puts it behind a sprawling Luongo, 2-0 Isles. Vancouver's Kesler gets one right back, 2-1
Isles. Vancouver has definitely got
their heads back into the game with a better effort. Canucks Daniel Sedin evens the game at 2-2 mid way through the
first. Isles surrendering more at
center ice than at the start of the game.
Team has lost some of their snarl.
Nabokov showing some rust, perhaps as a result of the accidental bump
from Carkner last game? Matt Donovan
and Thomas Hickey looking good offensively for the Isles, making some things
happen. Isles out shooting Vancouver
12-9 in the period.
The second period sees both teams kill off power
play chances. Matt Moulson comes in
from the right side, freezes Luongo and rips it behind him, glove side for a
3-2 Isles lead. Arthur Staple adds
Moulson is 4-3-7 in last three games. A
scramble in front of the Isles net results in the puck being forced over the
goal line. The Officials are
deliberating. No goal. Nabokov still looks very shaky tonight. Nelson comes close again from Donovan,
playing a solid game for the Isles.
Game is getting a little more physical late in the period, but neutral
zone is still unguarded. Donovan with
nice look to Regin, puck clanks off the post.
Off Vancouver rush, the puck comes off Nabokov from Daniel Sedin rebound, Henrik Sedin is there
for the open net with D out of position, tied at 3-3. Despite out playing Vancouver for much of the period, Higgins
gives Vancouver a 4-3 lead in the game with :17 remaining. Terrible rebound by Nabokov, has looked off
all game and I keep thinking back to that bump from Carkner vs. Carolina. Vancouver out shoots the Isles 12-11 in the
period with the Isles holding the game advantage 23-21.
Evgeni Nabokov remains in net to start the third
period. The Islanders looks a little
disorganized in the period. Canucks go
into Tortorella's shut down mode and although the Isles are moving the puck,
they seem lack the energy or urgency that you would expect a team down by a
goal to have. With 1:12 left & the
Isles net empty, MacDonald slapper goes to Frans Nielsen who ties the game at
4-4. Islanders gain a valuable
point. Isles outshoot 9-8 in the
period, 32-30 in the game.
In the O.T. period, Richardson puts its through
Nabokov's pads from the side of the net, Vancouver wins it 5-4.
It's a good point in the standings to pick up,
but another disappointing, far to difficult to climb back into, non-win.
Per Arthur Staple, "Capuano: 'I'm not going to talk about the goaltending'
Last time he said that, he was referring to DiPietro last season."
Per Islanders BoosterClub, "@MattyMarts17 will be at the Isles Booster Club meeting
tomorrow at the Marriott across from Coliseum."
Isles Notes:
Per Brian Compton," Capuano said Kevin Poulin is going to get
a chance soon and if he plays well, he will play more."
Islanders Forward Michael Grabner was suspended
two games for a hit to the head vs. Nathan Gerbe of the Carolina Hurricanes on
Sunday. The play wasn't called a
penalty in game action, but was reviewed by Brenden Shanahan of the NHL Safety
Committee.
Free agent D, Radek Martinek was on the ice with
the Isles in practice today.
Per Eric Hornick, "Ryan Strome w his 1st 3-pt game as a pro, helping erase
both 3-0 and 5-3 deficits but BST fall 6-5 in OT to Bingo."
Former Islanders Marty Biron & Roman Hamrlik
have announced their retirement.
Per Chris Botta, "From SBD: Barclays Center's first year operating income
well below original projections."
Sound Tigers Notes:
Kirill Kabanov scored
a Gordie How hat trick (Goal, assist and a fight) in a 5-0 win for the ECHL
Isles affiliate, Stockton Thunder on Sunday.
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