Isles Dig Deep, Endure & Win

Tonight, your New York Islanders will face the young & talented 1-5-1 Edmonton Oilers.  Edmonton comes in with the worst GAA at 4.57/game or 32 goals.  The Isles are 12th at 2.50/game.  Edmonton Goaltender, Devan Dubnyk is 0-3-1 with a 5.43GAA and a .829Sv%.  After letting the Sabers hang around on Tuesday, it is important to score early, play physical and keep the talented Edmonton forwards out of the game.  Evgeni Nabokov (2-1-2, 2.29GAA & .924Sv%) told Stan Fischler that the Isles need to keep their goals against under 3 to increase their chances to win. We all know what needs to be done, now lets see if they do it.

Consistency is the key to a winning culture.

Forward lines at practice: Grabner-Tavares-Okposo; Bouchard-Nielsen-Bailey; Moulson-Regin-Clutterbuck; Martin-Cizikas-McDonald.

D-Pairings:  Hamonic-MacDonald, Visnovsky-Hickey, Donovan-Strait.

Per Arthur Staple, "Nabokov in goal, McDonald back in, Donovan in. Nelson, Boulton, Carkner out for Isles."  Kevin Poulin will be Back up.

 

Per Daniel Friedman, Matt Donovan, on sitting out the past few games: "I was learning for myself what I have to do to get back into the lineup and play well.  It pushes you that much harder. I'm here now and don't want to get sent down. It makes you want to work that much harder.

 

Donovan, on what he has to do to stay with the team: "Play solid defense. They know I can put up numbers, but they want me to play solid D.  I have to be able to shut down some of the top guys in the world. In the NHL, you're playing against the best in the world."

 

The first period starts slow and sloppy, with the Isles bringing a strong, physical game.  Nabokov answers a fast break opportunity against Taylor Hall, big save. Isles getting shots against on Dubnyk, who leaves a lot of rebounds. Ryan Smyth feeling the love from the NVMC crowd.  Isles forcing turnovers, but haven't done anything with them yet.  Josh Bailey (Hamonic & Bouchard) puts it in off the top left side of the crease, 1-0 Isles.  From domination to stunned, the Isles get caught running around in their own end, Nabokov out of position, and Edmonton's Hall evens the score at 1-1.  8 seconds later, Hall gets a rebound and makes it 2-1 Oilers.  Hamonic, MacDonald and Okposo were passengers on those goals.  These fragile meltdowns need to go back to the team coaching. Its that simple. This team is still unstable and inconsistent. 

Isles Outshoot Oilers 16-7, down 2-1 and allow 2 goals in 8 seconds.  Wow.  They really look desperate and disorganized the minute they get challanged.

In the second, the Isles cash in on an early power play.  Visnovsky keeps puck in play, and hard working Kyle Okposo ties it at 2-2 (Tavares & Moulson).  Josh Bailey looking good tonight with some serious stick skills, moving the puck.  Shots are 23-8 Isles.  NY working hard, but give Oilers chances on the PP.  Isles have a good showing by special teams on the 3 PK's, minimizing Edmonton's shots.  John Tavares (Okposo & Grabner) makes it 3-2 Isles by not being denied the puck with just 1:07 remaining of the period.  Okposo is such an emotional leader out there for NY. 

Shots finish at 14-9 Oilers for the period and 25-21 Isles for the game thus far.  Daniel Friedman and I agree, " Once again, look what happens when Tavares and Moulson are on the ice together. Both got assists on that goal."

 

Isles to start the third period with 1:56 of PP time, but struggle to generate any pressure.  Dubnyk looking more comfortable & doing better with his rebound control.  Matt Donovan is making the most of another opportunity.  He has a great shot and is really gaining experience with his blue line play.  Thomas Hickey has really stood out tonight as well.  Outside of 8 seconds in the first, I have been pretty happy with the full defensive core tonight.  Isles to finish game on the PP thanks to the relentless effort of Kyle Okposo.  Oilers net is empty.  Casey Cizikas comes up big defensively in the last :30 of a nervous game.  Isles win 3-2.

 

 

Their 3 game losing streak is over.  Oh, and the team listened to Nabby and let up less than 3 goals.

Isles outshoot Oilers 15-8, 40-29 for the game.  They hit 40+ shot mark for second straight game. 

They started sloppy, played hard, won the battles and fore checked well, and aside from that freakish 8-second Hall-zone, the controlled a majority of the game.  Evgeni Nabokov was huge for the Isles and several players got the job done.  It was truly a great team effort.  3-2-2. 

 

 

 

NEXT!

 

 

Isles Notes:

Per Daniel Friedman, "Radek Martinek on the ice again this morning."

"Based on Capuano's remarks this afternoon, reasonable to suggest that Isles are considering sending Nelson and Donovan to Bridgeport."

Per Chris Triantafilis, "I don't think it's a big deal sitting Nelson. Isles trying to see what their vets can do....remember - depth. Isles did same with Zeeker."

Isles Nation followed Arthur Staples live chat today. 

"Based on Staple's live chat, it appears Isles will likely extend MacDonald and let Moulson walk."

"He also threw in the possibility of Grabner convincing his Austrian buddy, Thomas Vanek, to become an Islander. Interesting."

 

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