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."
"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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