Isles Fall To Jets

Tonight, Casey Cizikas and your New York Islanders will face the Winnipeg Jets at the NVMC.  Cizikas is riding a 5 game point scoring streak (3g/2a).  This is a good a game as any for the Isles to snap back into the playoff chase.  To do that, they would need a win tonight against Al Montoya and the Jets to start the climb away from 8th in the Metropolitan division.

 

Forwards:  Vanek-Tavares-Okposo; Grabner-Nielsen-Bailey; Bouchard-Regin-Clutterbuck;
Nelson-Cizikas-Martin.

D-Pairings:  MacDonald-Hamonic; Hickey-Donovan; Ness-Carkner.

 

Kevin Poulin will be in net.  Anders Nilsson, on the bench.

 

 

What was mostly a boring, back & forth game, the Isles seemed to be going through the motions, especially in a scoreless first period.  Late in the second period, the Isles got a PPG from Andrew MacDonald (Vanek & Tavares) and John Tavares (Carkner & Nelson) late in the third, the score would remain 3-2, Winnipeg in the final minutes.  The Isles late surge of urgency came too little, too late.  Winnipeg would win 3-2 despite being out shot 30-29 in the game.  The Islanders were guilty of 19 give aways and were terrible with their fore and back checking.  Former Islander net-minder, Al Montoya got the win for the Jets.

 

Kevin Poulin was 26/29 with an .897Sv% making some big saves to keep the Isles in the game.  Although he could definitely improve, this was not on the goaltending or even the special teams that went 2/2 on the PK.  The urgency was not there again until the team was in a hole.  Secondary scoring is MIA.  Grabner, Bailey & Bouchard simply need to contribute or be moved if possible.  Casey Cizikas was unable to continue his scoring streak, but his effort was there, making things happen on the ice when he is out there.

Per Eric Hornick, "What was missing tonight? "About 12 minutes in the second period" -- Travis Hamonic.

 

Ultimately, the team lacked focus and then pushed themselves as time was running out, but fell short again.  John Tavares seemed disgusted to be addressing the same questions again after the loss, but he should be.  Someone needs to take control of that team.  The isles fall to 8-14-3.

 

 

Isles Notes:

 

Per Matt Saidman, "Isles Capuano said Brian Strait and Lubomir Visnovsky are "not close at all " to returning.

Islanders unveil Stadium Series Uniforms today.

 

 

 

 

Per Katie Strang, "According to AHL's Charlotte Checkers site, Rick DiPietro has been released from PTO. Apparently his decision not club's."

 

“I don’t think I could go to sleep at night not knowing that I gave it one last try ” Dipietro to Globe and Mail.

Per Brian Compton, "DiPietro's final stats: 5 games, 0-4-0, 5.18 GAA, .846 save percentage. Released today from PTO by Charlotte."

 

Per NHLFREEAGENTS, "Rockford IceHogs signed (D) Brett Skinner to PTO & released (D) BlakeKessel from PTO ."



Do you reconsider Peter Laviolette as a coaching candidate?

 

NHL Notes:

 

Per Chris Botta, "$5.3 billion for 12 years from Rogers is a monumental victory for Gary Bettman, Bill Daly, John Collins and NHL owners and players."

 

"At NHL Network, count on major changes and, I'm told, future content upgrades as a result of today's broadcast deal with Rogers."

 

Per @reporterchris, "BREAKING: The number of former NHL players involved in class-action concussion suit has grown to 200."