Montreal Over Isles In O.T.

With Ryan Strome making his NHL debut tonight, the Islanders will face the struggling Montreal Canadiens.  Both teams will come out hungry, but the Islanders will see Evgeni Nabokov back in their net.  Hopefully, these changes will jumpstart their game.

 

 

 

 

Forwards:  Vanek-Tavares-Okposo; Grabner-Nielsen-Bailey; Nelson-Strome-Clutterbuck; Boulton-Regin-Martin.

D-Pairings:  de Haan-Hamonic; MacDonald-Hickey; Strait-Ness

Evgeni Nabokov gets the start with Kevin Poulin on the bench.

 

Right from the start, tonight's game was fast paced and pretty well executed on defense for both teams.  Eric Boulton dropped George Parros with a solid punch to the jaw.  Parros would not return.  There was plenty of puck movement and checking to a man, but a smothering coverage from the shooting arc in front of the nets.  The Isles need to open up their offensive scheme and have a more creative attack scheme.  Going into the second intermission, the game is scoreless.

To start the period, Lars Eller hit John Tavares with what what was classified as a hit to the head.  Arthur Staple quoted Tavares, " Tavares said he didn't mind Eller hit. "It was mostly my shoulder. I didn't think it was too bad a hit." Evgeni Nabokov (23/23) was stellar in the third as he found his rhythm, making huge saves to keep the game scoreless and go to O.T.  Shots were 23-21 Montreal after regulation play.

In the 4 on 4 O.T. period, Aaron Ness and Thomas Hickey pairing made multiple mistakes early in the period, including giving up the puck at Nabokov's net resulting in 2 Montreal shots on goal, the second making it in to a mostly open net.  Montreal wins the game 1-0.  The Isles get 1 point in the standings, but lose another game in a most frustrating way.  Ultimately, another defensive breakdown.  It would have been nice to get Nabokov (and the team) the win.  I question having that pairing out in O.T at that moment, but I obviously know nothing about what makes good NHL coaching.

The good things:  The Isles were out hitting Montreal and their PK was good going 2/2.  Eric Boulton continues to up his game beyond the physical stuff.  He is a responsible and decent hockey player.  Calvin de Haan was much better in the game, as was Brian Strait.  Michael Grabner has looked good on the PK and has played a much more physical game than we are use to seeing him play.  Cal Clutterbuck with a good effort as well.  Evgeni Nabokov was a bit rusty, but found his groove in the third period and made some big saves.  Ryan Strome looked comfortable and played some big minutes on 5 on 5 and PP situations.

 

Isles Notes:

 

Per Arthur Staple, Casey Cizikas out tonight (Jaw). Not sure of long term status yet.