Weekend Lookback: Detroit & Washington

Over the weekend, your New York Islanders met the Detroit Redwings and Washington Capitals as the NVMC.  It was a pair of games with a lot to forget, and a few things to hope continue.

 

On Friday, the Islanders faced a Detroit team they have dominated over a ten year period without a regulation loss.  Despite being in the game and down by one in the second period, the Islanders found a way to self destruct again off a miscue between Poulin (23/27 with a .833Sv%) and MacDonald that resulted in a goal for the opposition and a 2-0 score going into the third period.  Per islanders.nhl.com, “We have to try and find some answers,” John Tavares said. “We are obviously an easy team to play against right now. We can’t wait for things to happen. It’s up to the guys in here.”  The Islanders fell by the score of 5-0 to Detroit.

 

On Saturday vs the Caps, Anders Nilsson would get his first start of the season and play well (24/26 with a .900Sv%) for the Isles.  BST Calvin deHaan would make his season debut n the game as well.  He played a solid game on defense for his first game back.  Third star of the game, Cal Clutterbuck SHG (MacDonald & Cizikas) and Thomas Vanek (Tavares & Okposo) would give the Isles the lead in the better or more recent efforts by Long Island.  They battled back in this game and showed the resolve that eludes them on a consistent basis.  “We sat back for no reason,” Vanek said. Per islanders.nhl.com, “We should have taken it to them for 60 minutes and not 59.”  A 3-2 loss in O.T., but they got a point in the standings.

 

Tonight, The Isles face the Pittsburgh Penguins at home before going on a 5 game road trip.  Playing the Penguins is not a hard game to get up for when your the Islanders and Marc Andrej Fleury will be haunted by the demons of his playoff failures of last year.  Its up to the Islanders to play like they know they can and reverse this down slide.  Scoring balance, team defense, hard checking, physicality, speed and 60 minutes of effort is needed to win. 

 

Which Islanders will show up?  Yours?

 

Isles Notes:

 

Per Eric Hornick, " Isles finish November 4-10-1 after winning 1st two games of the month."

Garth Snow has told Darren Dreger he is not looking to change the head coach for the Islanders.

 

Per Kevin Schultz, " avg points per 60 min of ice time: 1) Tavares 3.24 2) Nielsen 2.64 3) Okposo 2.55 4) Nelson 1.96."

 

Ryan Strome has been named AHL player of the week.

Islanders defensive prospects Adam Pelech and Griffin Reinhart make WJC Team Canada roster, but Ryan Pulock does not.

Per Dmitry Chesnokov, " ASG Starting line-up (East): Mikko Koskinen, Kirill Koltsov, Shaun Heshka, Sergei Mozyakin, Danis Zaripov, Brandon Bochenski."

On December 2nd, Doug Weight enters the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in a five-person class including former Isles Captain Bill Guerin.