Isles Embarrassed By Devils

Your New York Islanders face New Jersey at the NVMC this afternoon in what could very well be the final game for Martin Brodeur as a Devil.  The red hot, Anders Nilsson (Only 19 ga & 7-1-0 in last 8 w/BST) has been recalled from the BST and Kevin Poulin sent to Bridgeport for what is reportedly to get some playing time after a long layoff.  "  Matt Martin and Frans Nielsen are said to be showing improvement, but are still day-to-day.  Carkner and Martinek are also scratched.

 

Forwards:  Vanek-Nelson-Okposo; Grabner-Bailey-Clutterbuck; Lee-Strome-McDonald; Boulton-Cizikas-Halmo.

 

D-Pairings:  de Haan-Hamonic; Strait-MacDonald; Hickey-Visnovsky.

Evgeni Nabokov will get the start and Anders Nilsson is on the bench.

The Isles came out with jump, but NJ drew first blood on the PP just 5 minutes into the first period, 1-0 Devils.  The Isles come close on a couple of dirty attempts around Brodeur, but cant score.  Most notables in the first period, Halmo is making things happen while Vanek is struggling to find his game.  Isles with 10-8 shots advantage, but trail by one.

 

Isles slow to start the period and playing back on their heels.  Jagr gets the 700th goal of his career, 2-0 Devils.  Clowe gets a PPG, 3-0 Devils early in the second. Soon after, Vanek puts a shot on net and Okposo (Vanek & Bailey) gets the Isles on the board with a nifty deflection, 3-1 Devils.  Nabokov lets in another questionable goal on the PK, 4-1 Devils.  New Jersey with another PPG, 5-1 Devils.  BST line (Lee-Strome_Halmo) finally reunited in desperation ploy.  Nabokov not playing well, nor is the team in front of him.  Just a miserable effort by the Islanders in the period, even their steady PK'ers are struggling.  Very little discipline being shown by Capuano's Islanders.  Devils out shoot Isles 11-3 in the period.  Nabokov finishes with 14 for 17 and a .737Sv%.

Anders Nilsson gets the start in net to open the third period.  New Jersey resumes the dominant play and pushing Isles into mistakes.  Nilsson looks comfortable and helping to stabilize a shaky Isles team.  Nilsson bumped after whistle, no call made by Officials.  Travis Hamonic lost temper and gets 27 minutes in penalties, 32 on the game before leaving ice.  Boulton escorted off as well with misconduct as frustration builds.  Devils keep top PP unit out in final minutes of 5-1 game, get 5 on 3 PP goal, 6-1 Devils.  Class.  Game ends on man up situation for New Jersey.  Nilsson looked solid in relief, going 15 for 16 and a .938Sv%.  Shots finished 16-9 in the period and 35-19 for the game in favor of New Jersey.

The Islanders came out hitting and did well in the face off circle, but played a weak game in all other areas.  Especially on the PK, allowing New Jersey to score 4 times in 8 opportunities on the PP.  Isles finished with 66 collective penalty minutes in a sloppy and uninspired effort.  Another painful home loss for the sinking Islanders.  There are a few guys who never stopped working, others were probably amazed at the way things unfolded and some were struggling or watched as the game went by them without any semblance of control. 

Without some real changes in coaching, attitude and support coming soon, there wont be much to smile about for the Islanders.

 

 

Isles Notes:

UPDATE Per NHL.com,  New York Islanders defenseman Travis Hamonic has been suspended, without pay, for one game for instigating a fight during the final five minutes of NHL Game No. 903 at Nassau Coliseum this afternoon, March 1, the National Hockey League's Department of Player Safety announced today.

Hamonic will forfeit $19,780.22 in salary. In addition, New York Islanders head coach Jack Capuano has been fined $10,000.

Hamonic was assessed a minor penalty for instigation, a major penalty for fighting and a game misconduct at 15:23 of the third period. Both the suspension to the player and the fine of the coach are automatic for a violation of Rule 46.22.


The Isles have only won 9 of 32 games at home this season.