Isles Outwork Columbus

This afternoon, your New York Islanders will face the Columbus Blue Jackets in their alternate black jerseys for the final time.  Arthur Staple mentions, "Isles are 7-11-5 in black third jersey since it was introduced in 2011. Also 0-3-0 in Stadium Series jersey, which is new third sweater."  While Kyle Okposo (lower body) will be back in the line up for today's game, Visnovsky (upper body) and Grabner are still out.

Columbus has a chance to regain a spot in playoff position with a win today.  So will the depleted Isles be up to play spoilers and get a win against a Columbus team that they are 0-2 against this season?  The Islanders have some young players in the line up that are getting NHL game experience despite falling out of a playoff race.  The final games of this season will have more value to the organization than they might appear.

 

Forwards:  Lee-Nielsen-Okposo; Bailey-Nelson-Clutterbuck; Martin-Strome-McDonald; Halmo-Cizikas-Sundstrom.

D-Pairings:  de Haan-Hamonic; Hickey-Czuczman; Carkner-Donovan.

Evgeni Nabokov is in net with Anders Nilsson on the bench.

The Isles came out in front of 15,008 NVMC fans, ready to face an inspired Blue Jackets team.  They were skating, finishing their checks, moving the puck well and following up on the play.  Team defense seems more dialed in today and playing real well in their own zone, especially on rebounds.  Czuczman with a much better flow to his game as well, playing the body and good hockey sense.  Cal Clutterbuck (Nielsen & Sundstrom) gets the Isles on the board with his 10th of the season, 1-0 Isles.  It's Johan Sundstrom's first career NHL point.  Isles & Blue Jackets are tied in shots, 8-8.

The second period brings much of the same in context of gameplay.  While Columbus is playing hard, the Isles are outplaying them to a man.  Its a good effort to see.  Casey Cizikas resumes his me against the world efforts and does his best to make things happen.  Travis Hamonic (de Haan) with a "Bobby Orr" like rush, slicing through the Columbus defense and puts it by Bobrovsky for a 2-0 Isles lead.  What a great play by Hammer who has really been leading by example.  CBJ with a 16-15 edge on shots in the period.

In the third, the Isles are on script to start the period.  Columbus has elevated their game and have really been pushing into the Islanders zone to get shots on net.  Nabokov and the D, equal to the task so far.  Blake Comeau's cheap shot on Ryan Strome is answered by Isles Mike Halmo.  Halmo crushes Comeau in the fight, but gets the misconduct.  Columbus finishes the game on the PP, but are unable to score despite out shooting NY 17-9 in the period and 41-32 in the game.  The Islanders take 2 huge playoff pts. from Columbus and get the 2-0 win at home.

Cal Clutterbuck, Travis Hamonic, Casey Cizikas & Frans Nielsen (first time in career he has reached 50pt mark) continue to be a stabilizing veteran presence for New York.

 

Evgeni Nabokov also had a strong veteran game today.  He had 41 saves in his 58th career shut out and 3rd of the season.  After being named first star, Ruttgaizer asked Nabokov if he ever thought he would have had that many shut outs in his career.  He answered,  "I'm not done yet Peter."  No disrespect, but here's hoping that if he returns to the Isles, it is nothing more than in a back up role.

To constantly complain about falling out of the playoffs and the disappointments of this season is something that cant be fixed at this time and to dwell on that now isn't productive.  Accountability remains a cornerstone, but as a fan,  lets try and see the positives we can get from the remainder of this season.  When the team has checked and has played team defense, they have won with all their goalies.  Credit Strome, Czuczman, Lee, Sundstrom, Nelson, Halmo, de Haan & Donovan for playing big minutes and doing their best to not just fill in, but play well enough to get tough wins like the one earned tonight.

Per Peter Botte, "If we've learned anything, nobody does late-season "Fools Gold" better than the Isles."

I know there is still a LONG way to go for this Organization, especially in the off season, but I love the efforts of the young guys.  They continue to impress with strong play against teams that aren't just playing through to finish the season.  These opponents are still trying to rally for positioning or just make the playoffs in general.  These are not easy games to keep pace in and finish with a win.  If you don't think it was a big deal, just ask Columbus how big those points were to them.

 

 

 

Isles Notes:


The Isles are on the road vs Carolina on Tuesday, 3/25 vs @7pm, vs Tampa Bay on Thursday, 3/27 @7:30pm and home on Saturday, 3/29 @7pm vs the Devils.

3/23 Per Arthur Staple, "Isles source confirms Eric Boulton signs 1-year extension. Will be 38 next season, but still a willing enforcer."

 

3/21  Per NYI, Lubo Visnovsky has suffered an upper-body injury. No update on Grabner. Day-to-day.

Per WHL, Kevin Pulock has been named to the Eastern Conf. 1st All-Star team, griffin Reinhart has been named to the 2nd All-Star Team.

 

Sound Tigers Notes:

Per BST, The Sound Tigers have signed forwards Ryan Walters and Brock Montpetit to ATOs.