Isles Waylay 'Nucks & Sign NCAA Standout Czuczman

After your New York Islanders went down to the Vancouver Canucks by a 3-0 margin last night, an all to familiar pattern seemed to be emerging.  The Islanders were flat and sloppy entering the third period.  A period that has seen them shut down and self destruct in the last few games of the road trip.  Last night, however would be anything but familiar.

 

Seven different Islanders scored seven times to defeat the Vancouver Canucks 7-4.  Josh Bailey (Nelson & Donovan), Ryan Strome (Okposo & Visnovsky) and Calvin de Haan (Hamonic) all scored a PPG goal's and Frans Nielsen (Lee & Okposo) would score  before the Isles would surrender the dreaded, tying goal to Vancouver.  But it would take :10 seconds for the Isles to find the back of the net again and regain the lead.  Matt Martin (McDonald), Anders Lee (Okposo & Nielsen) would push to goals scored to 6 before Cal Clutterbuck (Bailey & Hamonic) would end things with a seventh ENG at the 19:42 mark of the period.  The Isles would end up out shooting Vancouver by a slim 28-24 margin, despite the score.  New York was 3/7 on the PP and 2/4 on the PK.  Evgeni Nabokov would finish the night going 20 for 24 with a .833Sv%.

Per Ben Kuzma, "Kesler: "Let's be honest. That's not one of the best teams in the league and we blow it. It's embarrassing. Story of the past two months."

 

The win gives the Isles 5 pts out a possible 8 out of what was before last night, a very forgettable road trip.  Oh, and per Eric Hornick, " The Isles are 8-1-3 in the last 12 games announced by Jiggs McDonald."  Sign that man to another long term deal!

 

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Today, the New York Islanders Isles sign NCAA standout Kevin Czuczman (pronounced 'CHURCH-man') to a 2 yr, entry level contract.  He will report directly to the Islanders.  He’s a self-described two-way defenseman who plays the puck in the offensive zone and plays the body in the defensive zone.

 

The 6'3, 205# D-Man scored 10 goals and 21 pts in 36 games for Lake Superior (Doug Weigh's alma mater) and led all Western Collegiate Hockey Association defensemen.  To many, points out Tony Stabile, "He is considered one of the top 10 undrafted NCAA players this season."

 

Per Islanders.nhl.com, "As a free agent, Czuczman was in control of his NHL destination and opted to sign with the Islanders. Czuczman said his familiarity with the team – he trains with John Tavares, Ryan Strome and Casey Cizikas in the offseason – and Lake Superior State alum Doug Weight made it an easy decision.

“My comfort with New York was the key to me signing there,” Czuczman said. “The culture that is starting to develop and the opportunity to be a part of something special with a new wave of players coming up is something that’s too good to pass up on.

 

“It’s definitely going in the right direction and I want to be a part of it."

 

 

Isles Notes:

Michael Grabner left the game against Vancouver with an upper-body injury and did not return.


The Isles start a 4 game home stand with San Jose on Friday, 3/14 @7pm, Buffalo on Saturday, 3/15 @7pm, Minnesota on Tuesday, 3/18 @7pm and Columbus on Sunday, 3/22 @ 1PM.

 

Per Eric Hornick, "The Isles are 22-9-3 when they score at least three goals (including shootout winners) and are 3-24-6 when they do not."

Per John Buccigross," Islanders' 7 goals in 3rd ties franchise record for goals in a period ... originally set on Dec. 23, 1978 vs Rangers in 2nd period Islanders."


Per Newsday, "The Nassau County Legislature voted unanimously Monday to approve developer Bruce Ratner's $229-million plan to renovate the 41-year-old Nassau Coliseum and create a surrounding entertainment district with shops and restaurants."

 

NHL Notes:

Last night, Dallas Stars player, Rich Peverly collapsed on the team bench and was sent to hospital for further testing.  The NHL called the game out of respect to the seriousness of the situation.  Peverly is said to be alert and resting today as he undergoes more tests to help better understand his situation.

Hockey Notes:

Missing OHL player, Terry Trafford's body was discovered today with his missing vehicle in a Saginaw Wal-Mart parking lot, per reports.

Per Global News Toronto, "He was sent home by his OHL team, the Saginaw Spirit, for a unidentified “rules violation.” But Roy Trafford said his son, Terry, had been kicked off the OHL team after being caught smoking marijuana. He was supposed to be driving home.

Trafford's girlfriend, Skye Cieszlak, told The Saginaw News that Trafford was "devastated" after the team sent him home.

According to Cieszlak, Trafford sent her a text Sunday, March 2, that said "his life was over and that he didn't want to do it anymore."

@EyeOnHockey quoted Cieszlak as saying, "He left [March 2] from Toronto, across the border and hung out with a couple guys on the team to say goodbye," she said. The next morning it was "his plan was to go pick up all his things from the rink and then to come to my house. That's the last everyone has heard from him."

Trafford joined the Spirit in 2010 and the Toronto native was playing in his final season as a junior player. He had eight goals and 24 assists in 54 games this season with the Spirit.


UPDATE:  Per Hockey Rumors & Trades, Terry Trafford suffered from depression & his autopsy results indicate that Terry Trafford died by self-inflicted asphyxiation (lack of oxygen).
 

 

 

 

R.I.P. Terry Trafford