Moulson Goes Wild On Isles

Matt Moulson, Nino Niederreiter and Jared Spurgeon are at the Coliseum tonight with the Minnesota Wild.  All are former Islanders.  Fan favorite, Matt Moulson will make his first return to L.I. since the trade and should be met with appreciation from the Isles crowd while Nino Niederreiter will probably be jeered for wanting a trade.  The lesser known or remembered Jared Spurgeon was a 6th round  Islander pick in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, but never entered their system by being signed.  Recent Isles acquisition, Kevin Czuczman will make his professional debut tonight for the Islanders of the blue line.

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

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

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

 

14,888 came to the NVMC to see your NYI face the Minnesota Wild.  Matt Mouslon comes out to the cheers and Nino, to jeers.  All is well in Isles country!  The first period starts with a solid effort by Ryan Strome. Strong effort in and around the Wild net.  The NVMC crowd gives Matt Moulson a standing cheer after a video tribute is played on the center ice jumbotron.  Nino is booed every time he touches the puck, and gets crushed by Travis Hamonic.  Niederreiter comes close to an own goal as well.  Minnesota with pressure in the Isles zone and Matt Moulson gives Minnesota a 1-0 lead.  The NVMC with a loud cheer for Moulson.  D, Matt Czuczman victimized a little there on Moulson's goal.  Anders Nilsson lets one in from Jared Spurgeon from Niederreiter, 2-0 Wild.  You can't even make stuff like this up.  Anders Nilsson looks rattled and uncomfortable so far in the period.  Anders Lee looking dangerous with a few scoring chances.  Isles out shoot Minnesota 16-6, but somehow manage to go down 2-0.

The second period sees Anders Lee back on the offensive with a good start.  On the other hand, Isles still look shakey on defense.  Minnesota makes it 3-0 with 3:58 remaining in the second period.  Islanders look desperate to stay up with Minnesota, but seem scattered and out of position out there. Team needs some direction & focus ASAP!  Isles out shot 10-8 in second, but hold 24-17 edge in the game.  Bryzgalov has had a few posts and lucky breaks in the game thus far.  The Islanders have to do a better job with offensive pressure.

To make things worse, Isles announce Brian Strait out with broken left hand from bad slash. Arthur Stape adds, "Season probably about done for him."

 

Isles fail to score on PP to start 3rd period, Minnesota scores on a rush out of the box as pentalty time expires, 4-0 Wild.  Anders Nilsson having troubles in net tonight, 5-0 Wild.  Islanders are imploding in flames and our coaching staff is incapeable of making an adjustment.  Nilsson has been bad at times, but he is not getting any help out there.  Matt Moulson scores his second of the night, 6-0 Wild.  Its a season high for Minnesota in scoring.  Anders Nilsson finishes going 16 for 22 with a .727Sv%.  Matt Czuczman had an educational night as an Islanders defensemen, made mistakes but played well enough in his first game.  Credit Anders Lee and Ryan Strome for trying to make a difference.

 

Islanders out shoot Wild 12-5 in third period and 36-22 in the game, but lose 6-0 to Minnesota and are booed off the ice.  There is nothing left to say.  The team was awful tonight and this game will be a wound will that will resonate throughout the summer beacause Matt Moulson was the one weilding the blade.

 

Per Daniel Friedman, "Let's go Moulson' chant rains down from whatever's left of the home crowd."  Crowd now chanting "We Love Moulson." That kind of night.

 

Per Michael Russo, "Yeo on how Isles fans treated Moulson: 'Very classy of their crowd and reflects what kind of person this is, what he’s meant to this org."


"Moulson: 'I was here for a long time and this team had a big place in my heart. The fans are great supporters. It was pretty emotional."

Isles Notes:

Per Daniel Friedman, "Ryan Strome had 4 points in 15 games during his first NHL call-up stint. Has 6 points in 9 games since re-joining Isles after the Olympics."

 

Sound Tigers Notes:
 

 

The Sound Tigers have signed former Yale forward Jesse Root to an ATO.