Isles Finish Strong In Buffalo

Its game 82 and Your New York Islanders are in Buffalo to face the Sabers in the final game of the 2013-14 NHL season.  There will be 20 rookies in the line up between the two squads who have had their share of injuries and roster moves over the season.  New York has gone 6-2-2 in their last 10 games and are trying to ride their 2 game road winning streak and finish the season with a win against the Sabers who are 0-6 in their last 6 games.  Per Islander.nhl.com, the injury report remains, " John Tavares (knee), forwards Johan Sundstrom (neck), Cal Clutterbuck (upper body), Michael Grabner (concussion) and Kyle Okposo (lower body), and defensemen Calvin de Haan (leg) and Lubomir Visnovsky (concussion)."

 

 

Forwards:  Lee-Nielsen-Bailey; Persson-Nelson-Strome; Martin-Cizikas-McDonald; Gallant-Halmo-Johnson.

D-Pairings:  Hickey-Hamonic; Donovan-Carkner; Czuczman-Mayfield.

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

 

The first period starts with spirit, but a little on the slow side of things.  Justin Johnson and John Scott drop the gloves a few minutes in and Johnson drops the much bigger Scott with a solidshot to the chin.    Scott goes down in a heap and shrugs with a smile as he skates off the ice.  Both squads look to be feeling each other out and have put some shots on each others net.  McBain goes by Scott Mayfield and beats Nilsson, 1-0 Saber around the halfway mark of the period.  Butch Goring calls Mayfield "Mayflower."  The period ends with the Isles and Sabers going 0 for 1 on the PP with Buffalo leading in shots 11-6.

In the second period, Gallant and Konopka throw fists to a stale mate around the 2:27 mark.  Love where Czuczman's game is in such a short time at the NHL level.  He will be a strong contender for a roster spot next season.  Persson gets beat and Ellis makes it 2-0 Buffalo.  Isles are getting beat to the puck and haven't found a rhythm to their defensive game.  When team defense is there, the Isles have won with whoever in net. When its not, they haven't been able to stay competitive.  Isles working puck around Buffalo net, Anders Lee (Nielsen & Bailey) bookended by Sabers and still puts in a Frans Nielsen pass to bring the Isles within 1 with a PPG, 2-1 Sabers.  Buffalo with a 10-6 advantage in second period shots, 21-15 after two.  Eric Hornick mentions, "are actually unbeaten in regulation when leading after 2 periods: 6-0-2. Isles looking for another comeback from a 2-goal deficit."

Just :17 seconds in, Anders Lee (Bailey & Nielsen) scores his 2nd of the night and 8th of the season with a far side backhander to beat Knapp, tied at 2-2 in Buffalo to start the third period.  Brock Nelson is quietly become an ass-kicker for the Islanders.  Such a good skater, good hands and serious hockey acumen.  Mayfield and Deslauriers go at it.  Credit Mayfield for holding his own in that one.  That's an NHL first for Mayfield.  Mitchell redirects a shot through Nilsson's legs as he moved across the net mouth, 3-2 Sabers.  The Islanders keep themselves in the game with aggressive plays for much of the third period.  Nilsson settling in and making some nice saves to keep the Isles close.  Brock Nelson (Hamonic) snipes a wicked wrister from the top of the circles to tie the game at 3-3 with less than 5 minutes remaining.  Isles avoid a bad situation with Martin crashing into Nilsson on a Buffalo rush in on net.  Both players are OK.  Time expires and the score remains at 3-3.  Buffalo outshoots New York by a 14-9 margin in the period and 35-24 mark in regulation.  Nilsson finishes regulation going 31 for 34 with a .912 Sv%.  Isles finish 1 for 2 on PP and 2 for 2 on PK.  We are going to O.T.

 

In the O.T. period, A scrum develops in front of the Buffalo net with Knapp out of position, but the work of Weber all over Donovan prevents him from putting it on the empty net.  The extra period ends with Buffalo out shooting the Isles 4-1.

The game will end in a shootout.

 

Ennis is stopped by Nilsson!

Frans Nielsen is stopped.

 

Hodgson denied by Nilsson.

Brock Neslon scores!

 

Leino is denied by a sprawling Nilsson!  Isles win 4-3!

 

You have to appreciate the effort tonight and the gutsy performance by the Isles mostly BST line up.  As I wrote about before and especially on the last few games, there are several guys who deserve more accolades.  I will get back to that in my season review coming soon.  So tonight, I will close with a positive message to all Isles fans.

 

Yes, the Isles finished 34-37-11.  Yes, they are missing the playoffs again.  Yes, the rebuild hasn't yielded the results quickly enough for some of you, but there IS a lot to be excited about with Strome, Lee and Nelson to name a few.

 

 

The rest will have to play out this summer.  Stick around.  Next season will be.

 

Isles Notes:

If the Flames beat Vancouver tonight, Isles get 4th pick.  If Flames lose, Isles get the 5th pick.  Will Garth Snow keep the pick or let it go as compensation for the Vanek deal to keep the '15 1st round pick?

 

Jiggs reveals Snow had chance to package Brock Nelson for starting goaltender and would not do the deal.



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A year ago today, my Mother Dorothy Bondi lost her final battle to cancer. Their hasn't been a day that has gone by that I haven't thought about her and all she has done for me in my life. I want to thank Marybeth and my family and friends for their support over the past year. 

I love you Mom.  R.I.P.