An independent blog on the New York Islanders, the NHL and AHL by a guy from New York.

Friday, April 11, 2014

Isles Spin Out Devils


Tonight, your New York Islanders are in Newark N.J. to face the Devils.  Its their final meeting of the season with each team having two wins against the other.  The Devils were in the playoff hunt as recent as Wednesday, but fell out of contention when the teams around them took care of business.  That leaves pride and jobs as the motivation for both squads tonight.  Martin Brodeur will get the start for N.J.  Will it be his final game as a Devil?  Who will make an impression and who will not? 


Justin Johnson has been recalled from the BST to replace an injured Johan Sundstrom.  That makes an NHL debut for 13 different players for the Isles this season.



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.

 

In the first period, The Isles break into the Devils zone with a 2 on 1, Anders Lee (Nielsen) beats Jagr and gets his 7th goal of the season with a wrist shot that beats Brodeur stick-side at the 10:04 mark, 1-0 Isles.  Shortly after, Carter beats Mayfield & Czuczman on a cross ice pass and goes 5-hole while Nilsson moves across net mouth.  Game tied at 1-1.  With seconds remaining, Jagr puts it behind Nilsson through a screen, 2-1 Devils.  Devils out shooting New York 13-4.  Nilsson needs to play a more consistent game.  Its easy to hate, but Nilsson is an AHL goalie who hasn't had enough time at this level to develop. He will get better & be real deal.  Isles did well in face-offs, but N.J. controlled much of the game in the Isles zone.  That must be corrected and the Isles need to be more active on defense and challenge New Jersey. 



The Islanders come out with more jump in the second period.  They are pressing at center ice and turning more rushes back against the Devils to generate more shots on net.  Isles also doing a better job limiting N.J.'s shots on net throughout the period.  Persson and Zubrus collide and Brodeur goes down.  Recovers quickly and play resumes.  Casey Cizikas is back to his physical, energized game in a big way.  He draws a penalty in the final :27 seconds of the second.  Isles with some nice puck movement and good pressure at Devils net.  Shots were 11-3 in the period for the Isles, and much more even in the game at 17-16 N.Y.  Score remains 2-1.



In the opening minutes of the third period, Ryan Strome (Nielsen & Donovan) enters the zone, freezes Brodeur and rips one past him to tie the game at 2-2 with a PPG.  Isles control play early in the period, improving in their own end as well.  Isles with a good effort on the PK.  Cizikas' hustle draws another PP opportunity off Jagr, Isles come up empty.  Nilsson has put together several big saves, especially late in the third.  Martin & McDonald with a 2 on 1, Brodeur comes up with a big glove save against McDonald.  4:27 left in regulation.  Hickey with a big defensive play late in the period that may have helped this game go to O.T.  Shots were 11-9 in period and 27-26 in the game favoring N.J.  Nilsson went 23 for 25 with a .920Sv% in regulation.

 

In the O.T. period, a scrum ensues in front of the Isles net with Nilsson covering his net.  Somehow, Brock Nelson breaks out, but shoots wide on Brodeur.  Anders Lee draws a penalty at the 2:52 mark.  Isles get the 4 on 3 PP, but come up empty.  Time expires in O.T. and the game is going to a shoot out.  Isle with a 4-0 sog edge in the extra period.

 

The Devils are 0-12 in the shootout, scoring on only 3 of 43 opportunities.


 

Frans Nielsen scores fivehole!

 

Devils score.



Josh Bailey with a spin-o-rama and scores!

 

Devils miss.



Ryan Strome with the spin-o-rama and scores!  Isles win 3-2!


 

Anders Nilsson and Frans Nielsen got the first and second stars in the game.
 
 
 
 

 

Eric Hornick reminds us, "Isles reach 20 wins on the road for only the 8th time in their history (only second time since 1993)."

 

What else can you say, but the Isles win on back to back spin-o-ramas in the shootout to defeat Marty Brodeur and the New Jersey Devils in odd fashion.  They created some space, scored big goals from rookies on second straight night, tightened up defensively, buckled down in net and won the game.  Guys like Ryan Strome, Anders Lee and Brock Nelson are previewing their scorers pedigree.  Czuczman and Mayfield are improving with each game and learning from their mistakes.  Every call up has shown that they can contribute and they deserve to showcase why they belong in the line up.  Vets like Hickey, Cizikas, Martin and Hamonic are playing hard and leading by example.  Anders Nilsson has improved since being called up and with more games under his belt, I think he can develop some real skills and become a strong NHL goalie.
 

I think Management is aware they need to compliment these young guys with some NHL free agents this summer to give the team the best chance to win.  As we discussed, I know these are "meaningless" games and all the reasons that the season was a failure, but just keep in mind that this is a preview for the future and put these kids ahead of the curve to compete in camp for next seasons roster spots. 

 

You can not deny there is a reason to buy in to the way these guys play.


 

Isles Notes:

 

Per Mike Morreale, Capuano said Johan Sundstrom suffered an upper body injury (neck) vs. Habs last night. He is flying back tonight from Montreal.
 

Justin Johnson has been recalled on emergency basis from @TheSoundTigers.  He will wear #49 for the Isles. 


Per Arthur Staple, "Justin Johnson played 5 seasons in the ECHL and 4 in the AHL."


Sean Cuthbert, @HTW_sean comments on Brodeur lashing out at Bailey after a spin-o-rama is scored against him, "Just throwing it out there: if Anders Nilsson shoots the puck at Patrick Elias after a shootout goal, does he get reprimand from the league?"
 

 

Sound Tigers Notes:

 

The Sound Tigers have signed Scooter Vaughan to an AHL contract for the 2014-15 season.

 
Per Michael Fornabaio, "Bridgeport also signed RW Justin Hickman to an ATO out of Seattle (WHL). Could play tonight in Albany."




No comments:

Post a Comment