Isles Vetoed By Sens

Tonight, your New York Islanders will play their final home game of the 13-14 season tonight when they face the Ottawa Senators.  The Sens need help to remain alive in playoff contention, but will want a win here tonight to help their cause.  The Isles are 3-0-1 in their last 4 games at the NVMC and will look to win one last game in front of their home crowd before ending the season on the road.  Brett Gallant (1 goal & 245 pims w BST) will wear No. 59 tonight in his NHL debut. 

 

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

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

 

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

Grabner & de Haan are still day-to-day with Okposo, Tavares, Visnovsky & Strait are all out tonight.

 

 

The first period is a little slow and methodical for both teams, with isles leading in shots 6-2 with 12:00 remaining.  Gallant and Kassian drop gloves before puck is dropped on faceoff, officals are not amused and linesmen break it up before any punches are thrown with unsportsmanlike minors.  They meet up right out of the box as the penalty expires, Gallant drops Kassian with his first punch.   Kassian heads to the locker room to et checked out.  Nilsson with a great 2 on 1 sprawling toe save from the PK.  Anders Nilsson looks poised here tonight with several nice saves in the game thus far.  Clutterbuck leaves bench & goes angrily to the locker room.  Anders Lee taking some punishment from Anderson's stick behind the play.  Islanders are bringing some good pressure, especially on the PP, but Anderson has been sharp.  Ryan Strome just keeps getting better with each game.  No score after 1 period.  Isles are 1 for 1 on the PK and lead in shots 17-9, but go 0 for 2 on PP.

 

Anders Nilsson continues to play a solid game for the Isles to start the second period.  Per the NYI, Cal Clutterbuck will not return to tonight's game (upper body).  Isles keeping up the pressure. Have to hope they break through, otherwise it will be a slow confidence builder for Sens & an eventual loss.  Spezza scores to give Sens a 1-0 lead at the 12:45 mark.  Isles still getting there chances and dictating play, but Anderson is equal to the task.  Isles out shoot Sens 15-10 in the period and 32-19 after 2 periods.

Frans Nielsen back hand ties the score at 1-1 just :21 seconds into the third period (Czuczman & Bailey).  Matt Martin is having a good game tonight, playing with a chip as we are accustomed to seeing him.  Nielsen's career year continues with his 25th goal of the season.  Nilsson with a huge glove save off another breakaway in the middle of the period.  This save along with the first period toe save have been some of the season's best.  Casey Cizikas making noise with some shorthanded pressure in the Ottawa zone.  Spezza puts one behind Nilsson as he gets bumped by Michalek to give the Sens a 2-1 lead at the 12:45 mark.  That's one Nilsson would want back.  A bad defensive give away leads to Hemsky breaking in alone and by Nilsson, 3-1 Ottawa.  Nilsson comes off the post too early there.  More lack of discipline when it matters most by the Isles with a too many men penalty with under 4:00 remaining.  Cizikas coming close with a short handed break away, Anderson makes the saves.  Isles call a time out.  Empty net for the Isles, Sens score ENG with 11.2 seconds remaining.  Time expires and the Islanders lose to Ottawa 4-1, despite out shooting them 44-31 in the game.  Isles PP went 0 for 3 and PK was 4 for 5.  Sens were eliminated from playoff contention with a CBJ win tonight.

 

 

 

 

Hopefully Cal Clutterbuck's injury isn't too serious. 

 

Props to Gallant, Lee, Strome, Martin & Cizikas were good tonight.  Credit Czurchman for improving and Mayfield for another good effort.  Anders Nilsson (28-31 with a .903Sv%) was good through two, but came apart with the rest of his team in the third period.  Like in many games this season, the Isles lacked the discipline to stay the course and sort of self destructed, despite dominating the game early.  Coaching remains an issue for me as well as the need for better starting goaltending and a veteran D-man.  Isles finish season going a dismal 13 of 41 in wins at home this season (8 in regulation).  There are 3 games remaining on the season to take a few more notes on the performances of all the players, including the promising crop of rookies who have played well this season.  There is also time to think about a lot of things.

 

Per @kupkrazy, "No one from the Isles spoke to the crowd at the end like they've done for years. Not even an Alternate. Speaks volumes."

 

 

Isles Notes:

 

The Islanders finish the season on the road at Montreal on Thursday, 4/10 @ 7:30pm, New Jersey on Friday, 4/11 @ 7:30pm, and Buffalo on Sunday, 4/13 @ 5pm.

The NYI name John Tavares the Islander of the Year.

Per Islander Mania, In 1998 - Ziggy Palffy scores his 40th and 41st goals to become only the 4th player in Isles history to score 40+ in 3 straight seasons.

 

Hockey Notes:

Per Bob McKenzie, NHL Central Scouting Bureau released its final rankings for 2014 draft today. Have a look at them here.