Islanders vs. Devils:
Tonight, your New York Islanders will have a rematch vs. the Devils in New Jersey. The game has no T.V. or streaming coverage, but was available on WRHU, Radio Hofstra. Isles defensemen Reinhart & Mayfield will get a chance to showcase themselves again and try to impress the coaching staff. While Reinhart is most likely in, Mayfield, who I think is very talented, will have something to prove. Tonight's line up seams to be a sink or swim watch for some guys on the bubble.
We know Colin McDonald is feeling the pressure along with Josh Bailey. Both players, although in different roles, find themselves in a lot of competition from the depth available to management. I feel Strome should make the full time jump this season. Mostly because he is dominant in the AHL and should show what he can do in the NHL. I understand that a first line role with the Sound Tigers would get him more playing time in Bridgeport than a second or third line spot on the Island, but he needs to finish assimilating to the NHL game.
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Forwards: Lee-Nielsen-Strome, Conacher-Grabovski-Kulemin, Bailey-Quine-McDonald, Boulton-Mouillierat-Halmo.
Defensemen: Hickey-Hamonic, Ness-Mayfield, Reinhart-Strait.
Halak in goal with Poulin on the bench.
Wearing the 'A's' tonight for the Islanders: Frans Nielsen, Travis Hamonic & Mikhail Grabovski.
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New Jersey scores to make it 1-0 early in the period.
Early in the second period, Halak makes a big save. Credit, Dan Savarino.
Per Brett Cyrgalis, "3rd period line: Conacher-Nielsen-Bailey; Strome-Grabovski-Kulemin; Lee-Quine-McDonald. 4th the same."
Mayfield's shot is deflected by Mouillierat almost five minutes into the 3rd to tie the game at 1-1 for the Isles.
Time expires and the game is going to over time. Shots tied at 20 per team.
Conacher comes close to scoring in O.T. off a feed from Nielsen, Schneider makes the save.
:36.1 seconds of PP time for the Isles in the remaining in O.T. period. Strome working hard with shot after shot in final seconds, but can't convert.
The game is going to a shoot out.
Mc Donald misses the net.
Devils are stopped by Halak.
Nielsen is stopped.
Devils are stopped by Halak.
Strome is stopped.
Devils are stopped by Halak.
Bailey is stopped.
Devils are stopped by Halak.
Grabovski misses the net.
Devils score, win the game 2-1. (SO)
From what I could tell by listening to the game, the second and third line combinations played well tonight as did Strome & Mayfield. Halak seemed much better and seems to be finding his groove. He was huge in the third period and in extra time. The team did well without some its best players tonight. Great effort.
Look for more urgency in the final pre season game tomorrow, Isles vs. Bruins in Bridgeport @ 7:30pm.
Islanders are
4-1-1 so far in pre season.
Per Arthur Staple, Hamonic on Halak: "He had a couple tonight where it seemed like it was going in and he stops it..it's nice to know we have a wall back there"
Isles Notes:
Per Arthur Staple, " Pulock, de Haan (upper body), Visnovsky (back), Grabner (upper body), Cizikas (back). Only de Haan skating."
Per Larry Brooks, "Post has learned that spurned Islanders' buyer Barroway is now zeroed in on financially troubled Coyotes.
Former Islander, Bruno Gervais has been put on waivers by the Colorado Avalanche.
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