Islanders Shock Rangers

Tonight, Your New York Islanders met the New York Rangers for the first of 5 meetings this season.  Halak vs. Lundqvist.  Per Rich DeCorte, "Capuano on heading into a hostile environment: 'This is where you learn a little bit about your team."  School is now in session.

 

Forwards:  Conacher-Tavares-Okposo Grabovski-Nelson-Strome Bailey-Nielsen-Kulemin Martin-Cizikas-Clutterbuck.

Defensive Pairings:  Leddy-Boychuk Hickey-Hamonic Strait-Reinhart.

Jaro Halak is in net with Chad Johnson on the bench.

 

In the first period, although Halak is sharp early on, he lets in a weak goal off his own skate away from the post, 1-0 Rangers.  Isles have been sloppy in the neutral zone, giving the puck away against a shaky defense.  Isles score on a PP opportunity on a Johnny Boychuk (Okposo & Nielsen) shot and a Nelson screen, game tied at 1-1.  Islanders turn on pressure late in the period, end on a PP chance.   Lead 12-11 in shots.

 

Early in the second, Rangers ice puck, but no icing is called.  Islanders called for icing and Rangers score off subsequent face-off in Isles zone, 2-1 Rangers.  Weak calls so far tonight by officials.  The Islanders scrambling to find their game, looking lost & getting beat all over the place.  The PK has been terrible & the Defense (not named Leddy) still having a lot of trouble with positioning.  Reinhart & Strome having bad games.  Thankfully, Halak looking good & keeping Isles in the game throughout the period.  Kulemin takes puck away, dishes to John Tavares who rips it past Lundqvist, 2-2 late in the period.  Kulemin has been impressive in the game, doing just about everything.  Grabovski also making a difference.  Shots are 21-8 Rangers in the period, but Isles with a good PK to finish the period.
 

 

 

 

The third period starts with a give away in front of Lundqvist and Kyle Okposo buries it, 3-2 Islanders.  Its Okposo's 100th career goal.  Islanders gain some momentum off the goal and start applying pressure in Rangers zone.  Brock Nelson (Strome & Grabovski) scores with the wrister, 4-2 Islanders.  Its Nelson's 8th point of the season.  Seconds after, Mikhail Grabovski (Strome) makes it 5-2 Isles.  Islanders have scored 4 unanswered goals against Lundqvist.  MSG is silent and the Rangers look to be unraveling before our eyes.  Nick Leddy (Tavares) makes it 6-2 Islanders.  Larry Brooks Tweets, "First time in NYR Lundqvist's career that he has allowed 5 or more goals in consecutive starts."  Fans are leaving in droves at MSG.  Rangers score to make it 6-3 with 2:10 remaining, but its not enough. 

 

Isles win 6-3 & start the season 3-0 for first time since 2001-2002.  With no disrespect to the Hurricanes or the Isles in the first two games, tonight was their first real test and they passed.  With all the mistakes and being out played for a good stretch, their depth gave them enough to win.  The Coach and players all had plenty of negative things to say about the game tonight.  Good.  That's what winners do.  Always strive to be better.


Cory Conacher had a really strong game and is making it hard for his would-be replacement, but can we talk about Brock Nelson?  Nelson is a star on a deep Isles team and is doing everything right. He is scoring goals, setting up his team mates & finds a way to do everything they ask of him.  He is really turning into a serious threat for opposing teams.  But the Isles survived this game on the back of Halak who had 40 saves with a .930 Sv%.  Even though the Isles had 20 blocked shots as a team, their goaltender was a huge factor in the winning effort. Tavares, Nelson, Okposo, Grabovski, Boychuk and Leddy all scored for the Isles while the PP went 1/4 the PK improved as the game went on finished 3/3.  Halak, Tavares & Okposo were named the 3 stars of the game.  I wonder if Nelson will be considered for an NHL star of the week this time?

 

John Tavares was quoted as saying, "Sometimes they apologize for being Ranger fans.  And I say, 'You don't have to apologize to me.  I just like beating you guys."

So do we J.T.  So do we.

 

Isles Notes:

Per Jamie Stuart, "Isles postpone new ownership press conference due to "unavoidable business scheduling.' A new date has not been announced."

Calvin de Haan practiced yesterday for the first time since being put on IR.

Per Brett Cyrgalis, "Neither de Haan or Capuano would say, but Garth Snow told me the dman isn't medically cleared. "No timetable. Could be ready by Thursday."

Per Dan Savarino, "Capuano is "not settled" on having Conacher stay on the top line."

Spoke to Halak, told me "I need to be a little better." Feels he's still adjusting to the Isles, & his teammates are getting used to him.

Per Daniel Friedman, Former Islander, Richard Park has joined the Minnesota Wild as a player development coach.

 

Former Islander, Trevor Gillies had his suspension increased to 12 games for his "attack on players head."  I am a supporter of Gillies, but he needs to be aware of his record and realize that he will have additional time added to his warranted suspensions.  While I don't believe he slammed the players head to the ice, the AHL will seek to make an example of him and show they are serious when dealing with possible head injuries.