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

Saturday, November 8, 2014

Islanders Edge Coyotes


Tonight, your New York Islanders are in Arizona to face the Coyotes for the final game of their west coast road trip.  Johnny Boychuk is being kept out of the game tonight for a "precautionary measure."  Brian Strait and not Matt Donovan will be in the line up on defense.  The Isles will look to add a W with their third straight win on the road.  Mike Smith is in net for Arizona.  He owns a 4-1-0 record with a 2.36 GAA in five career games against the Islanders.  But tonight is a new opportunity for the Isles to take the next step forward and conquer another adversity.
 
 
Forwards:  Kulemin-Tavares-Okposo, Grabovski-Nielsen-Clutterbuck, Lee-Strome-Nelson, Boulton-Cizikas-Martin.
 
Defensive Pairings:  de Haan-Hamonic, Leddy-Strait, Hickey-Visnovsky.
 
Jaroslav Halak will be in net with Chad Johnson on the bench.
 
 
 
In the first period, the Isles had the better of the play to start the period.  Brock Nelson called on a hit from behind, but the Isles strong on the PK. Visnovsky limps off ice & onto the bench after a big hit from Vitale.  Isles to the PP at the mid point of the period.  Tavares & Leddy with some good plays with the extra man, but fail to score.  The Isles still playing hard to close out the first period and limiting the chances for Arizona.  Strong play by the Isles defense.  No scoring in the period, but the Isles hold slight edge in shots 11-5, but control face off by a 12-6 margin.

 
 
The Islanders pressing early in the second period with good scoring chances by Tavares, Nielsen & Nelson, but Smith is equal to the task.  Teams exchange chances through the middle of the period, but game remains scoreless.  Isles hold a 15-8 advantage in shots.  Isles PK put to the test again in the final five minutes, but come through again. 2/2 so far tonight & Halak having a good night.  Smith comes up big again as a scrum opens up in front of his net, some good pressure by the Isles, but with no results.  Isles back to the PK with 31.6 left in the period.  Bad call by the officials on Nielsen.  Isles repel the Coyotes to keep the games scoreless.  Isles still lead in shots (19/11) and face off wins (21-17.)  Per Arthur Staple, "Isles have allowed 4 even-strength SOG by Coyotes through 40 mins. Still 1:29 of PP time to kill off to open 3rd, though."
 

 
The Islanders start the third period on the PK.  Halak with a nice save as the PK ends.  Islanders are back on the PK again.  Clutterbuck gets a short handed chance but is stopped by Smith.  Isles PK improves to 4/4 to this point.  Islanders need to generate more aggressive play and start giving themselves more quality chances to score.  Halak has been quietly strong in this game.  Isles to the PP with just under 8:00 minutes left.  Isles continue to apply pressure and Frans Nielsen (Grabovski & Hickey) makes it 1-0 Islanders.  Isles will be on the PK for the final 1:37 in regulation.  Coyotes pull Smith.  Brock Nelson will some great defensive work at the blue line and finally clear the puck.  Coyotes with a final rush with :21 remaining.  Isles repel Arizona and win 1-0. 
 
 
 
Jaro Halak gets his 31st career shut out with 19 saves.  It's his first of the year and first as an Islander.  Jeff Capellini points out, "Halak has lowered his GAA to 2.87, raised save % to .905. Stopped 51 of last 53 shots."  He looks more focused and is finding his game right before our eyes.  Halak-it.  On special teams, the PP was 0/3, but the PK was an impressive 5/5.  The Isles finished with a 31-19 shots advantage.
 
 
 
 
 
It looks like Coach Capuano kept things in check tonight from a leadership standpoint.  We have yet to see if the improvements will be there consistently.  I have questioned his judgment many times this season and I am not taking my criticism back, but things have looked good over the last three wins.  More to come.
 
 
 
The Islanders finish their west coast road trip with three straight wins, gain 6 out of 10 points and improve to 9-5-0 in November.  Another great team win in what some would call a mostly boring game.  If they keep up this kind of strong defensive effort each night, the rest will happen for them.  They have obviously learned how to fight through adversity on this trip and recover from mistakes.  The team chemistry is building and despite some key injuries, (Grabner, Bailey, Boychuk) they got it done.  When the first line gets hot, who knows how much more they can accomplish.
 
 
 
 
Colorado comes to the NVMC on Tuesday @7PM.
 

 
 
Isles Notes:
 
 
Per Arthur Staple, "Isles got 41st road win since start of 2012-13. Only Pens (46), Ducks (45), Habs (43) and Blues (42) have more. 23-8-2 last 33 on road."
 
 
 
Sound Tigers Notes:

 
The Sound Tigers win as @HarryZ87 scores 2 of #BST six power play goals as they win it 7-2! #BSTvsALB
 
Griffin Reinhart left the game & did not return. Reported as a lower body injury.
 
 
 

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