Tonight, your New York Islanders celebrate Veteran's Day by facing the Colorado
Avalanche at the NVMC. The memory of their 5-0 defeat in Colorado is sure to motivate
the Isles, as is their recent string of road trip wins. Jaro Halak is in
net tonight and playing his best hockey of the year. Johnny Boychuk will
return to the line up and there is sure to be a loud bunch of fans at the coliseum
cheering on their team. Arthur Staple quoted Boychuk on Clifford hit:
"When I see it again, it doesn't look like a good hit. I'm just happy it
wasn't as bad as it could have been."
Jiggs has the call again tonight. Andy Grazziano
points out the Isles are 13-1-3 in last 17 games that he has called.
Forwards: Kulemin-Tavares-Okposo,
Grabovski-Nielsen-Clutterbuck, Lee-Strome-Nelson, Martin-Cizikas-Conacher.
Defensive Pairings: Leddy-Boychuk, De Haan-Hamonic,
Hickey-Visnovsky.
Jaroslav Halak is in net with Chad Johnson backing up.
In the first period, the Isles wasted no time coming out
with a lot of jump. They controlled play early and scored their first of the game
almost as fast. Nick Leddy (Boychuk & Strome) puts a wrist shot past
Varlamov for a 1-0 Isles lead. It's Leddy's 100th NHL career point. New York continues to press and Anders Lee
puts one in off a set Zamboni door play by Boychuk to make it 2-0 Islanders.
Jaro Halak hasn't been very busy, but is looking good so far in the
period. Cal Clutterbuck is denied on a break away opportunity. Some
of tonight's calls have been suspect to say the least. When Jiggs calls
you out, you have been called out. Isles will have PP time remaining to
start the second. Out shooting Avs 13-5.
The Isles fail to score on the remainder of their PP chance
to start the second period. Travis Hamonic (Tavares & Kulemin) rips a
slap shot past Varlamov to make it 3-0 Islanders. Isles doing a great job
with their "puck management." They are moving the puck well
and executing a strong possession game thus far, dominating the
neutral and defensive zone play. Isles go to the PK, but Nikolay
Kulemin (Nielsen) backhands a SHG to make it a 4-0 game for New
York. Isles finish the period in relentless fashion and have
really shown up to play so far tonight. "We're trying to keep with the
game plan & listen to what the coaches want us to do" - Kulemin.
Shots advantage to New York, 28-13, 24-23 in the circle. Oh, and Nikolay is his own inspiration. Nice.
BTW, Section 329 has been heard loud & clear over the
air.
In the third period, Casey Cizikas (Visnovsky &
Conacher) is rewarded for his hard work on his first goal of the season, 5-0
Islanders. Two minutes later, Ryan Strome
(Nelson) makes it a 6-0 game with his first of the season. Touchdown Islanders! Butch Goring with a great point on Roy leaving MTL for not getting taken out in a blow
out game. Kyle Okposo with JT in the
middle puts a sweet pass to the stick of Kulemin, but puck misses up high. Isles finish the game strong, with a 6-0
trouncing of the Avalance. They
outshoot Colorado 46-20 in the game and finish 1/6 on the PP and 3/3 on the PK. They maintained a 35-32 edge in face-offs.
Halak, Kulemin & Strome get
the stars of the game.
On a day to remember all that our war veterans allow us to enjoy, your Isles Improve to 10-5 on the
season after collecting 8 straight points, get their 4th win in a row. How good can they be when all their top players are in sync and they get healthy? Tonight's
game was the biggest margin of victory since the Pittsburgh blowout when your
Isles team had their coming of age & put the NHL on notice. Leddy, Lee, Hamonic,
Kulemin, Cizikas and Strome score for the Islanders. Jaro Halak stops everything for
his second straight shut out. Halak has
a shut out streak of over 146 minutes and counting. A streak that is only 18 minutes shy of the franchise
record.
It was a tactical, well played & physical effort by the Isles. They were able to take Colorado completely off their
game tonight. The Isles out scored their
opponents 12-3 on winning streak and have only allowed 5 goals in their last 6
games. And that's a 14-1-3 record when Jiggs calls the
game.
Enjoy your ample supply of Papa
Johns & Wendy's chili tomorrow.
Isles Notes:
On Saturday November 22nd, The Blue And Orange Army will be
holding the 2nd Annual BOA Thanksgiving Food Drive. It will be held prior to
the Islanders game vs. the Pittsburgh Penguins from 1PM to 6PM at our usual
tailgate spot outside the plaza. Donations can include items such as canned
goods, pastas, cereals, stuffing, instant mashed potatoes etc. Grillmaster
Teese Will be cooking up food, $5 donation per person and Steve Clay will also
be setting up the XBOX for NHL 14 Games at $5 donation per game. Lastly, we
will be hosting the 1st BOA Thanksgiving open invitational 2 on 2 street hockey
tournament, $5 donation per person player, Goalies play free. All
donations will be going to Trinity Church Soup Kitchen in Coram and St Frances
de Chantal soup kitchen in Wantagh.
Trade Rumors: Word is that there are none in the works. To get an impact player, you need to give one up. Or you
need to give up the high picks that the Isles don't have or top young
players they already have designs on. Salary dumps are a possible scenario, but the
Isles have a much higher payroll now, more depth & good chemistry that
they don't want to risk upsetting.
Isles prospect, Alan Quine is on a 7-game point streak and has tallied a goal in the last three games.
Mikko Koskinen (Sibir) was named a KHL
player of the week for his play in net.
Per @NHLhistorygirl, "Bobby Nystrom had no idea he'd
been drafted in 1972 until his dad called & told him. "I said, 'Who
are the New York Islanders?"
Former Islander Goaltender, Yann Danis signed a PTO with
Norfolk in the AHL.
*****
Coming Soon....
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