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

Saturday, December 27, 2014

Islanders Blow Lead In Buffalo


Your New York Islanders announced that goaltender, Jaroslav Halak has been placed on IR (lower body) retroactive to December 20th before the Christmas break, despite a few “maintenance” days.  The Islanders have recalled Kevin Poulin on an emergency basis from the BST.  Poulin is 10-6-4 with a 2.41 gaa and a .928Sv% and is coming off a 2-0 shut-out against Providence last night.  The good news is that Halak practiced in net with Chad Johnson today and could return to the line-up as early as Monday if his injury is in check.  This could be seen as bad news for Chad Johnson, in that the organization seems to be giving Poulin a chance to show what he can do instead of going back to Johnson who had a good effort in the loss to Montreal.  Per Arthur Staple, Capuano said, "Kevin (Poulin) deserves a shot. He played well in camp, he played well last night. He's earned it."  Its Poulin’s first start since January 27th.

 
Tonight, Kevin Poulin and the Islanders will face Ted Nolan, Matt Moulson and the struggling, but improving Sabres in Buffalo.  The Sabres are 10-3-0 in their last 13 games.  A dangerous game for any team that finds themselves in a similar situation.  The Isles will need a complete, 60 minute effort tonight.  A balanced scoring attack & a solid defensive effort will be required to get a win tonight.



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

Defensive Pairings:  de Haan-Hamonic, Leddy-Boychuk, Visnovsky-Hickey.

Kevin Poulin gets the start in net with Chad Johnson backing up.

 

In the first period, the Islanders got on the board early off a goal from Nick Leddy (Okposo & Bailey) through a John Tavares screen.  1-0 New York.  There is a much needed goal by the defense.  Kevin Poulin looks good on his first few shots of the game, including one against Matt Moulson in close.  John Tavares is leading by example with strong two way play again tonight.  Lubo Visnovsky has definitely been the best Isles defensemen tonight, including a nice effort to break up a Buffalo scoring chance.  Isles finish the period behind 10-9 in shots, but will start the 2nd on a PP thanks to Stewart hit on Clutterbuck at the end of the period.


Isles fail to score on the opening power play of the period.  Okposo is called for trying to check a stick, Isles to the PK.  Weak call, but Isles kill it off.  Isles return to the PK on Hickey’s trip against Ennis and kill that one.  Bailey forces a Buffalo turn over and John Tavares scores on the backhand to make it 2-0 Isles.  Tavares ties Okposo for the team lead in points at 30.  Tavares is really starting to elevate his game and that is a very good thing.  John Tavares (Bailey & Okposo) scores again to give the Isles a 3-0 lead.  de Haan called for tripping against Larsson.  The PK kills off another one.  The Isles have made their share of mistakes, but have tightened up defensively to help out Kevin Poulin who has gotten better as the game has gone on.  First line clicking with another good effort tonight.  Josh Bailey has started to look like he belongs with JT & KO.  Shots are at 19-17 Isles by the end of the period. 


Enroth comes up big on a Frans Nielsen shot off a nice feed from Thomas Hickey early in the third period.  Deslauriers gets one for Buffalo at the 6:39 mark, 3-1 Islanders.  Gut check time for Kevin Poulin and the Isles.  Casey Cizikas has had another quietly effective game for New York.  Stafford gets a call for goaltender interference against Poulin.  Credit KP for selling that one.  Isles to the PP.  Girgensons gets a SHG to make the score 3-2.  It’s the first SHG surrendered by the Isles. Time out New York.  de Haan burned by Stewart, who goes five hole to beat Poulin & the game at 3-3.  Three goals on 4 shots by the NHL’s worst offensive team in 5:02.  Islanders are reeling here late in the third period and have fallen off defensively.  Poulin has responsibility here, but it’s not all on him.  Sabres call a time with 26.6 remaining to draw up a play.  Isles finish regulation 33-23 in shots and trail 34-21 in face offs.  Somehow, this game is going to O.T.  The Islanders blow a 3-0 lead and salvage a point.  They will try for 2.


In overtime, the Isles have a few good chances and Kevin Poulin makes a nice stop on Girgensons.  Thomas Hickey is the Isles MVP in the period.  Isles were 0/2 on the PP and 3/3 on the PK.  This game is somehow heading to a shoot-out.

 

Moulson is stopped by Poulin!

Kyle Okposo is stopped by Enroth.

Ennis scores.

Frans Nielsen misses the net.

Girgensons is stopped by Poulin!

John Tavares is stopped by Enroth.  Game over.


The Islanders lose to the Buffalo Sabres 4-3 in the S.O.

 

The positives have been addressed in the period recaps, but the real failures are as follows:   Islanders blow a 3-0 lead, fail again on the PP, mismanage momentum & lose for the first time this season in the extra session. Kevin Poulin (23/26 with a .885Sv%) could have been better, but he was not the cause for the loss.  The cause:  Another weak third period & failing defense were the primary culprits tonight.  Credit the Sabres for fighting hard, but the game was given away by the Islanders.  23-11-1.  Time to refocus.


 

Capitals visit the NVMC @ 7pm on Monday.
 

 

Isles Notes:

 

Per @TheGoalieGuild, “Poulin starting tonight for the Islanders, making them the 12th team to use a 3rd goalie this season.”


The Islanders have reassigned goaltender Kent Simpson to the BST from the Stockton Thunder.

 
Isles G prospect Ilya Sorokin recorded a 3-2 S.O. win in net for Russia vs. Denmark at the WJC yesterday.

 

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