Islanders Powerless In Detroit

It’s a good thing your New York Islanders are 8-1-1 against the Detroit Red Wings since the 05-06 season, because they will be looking for a bounce back with a win after Thursday’s lack luster loss against the Bruins.  Both teams are tied with 65 points coming into the game.  Colin McDonald (34pts with the BST) has been recalled on an emergency basis for Casey Cizikas, Lubo Visnovsky returns from the IR in place of an improved Brian Strait and Chad Johnson will get his turn in net for New York.  Visnovsky should give a boost to the PP.  McDonald saw time on the third line in practice while Strome replaced Cizikas on the fourth.

Update:  Cizikas is in the lineup, McDonald scratched with Strait & Donovan.

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

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

Chad Johnson gets the start with Jaroslav Halak backing up.

Early in the first, Grabovski is called for interference, Isles to the PK.  de Haan with a weak clear and Tatar scores through traffic, 1-0 Red Wings.  PK continues to struggle.  Eric Hornick mentions, “Isles have allowed 8 PP goals in last 14 times short, including at least 1 in 6 straight games.”  Isles are having trouble carrying the puck and their defense looks a little shaky so far.  Could it be a confidence issue with CJ?  Glendening with goaltender interference, Isles go to the PP but don’t generate much as the period closes.  Not a good period for New York in the neutral zone and special teams struggled.  Shots are 8-5 in favor of Wings. 

Islanders getting pressured by Red Wings to start the second period, especially in the offensive zone.  Johnny Boychuk sets up Brock Nelson who somehow misses the open side stuff in to keep the score at 1-0 Wings.  Capuano goes back to changing lines, Bailey, Tavares, Strome & Grabovski, Nielsen, Kulemin. to start things off.  Islanders have been able to generate a little more jump by the midpoint of the period.  Thomas Hickey is nearly beheaded by Quincey, no call on the ice.  Somehow, JT draws a penalty from Ericsson slashing the stick out of his hands, Isles to the PP.  Officiating has been very inconsistent today.  New York is able to put a few pucks on net, but can’t convert.  Red Wings are called for too many men, Isles right back to the PP, but can’t get it done.  Capuano continues to juggle lines to no effect.  They need to convert on these kind of opportunities.  Red Wings have done a good job of jamming the neutral zone, negating the Isles fore check and not giving them any room on their PP chances.  Jurco makes it 2-0 with 46 seconds remaining in the period.  Their play was a little better and able to generate a 9-4 advantage in shots, but hasn’t been where they need it to be.

In the third period, the alternating lines continue to try and generate a spark for the Islanders.  Clutterbuck draws a Smith penalty, Isles go back to the PP & Lubo Visnovsky puts in a nice shot from the slot to pull the Isles within 1, 2-1 Red Wings.  Much better movement on the PP that time.  de Haan nabbed for a weak holding call against Tatar, Isles to the PK.  Ericsson makes it 3-1 Detroit lead from the blue line as penalty expires.  It all started off a bad clearing attempt by Strome.  Isles heading to the PP & officials call Nelson for embellishment as he steps on a stick and falls to the ice. 4 on 4 as a result of the call.  Tough break for the struggling Islanders. The Isles have been their own worst enemy, but the officiating has been awful today. You can’t make this stuff up.  Wings go the PP as Hamonic is called for a hook against Zetterberg with: 40 seconds remaining in the 4 on 4. After the 4 on 3 advantage expires for Detroit, they go to a 5 on 4 advantage. Nyquist gives them a 4-1 lead.  Johnson having another tough outing.  Tempers flare with under two minutes remaining.  Matt Martin sent off , JT serving in the box with 1:38 remaining.  4-1 is the final. 


The Islanders allowed Detroit to dictate play and force them to the outside all game long.  This magnified their inability to keep pace and forced them to take bad penalties and push enough for the suspect calls to affect their game.  Michael Grabner & Frans Nielsen barely saw action in the second half of the game.  Passengers?  Chad Johnson wasn’t the reason, but he will be the goat again in today’s team loss.  His 15/19 performance with a dismal .789 Sv% won’t help his case at all with the fans.  He simply wasn’t good again when his team faltered in front him.  I think I will finally say the backup goaltending position should be a serious concern for Isles management.  For whatever reason, Johnson is struggling and shows little hope of regaining the form that got him signed last summer.  The Isles were 1 of 4 on the PP and 2 of 4 on the PK.

 

In closing, it was another clunker.  I don’t want to say their recent misfires have become patterns, but they have been faltering a lot in certain areas lately.  The Isles have struggled to open & close periods effectively in recent games.  They have allowed bad goals at inopportune times.  The PP has been absent and their PK is far too inconsistent.  They need to regain their neutral zone transitional play and establish their fore and back checking game.  Taking ill-timed penalties has the potential to cause any team damage, especially when they aren't scoring goals.  Their special teams have not been at all special and are starting to drag them down.  In addition, they have started to work against their ability to get back into or close out close games.  The Islanders deserve to be called out for the last two games and although it’s hardly the time to panic, it is a little off-putting to watch the way they have been underperforming lately.  Adjustments must be made and corrections must be implemented.  Another slip up against the Atlantic division with another chance to regroup against the Panthers. 

 

Florida comes to the NVMC on Tuesday for a 7:00 start.

 

Isles Notes:

 

The Isles announce that Colin McDonald has been returned on loan to the BST.  Since the emergency conditions were terminated, C-Mac had to be returned ASAP to avoid waivers.

 

 

Sound Tigers Notes:

 

The #Isles have reassigned goaltender Kent Simpson from the @StocktonThunder to the #BST.