Isles Fall To Rangers

Your New York Islanders hold a 3 point lead over the New York Rangers and they will meet again for the final time for a regular season game at the NVMC tonight in front of their 19^th sell out of the season.  The good news for the Isles is that Kyle Okposo has been removed from the IR after 22 games and will see limited time tonight, but probably away from the first line. Statistically, coming into tonight’s game, Okposo has 44 points in 46 games, but will play his first game tonight since January 19th. Kael Mouillierat has been sent back the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.  Earlier today, Arthur Staple added, “Looks like Grabner will be scratched to make room for Okposo. Grabner skating with McDonald and Boulton now.”  Nick Leddy’s iron man streak will end at 320 games.  He will not play tonight.  Brian Strait is in.

Bailey-Tavares-Kennedy, Kulemin-Nielsen-Okposo, Lee-Nelson-Strome, Martin-Cizikas-Clutterbuck.

de Haan-Boychuk, Strait-Hamonic, Hickey-Visnovsky.

Jaro Halak is in net with Michal Neuvirth backing up.

The Isles open the first period with some good early pressure on Talbot & Kyle Okposo gets into a shoving match with Staal, trying to bang in the loose puck.  John Tavares jumps to his defense.  Johnny Boychuk is everywhere, shooting pucks and throwing checks.  Love the intensity early by the Islanders.  Lubo Visnovsky draws a hooking penalty on Stepan.  Isles to the PP with K.O. on the first unit, but can’t execute.  Anders Lee comes out, winning battles and puts one in on the wrap-around for a 1-0 lead.  Lee is 2^nd among rookies w 23 and 5^th in points with 38.  Fast takes a dive on the face off and Casey Cizikas somehow gets called for unsportsmanlike conduct.  Good kill for the Isles.  Isles defense are doing a good job at containing the Rangers on break out opportunities.  Don't downplay Halak’s performance thus far.  He has made big saves on only 5 shots w 4:02 remaining in the 1st.  Isles bringing a lot of intensity.  Hopefully, they can maintain this pace throughout the game. Remember, the Rangers had last night off.  Isles outshoot Rangers 13-7 in the period and hold a 14-3 advantage in face offs.

The Isles continue working hard to start the second period.  Bailey draws a high stick from Hayes who draws blood, Isles back to the PP for just 2:00.  John Tavares goes to the box for holding.  4 on 4, Rangers will have 1:16 worth of PP time.  Isles good again on the kill.  Johnny Boychuk has been blocking shots, clearing pucks and putting them on net all night long.  Josh Bailey called for interference on Glass, but the Isles good on the kill gain.  Thomas Hickey goes down trying to make a play on a breaking Hayes and interferes with Halak. The puck goes in as a result, score tied at 1-1.  Tough break for the Islanders, who are getting outshot 7-1, with 7:00 remaining in the 2^nd.  Capuano makes good use of a time out.  Isles respond with some jump.  JT & Kennedy break out on a 2 on 1 and Kennedy goes wide on the shot.  Matt Martin lays out Zuccarello in the neutral zone trying to spark his team.  Josh Bailey with a clean break away, but doesn’t get enough on the shot to matter. Talbot makes some big saves in the final minutes.  The Rangers answered the Isles first period intensity early in the period, especially in shots, but only finish with an 11-10 edge in the period.  The Isles need a big third period.

Islanders look tired to start the third period.  Nash puts a shot wide, but deflects it in off Stromes' skate for a fluky goal, 2-1 Rangers.  Brassard holds Nielsen, Isles with another PP chance, but generate very little.  Halak gets caught out of position, but Calvin de Haan makes the save in front of a wide open net.  Capuano mixes lines with Bailey-Tavares & Okposo getting a few shifts.  Brian Strait goes off for high sticking Miller, Isles to the PK.  Yandle takes down Nielsen starting a breakaway, 47 seconds of 4 on 4, then an Isles PP for 1:10.  Isles generate no shots on net.  PP hurting the Isles again bigtime.  Casey Cizikas continues to work hard to make something happen.  Halak goes to the bench with 1:14 remaining.  Isles with some good pressure man up, but can’t find a way to even the score.  Isles had a 7-4 edge in shots for the third and 30-22 advantage in the game.  Their PP was a terrible 0 for 4, their PK went 4 for 4 and they were good in the faceoff circle 32-23.

 

The Rangers win by a 2-1 score by playing hard and befit with some very good goaltending by Talbot.  In the end, some good Ranger bounces, shady calls and two strange goals (Hickey banging into Halak & Stromes’ skate deflection) were too much to overcome this time.  Isles started strong and played well, but their fatigue showed as the game went on.  They still maintain a 1 pt. lead over the Rangers who have 4 games at hand in the metro. 

Standouts for the Isles were Anders Lee (3rd star of the game) & Johnny Boychuk.  And even though Bailey had some missed opportunities, but played a decent game.  Jaro Halak (20 of 22 with a .909Sv%) played pretty well in the loss and the Isles PK has improved of late.  It was a tough loss to take, but they can get a real dose of what they need to improve upon moving into the playoffs.

Isles have Ottawa at home on Friday and face Montreal & Chicago for just 3 games in 10 days to rest, practice and heal.  Keep the faith.

 

Isles Notes:

Kyle Okposo: “There is always a risk that it could happen again just with my eyes being the way they are … they had to do some stuff in my other eye because it was heading along the same path. The doc told me my vision was not guaranteed to come back...at that point you just start realizing what's important.”