2015 Playoffs: Islanders Answer Caps In Game 3.

This afternoon, your New York Islanders host game 3 of their round 1 series against the Washington Capitals.  It will mark the final playoff opener for the the Islanders at Fort Neverlose and is sure to be a raucous atmosphere right up until game time.  On the NVMC, NBC host, Doc Emrick said, "I'm going to get to see two good teams in a place where it's nuts."  Capitals sniper Alex Ovechkin did his part when he said fans on the Island can’t match those in Maryland, “I don't think it's going to be as loud as Verizon. But we'll see.”  The home fans should prove him wrong.  They had even started a movement on social media to wear their home blue jerseys in a “color the coliseum blue” day.

 

The Islanders had a “spirited” practice yesterday and should come out with an improved effort at home today.  John Tavares will need to be a bigger presence if the Isles expect to raise their game to where it needs to be.  Tyler Kennedy is in for Michael Grabner.  There is no timetable for the return of Isles D, Travis Hamonic.  Brayden Holtby is expected to be in net for Washington today after missing game 2 due to an illness. 

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

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

Jaroslav Halak is in net with Michal Neuvirth on the bench.

 

In the first period, the Islanders open with a great series of hitting and stick work in the Washington zone. A physical message has been sent back to the Caps early by the entire Isles team, especially a shoulder check by Kyle Okposo on Fehr. It was beast-like and sent Fehr to the locker room.  Strong start for Okposo.  Glencross suckered into a penalty by Cal Clutterbuck, Isles generate some good pressure on the PP, but can’t convert.  Frans Nielsen is on his game today and has done a good job starting the rush on several chances.  With less than 5 minutes played so far, the Isles are outshooting Washington 10-0, Holtby has been good.  De Haan goes off for tripping on Glencross, but the Isles kill off the penalty.  The kill included a bad change by New York that lead to a Caps 3 on 1.  Johanssen helped to the locker room for Washington.  The fourth line has been a force for the Islanders through the first by playing the body and creating havoc for the Capitals.  John Tavares slices in and puts a puck between Holtby’s pads that just goes off the far post and going back the other way, Wilson rings his shot off the post.  Halak makes a glove save in the closing seconds and comes up slowly and awkwardly from a split as he skates off the ice.  Shots were 16-5 New York in the period.

 

Jaro Halak looks fine and returns to the Islanders net.  Johanssen is back for the Capitals, Fehr is not to start the 2^nd.  Tyler Kennedy is called for hooking on Niskanen who held his stick under his arm, Isles kill off another one.  Orpik called for interference on Kennedy, Isles can’t get any good looks on the PP, generate only one shot.  Another physical period for both teams.  Visnovsky goes down hard after a hit from Brouwer.  The hit looked clean, but there was a little bit of head contact there on the play.  Visnovsky sent to the locker room by Trainer for observation and returns to the bench a short time later.  Halak with a big shoulder save on Backstrom to keep the game scoreless.  Visnovsky takes a big shot from the top of the circle and Kyle Okposo (Kulemin & Leddy) redirects it past Holtby for a 1-0 Islanders lead.  Brouwer off for Tripping on Martin, Isles can’t score on the man advantage.  “Can you hear us,” chants rain down to Ovechkin from the Coliseum crowd.  Strait goes off for high-sticking with less than 2 minutes remaining, Isles on the PK.  Huge desperation play by Johnny Boychuk to clear the puck in the final seconds of the period.  Shots were 17-8 Islanders in the 2^nd and are 33-13 after two. 

 

 

The Islanders kill the final 40 seconds of the Washington PP to start the 3^rd period.  Nikolay Kulemin does so many things well for the Islanders in his two way game.  Jaro Halak with another big save, this time Johanssen.  The ice has become tilted and Washington has brought a lot of pressure late in the period.  Capuano calls a time out with 7:02 remaining to try and calm things down.  Halak comes up with a few big saves until Ovechkin redirects a Backstrom shot bar down, score tied at 1-1 at 13:54 of the 3^rd.  Nick Leddy comes within an inch of regaining the lead for the Islanders.  Washington calls a timeout with for the final 2 minutes.  The game is heading to O.T.  Shots were 12-7 Caps 40-25 New York for the game in the 3^rd, each team blocked 24 shots.  Isles PP was 0/3 and their PK was 3/3.  Jaro Halak was 23 of 24 with a .958Sv% in regulation.

Staple points out that the Isles have lost last four home playoff OT games. Last win: April 24, 1993, Game 4 vs. the Caps. @rayferrarotsn at 5:40 of 2nd OT.  John Tavares (Kulemin & Leddy) doesn’t care about stats because he scores the overtime winner just 15 seconds into the extra session with his first goal of the playoffs.  New York takes an important 2-1 series lead.

 

 

It was another response game by the home team is the series.  This time, it was the Islanders who answered a spirited comeback by the opposition with a huge game 3 win of their own at Fort Neverlose.  From the start of the game, New York came out hitting, checking and applying pressure in the offensive zone.  The 4^th line took center stage generating several sparks, Johnny Boychuk was all over Alex Ovechkin & Nick Leddy was everywhere.  Kyle Okposo came out and did everything he was capable of doing, including scoring the first goal of the game as well as being physical and dynamic in transitional play throughout.  Lubo Visnovsky, Nikolay Kulemin and Frans Nielsen played well by doing a lot of little things in the spirited win.  Jaro Halak was a cornerstone in the effort today.  He didn’t face a lot of shots until the third period, but he did stop several good chances early that could have changed the pace of the game and altered the direction it may have taken.  John Tavares had been quiet in the playoffs thus far and came up huge when his team needed him the most by scoring the O.T. winner 15 seconds in (an Isles team playoff record).  This win was a huge gut check for the entire team.  John Tavares, Kyle Okposo & Lubo Visnovsky were named the 3 stars of the game.  To everyone who was at the game, you guys were amazing and showed a national audience how awesome Isles fans are in supporting our team. 

 

 

Grail Knight of game 3 goes to Johnny Boychuk who had a huge game on defense for the Islanders.  He was draped over Ovechkin the entire game and never stopped playing hard.  Per Mike Kelly, “Islanders, especially Boychuck, did a great job of neutralizing Ovechkin. Ovie had 14 shot attempts, 3 hit the net, none went in.”  I wonder what Ovechkin thinks of how loud the Coli can get now?

Capuano, “You are going to have adversity. It’s how you deal with it that defines the result.” 

 

Game 4, Tuesday.

 
 

Isles Notes:

Happy Birthday to @NYIslanders superfan @MichaelAlexy!

 

The state Department of Labor has notified more than 40 full-time and 2,500 part-time employees of Nassau Coliseum that they will be laid off this summer per Newsday.

 

 

 

Post Game Isles Locker room: