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

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

2015 Playoffs: Isles Broken & Powerless In Game 4.


Yesterday, I went to the NVMC to see our New York Islanders face the Washington Capitals in game 4 of their 1st round match up.  The Isles had a 2-1 lead on the Caps and a win would have given them a commanding 3-1 series edge before heading back to Maryland.  Over the course of regulation, Ovechkin & Casey Cizikas (Clutterbuck & Leddy) exchanged goals in the second period of what turned out to be a very gritty and physical game. 


In the second period, Cap’s wing, Tom Wilson hit Lubomir Visnovsky behind the Islanders net 20 seconds after leaving the box for serving a kneeing penalty.  From the stands, I observed Wilson go after Visnovsky while he was away from the puck with a shoulder to his head, leaving his feet as he finished the hit.  To me, seeing him accessed with a 2:00 charging call was a joke.  It was clearly an attempt to injure a player with a concussion history.  Visnovsky left the game and his injury status is unknown at this time.  To make things worse, we get to hear Wilson’s team mate, Brooks Laich state that it was "a good penalty to take. Knocks them down to 5 defensemen for the rest of the game,” when he spoke about the Wilson hit on Visnovsky.  If I’m part of this Isles team & I read that no further discipline was handed out to Wilson & see the Laich comment, I wouldn't need any other motivation than the brotherhood of the other guys in the room. It's on.  And by on, I don't mean respond by using your own form of goonery or dirty play. I mean police your ice as a team & protect you own.  Raise your level of play. Winning this series is the real justice, not revenge.


Per Katie Strang, “Tom Wilson won't face any supplementary discipline for his hit on Visnovsky.”

Capuano on Wilson hit, "I don't have an opinion on it."

Tavares on Lubo hit, "we could've hit their guys like that but we play within the rules"

Kyle Okposo on Tom Wilson, "He's an idiot …The guy runs around, hits reckless, leaves his feet. There's no place for that."


New York went 0 of 4 on the PP and broke what seemed to be countless sticks at the worst possible times.  Several scoring chances and strong plays in the offensive zone were thwarted by the Isles continued plague of stick casualities.  After heading to over time with the score still tied at 1-1, Backstrom took advantage of another broken stick by John Tavares to somehow slip in the game winning goal behind a screened Jaroslav Halak.  The shot somehow fluttered through & into the net about half way through the extra session.  Halak was 28 of 30 with a .933Sv% in the loss and played a strong game for the home team.  Holtby also played well, negating the Islanders 37-30 shots advantage on the night.


The Islanders deserved better than a frustrating O.T. loss last night.  It had the feel of a heavy weight bout with each team striking hard only to be countered at the last second by the other.  The Isles worked hard and came close several times to scoring the go ahead goal in regulation, but saw pucks go off posts, sail wide and get deflected away from the net. Even more frustrating was seeing their power play & constant flow of broken sticks become a huge factor in the loss. Now they need to focus on winning game 5 & set up a chance to close the series at home.  The fourth line was awesome and guys like Brian Strait & Kyle Okposo had strong efforts in the game.  Casey Cizikas was named 2nd star of the game.


Reactions:

Casey Cizikas: “I thought we did a good job of that tonight, it was just a tough outcome."

Johnny Boychuk: "We have a young team but you can't get down on yourself. You just have to look at it as a best-of-three [series] now."

Capunao on the broken sticks, “I've never seen anything like it. It's frustrating, guys are working so hard."

Grail Knight of the game goes to Matt Martin, Casey Cizikas & Cal Clutterbuck of the fourth line.  These guys were even more amazing to watch in person.  Seeing the way they work as a unit and orchestrate what can happen on the ice was fun to see.


Finally, I had a great time walking the grounds with MaryBeth and enjoyed catching up with friends and followers of my blog.  There were tailgates and great conversations to be shared with several groups of fans that stretched across the parking lot.  I even got a chance to grab a few things at the team store before we left.  It was nice to see another playoff game at the old barn, even if it turned out to be a loss. 




***


Opinion:


It is quite common for rivalries to be built or rekindled from an NHL playoff series.  Sometimes, that rivalry can involve a bitterness or resentment that becomes an obsession to some.  I have seen and experienced my share of loud, obnoxious or inebriated fans at other arenas while attending these kinds of games.  I can appreciate good natured or even unfriendly verbal jousting, but I don't agree with when someone chooses to involve another unwilling fan in a physical altercation.  Pouring a beer on someone or lashing out at them just because they are wearing a different jersey just isn’t cool.


I have met tons of great people at Isles games over the years.  Some have even become buddies that I contact in real life and will see in a social capacity as friends.  I have also met some fans who constantly complain about everything other fans, the organization or specific players do.  Some spew negativity so often, I wonder why they would want to call themselves fans of this team.  Nothing seems to ever be good enough for them.  And even when things do work out, these fans strive to downplay the success by clinging to past failures or scramble for reasons that the player or a situation could have been better.  Do us all a favor and become a rival fan or something.  At least then, your negativity would make a little more sense.


It is also over the line to disrespect a player at the game. Heckling is fine, but you should not throw things on the ice or even worse, at a player or member of the staff.  It just isn’t cool and really has no place at a social event where people come to have fun.  What is even worse, are those who instigate situations like that and come to a game with plans of ruining another person’s good time.


Recently, a Caps fan blogged about how he and his group suffered some mistreatment at the hands of Islanders fans during the Washington loss in Game 3 at the Coliseum.  He was quick to point out all the injustices he & his friends experienced as a result of hostile Islanders fans.  I could feel for anyone who got abused in this kind of situation and quite frankly, we should do everything possible to avoid to be painted like this as a fan base.  But before you think I am attacking Isles fans here, let me finish.


It turns out there is another side to the story.  I have learned from several groups who were at game 3 & tailgating around them, that they were the ones being abrasive and hostile to anyone wearing an Isles jersey.  They were seen by several fans and people at the game yelling obscenities at passing Islanders fans, giving them the finger and playing the part of the aggressors or agitators.  This kind of behavior was witnessed throughout the day and during their tailgate in the parking lot.  What a sad attempt at trying to garner undue attention at the expense of others by playing the victim. 



Isles Notes:



Per Katie Strang, “Capuano said there will likely be changes to lineup for Game 5. Said there's a "real good chance" Grabovski could play.”


Yesterdays’ Line up:

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

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

Jaroslav Halak in net with Michal Neuvirth on the bench.

On Monday, 4/20, Matt Carkner, Scott Mayfield, Kael Mouillierat, Ryan Pulock and Johan Sundstrom have been recalled from the BST.


Per Daniel Hungerbuhler, “According to an interview with an Austrian paper. Michael Grabner needs another hernia operation this summer! Explains his lost speed.”


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