Friday, April 10, 2015

Not Today Pittsburgh


Your New York Islanders are in Pittsburgh tonight to face the rival Penguins.  Pittsburgh can clinch a playoff berth with a win tonight, but the Islanders will be looking to make it 4 straight wins against the Pens & add points to their own playoff positioning, clinched last night when Boston lost to Florida.  A side note to watch for is John Tavares & Sidney Crosby going head to head for Art Ross Trophy considerations.  Both are tied (w Jamie Benn) at 83 for the league lead in points.  Kyle Okposo will look for the rematch against Marc Andre Fleury after his last 4 goal game against the Penguins.  It is also important to note that Pittsburgh is thin on defense due to injury (Letang, Ehrhoff & Pouliot), a deficit New York must exploit against them to press the advantage.  Jaro Halak will want a big game tonight after allowing the late, fluky GWG against the Flyers.  Cal Clutterbuck returns to the lineup for Colin McDonald & Tyler Kennedy is in for Frans Nielsen.  There are no changes on defense.
 

In my opinion, the Islanders need to theoretically start their playoff run tonight. Home ice advantage in the 1st round is crucial, especially if they end up matched against the Capitals, whom they have had trouble against this season.  John Tavares:  It’ll be a playoff game (against Pittsburgh) and that’s the way we are going to approach it,” Tavares said. “We understand the task at hand. We’ll do whatever we can to get the victory Friday.”



Kulemin-Tavares-Strome, Lee-Bailey-Okposo, Grabner-Nelson-Clutterbuck, Boulton-Cizikas-Kennedy.

Leddy-Boychuk, Strait-Hamonic, Hickey-Visnovsky.

Jaroslav Halak is in net with Michal Neuvirth backing up.

 

In the first period, the Penguins come out hard & outshoot the Isles 8-1 before Hornqvist is denied on the PP (Hickey/Slashing) by Halak on a controversial no goal call.  To make the Pittsburgh faithful even angrier, Casey Cizikas wins the face off and breaks in off a Clutterbuck & Leddy feed, goes up high and past Fleury for a SHG & a 1-0 Islanders lead.  That is the 10th shorthanded goal of the season for the Isles who are tied with Winnipeg for most in the NHL.  Jaro Halak follows up with a huge pad save on Malkin.  Momentum, New York, but better pressure to Pittsburgh who are outshooting the Islanders badly.  Travis Hamonic goes to the dressing room after taking a few big hits in period.  Isles finish the period with some good pressure and Halak comes up big again on a point blank shot from Kunitz.  Isles allowing too many good chances in close for my liking.  Shots were 17-5 in favor of the Pens. 


It is announced that Travis Hamonic will not return to tonight’s game for an undisclosed injury at the start of the second period.  Halak makes a huge sprawling save on Sidney Crosby in the opening minutes of the period to preserve the lead.  Eric Boulton called for tripping, Isles to the PK.  Hickey comes down on a shorthanded 2 on 1 and Fleury digs deep for a brilliant glove save.  Isles kill off the penalty with a huge shot block aided by Cizikas.  Downie hits Hickey down low on a dirty play, called for clipping, but Isles come up empty on the PP.  Scuderi puts it in with under 6 seconds remaining, game tied at 1-1 going into the second intermission.  Bad trend continues.  To clarify, Halak’s stick looked like it got tangled with the screener in front on the goal and threw off his positioning.  Boychuk confirmed as much with Shannon Hogan.  Shots were 11-8 Pens in the period, 28-13 in the game. 


Capuano shuffling lines to start the third to try and change things up.  Fleury denies Lee with another quick glove save.  Brian Strait puts a shot on net from the blue line that is tipped by Kyle Okposo.  Fleury lets up a bad rebound where John Tavares (Okposo & Strait) is waiting to give the Islanders a 2-1 lead.  JT & Crosby with 84 points, Tavares in 1st due to large lead in goals.  First Islander to do so since Trottier.  Islanders doing a better job of neutral zone play and are benefitting with more sustained offensive pressure.  Michael Grabner (Bailey) breaks in, grips and rips it past Fleury to give the Isles a 3-1 lead with just under 4 minutes left.  Johnny Boychuk bails out Brian Striat in the defensive zone, clearing the puck on a broken play.  Fleury to the bench with 90 seconds remaining in the game, but can’t generate much. Isles win.  New York won the period in shots at 13-10, but were outshot 38-26 in the game.  PP was 0/1 and PK a perfect 2/2, best in NHL since All-Star break.
 

Islanders win 3-1 behind a great game by Jaroslav Halak (37 of 38 with a .974Sv%) and much improved play by the team in front of him tonight.  The Isles reach the 100 point mark for the first time since 1984 and will face the Washington Capitals in the first round of the Stanley Cups Playoffs.  Home Ice advantage can be secured with a win tomorrow against the CBJ & a Caps loss.  Crosby and Tavares will have 1 more game to see who wins the Art Ross Trophy.  How epic would it be as a sendoff to see Tavares qualify for the trophy in the final Isles game played at the NVMC?  Stay tuned.  Halak & Tavares were named 1st & 2nd stars of the game.


Thoughts are with Travis Hamonic after leaving the game with an injury tonight.  Hopefully he can play with Frans Nielsen & Matt Martin tomorrow for the final game at the NVMC.  So many mixed emotions for tomorrow’s game, especially for the guys who have been around since the lowest point of the rebuild. 
 

I am proud to be an Islanders fan, Isles Blogger and see it as a privilege to report my take on the season to each and every one of you that reads KoC.  One more regular season game to go. 
 
 
 
 
Thanks everybody.

 

 

Isles Notes:



Per Dan Savarino, “If Lubomir Visnovsky gains a point (19pts), the Isles would be the ONLY team in the NHL to have 5 D-Men with 20pts+. Had just 2 last season.”


Per Eric Hornick, “Isles prospect Robbie Russo (Notre Dame) named 2nd team All-American today.”


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