2016 Playoffs, Panthers Game 5: Cold As Greiss

Our New York Islanders went into Florida to try and win a game 5.  Something they have failed to do as a franchise 11 straight times.  It’s also important to note that Ryan Pulock is out due to injury for at least the remainder of the series.  Pulock’s PP presence and strong defensive play has been a boon for New York.  Marek Zidlicky would take his place with Thomas Hickey on defense and Ryan Strome would be scratched for Steve Bernier to try and shake things up.  Coach Capuano wasn’t stopping there.  Alan Quine was elevated to the first line with JT and KO, while Frans Nielsen centered Kulemin and Bailey on line 2.  What would that all mean?

The newly formed 2^nd line would pay dividends at the 13:00 mark of the first period when Frans Nielsen (Hickey) wristed one past Luongo to give New York an unheard of first goal and a 1-0 lead in the game.  Something they haven’t been able to do yet in the series.  Their lead time in this game lasted longer than they had led through the first 4 games combined.  The second period didn’t see any goals, but would see a wild back and forth surge between the two teams.  In a nervous moment, Cal Clutterbuck’s head "collided" with Jagr’s shoulder near center ice and he went straight to the locker room.  Florida out shot the Isles by a lopsided 14-7 margin in the period.  The Islanders struggled again on the fore check and found themselves trying to keep up with the bigger, more active Panther forwards.

Cal Clutterbuck returned, but Florida’s pressure continued into the third period.  Barkov’s goal would tie the score at 1-1 a few minutes in, but the Islanders went to the coach’s challenge again.  New York claimed the Panthers once again went off sides on the play, but lost the gamble (and their timeout this time) as the goal counted.  The game got more physical and uglier as the period closed.  Frans Nielsen took a flagrant hit up high from Gudbranson into the boards & left the ice but returned. Neither team would grab the go ahead score in regulation, so it took extra time to settle things.  Shots were 30-24 in favor of Florida during regulation and the Isles PP was 0/3.

Overtime maintained the physical tone set earlier in the contest.  The Islanders played catch up for much of the period, seeing the Panthers tilt the ice and pressure Greiss early and often.   In an exchange in front of the Isles net at the 13:00 mark, Calvin de Haan would be called for closing his hand on the puck in OT, giving FLA a penalty shot opportunity.  Greiss bailed both de Haan and his team out again with a huge save on Barkov.  The Isles would press and come close to punching it in behind a scrum in from of the Florida net a few minutes later.  The 1^st OT ended with a 12-10 shots advantage for New York.

The Islanders entered a second OT period for first time since 2003.  The intensity was high as Florida’s Nick Bjugstad caught a toe on the ice, fell awkwardly into the boards and went to the locker room.  I hope he isn't seriously injured.  Jaromir Jagr was called for a trip on John Tavares, but Isles failed to capitalize on the man advantage.  Fatigue really started to show mid-way through the 2^nd session, but Greiss continued to make huge saves for New York.  John Tavares drew another penalty as MacKenzie was called for a slash and Alan Quine PPG (Zidlicky & Hickey) won it for the Isles at the 16:00 mark in 2nd OT of game 5.  I told ya he was more than a prospect.  Florida led in shots 48-42.

Aside from the rubber rat randomly tossed on the ice and a FLA’s penalty shot in the 1^st overtime period, there were a couple of things that I could have done without.  The Isles seemed to be playing way too cautiously for most of the game.  They were guilty of scrambling far too often, trying to keep up with the Panthers offensive press.  The almost fatal failure of the PP (1-5) in the biggest game of the season was inexcusable, especially in OT.  The Islanders have been outplayed for much of the series, but their resiliency has been huge.  Let’s give Marek Zidlicky credit for playing a nice game in relief as well.

How good was Thomas Greiss?  He just stopped an OT playoff penalty shot.  No big deal.  Greiss (47 of 48 with a .979Sv%) was the biggest impact player for New York.  He kept the Isles in the game, especially in close and is once again my Grail Knight of the game.  His play has been so steady, you might even say he is close to being named series MVP for NY already after game 5.  

The hustle of John Tavares in the OT sessions led to PP chances and the winning score.  Alan Quine was a prospect that always got my attention with the BST and tonight showed why.  He proved it to all of his critics with the biggest goal in recent history for our New York Islanders.

The Isles have a 3-2 series lead into Brooklyn with a chance to close out the series and reach the 2^nd round of the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs.  Game 6 will be at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Sunday at 7pm.

Isles Notes:

Tonight’s Isles game was the 2^nd longest is team history (Easter Epic 1^st).