Isles Fall to Columbus

On Friday, your New York Islanders met the Columbus Blue Jackets.  The Isles traded goals with Columbus in the first two periods with Frans Nielsen (Boulton & MacDonald) and Thomas Hickey (Tavares & Donovan) answering for New York.  In the third period, Columbus scored three unanswered goals for a 5-2 final.  The Isles were out shot 29-26 in the game and Evgeni Nabokov struggled with a 22/24 night with a .852Sv%.

Thomas Vanek was injured by what is being termed as an "upper body injury."  Not much is known on his status and more information should be available in the coming days.

Forwards:  Thomas Vanek – John Tavares – Kyle Okposo, Pierre-Marc Bouchard – Frans Nielsen – Josh Bailey, Michael Grabner – Peter Regin – Colin McDonald, Eric Boulton – Casey Cizikas – Matt Martin

D-Pairings:  Andrew MacDonald – Travis Hamonic, Thomas Hickey – Aaron Ness, Matt Donovan – Matt Carkner

Evgeni Nabokov - Starter in net, Kevin Poulin w in reserve.

 

While you could say the Isles were unlucky with a few examples of bad luck, they once again fell short in the consistency department.  The team seemed to un ravel in the third period and get beat by Columbus in every aspect of the game.  That wont be good enough if the team wants to take their game to next level this season.

Per Arthur Staple, "Colin McDonald: "I think it's time to stop talking about last year. We need to focus on what's happening now.

 

Matt Martin: "This is what we did 2-3 years ago, when we were in the basement of the league. It's unacceptable. We did it again."

Capuano: "They've got to figure it out. We're not talking systems and structure here, we're talking battles. We're losing battles."

 

 

Isles Notes:

 

Isles "prospect?" Corey Trivino scored a goal for the Stockton Thunder yesterday.

Isles Scoreless In Carolina

Your New York Islanders will face the Carolina Hurricanes tonight in Raleigh, NC.  The Hurricanes are down to their minor league goaltenders due to injuries to Cam Ward & Anton Khudobin.  Kevin Poulin will guard the net for Long Island.

 

Forwards:  Vanek-Tavares-Okposo, Grabner-Nielsen-Bailey, Bouchard-Regin-Nelson, Martin-Cizikas-McDonald.

Aaron Ness & Colin McDonald will be in tonight as well.  Cal Clutterbuck (Upper Body) & (Healthy) Matt Carkner are out tonight.

D-Pairings:  MacDonald-Hamonic, Ness-Hickey, Donovan-Martinek.

Kevin Poulin in goal, 2-1-0 lifetime against the Hurricanes.  Evgeni Nabokov will be on the bench.

 

In the first period, the islanders managed to control most of the play in both zones, but never managed to get any consistent pressure on the Carolina net.  Dvorak makes it 1-0 Hurricanes.  Their transition play must improve and their passes need to connect to open up lanes for the offense to get the best chances to score.  Thomas Hickey with some nice looks on net in the game so far.  Isles continue to dictate pace, but struggle to cash in.  Michael Grabner looks like he has forgotten how to score.  Carolina leads in sog, 7-5.

 

The Islanders need more grit and shots on goal to get this game going in the second period.  Casey Cizikas continues to draw PP opportunities for the Isles, but the special teams are M.I.A., Matt Moulson is indeed missed on the Isles PP.  Kyle Okposo continues to punish anyone who touches Tavares.  Isles playing with a little jump. Michael Grabner misses on another breakaway.  He and Bailey have lost their scoring touch.  Canes out shoot Isles 11-7 in the period, 18-12 in the game so far.  Credit Kevin Poulin for staying sharp and making the good saves when called upon.  Donovan and Nelson.

 

The Isles continue to struggle getting shots on net in the third period and seem satisfied in taking low percentage chances when they are given to them.  Peters looks way too comfortable in net for Carolina.  This needs to change going forward.  Like the game by Aaron Ness so far tonight.  He looks pretty comfortable.  The Isles slowly come alive in the offensive zone late in the period after Poulin has put on a clinic here to keep the Isles down by only one goal.  At very least, he has shown that he deserves more time in the Isles net very soon.  With time running out, Isles net is empty for the extra attacker.  Isles let time expire, unable to score the equalizer.  Shots on goal in the period were 9-6 Isles and Carolina with a 24-21 advantage in the game.

Kevin Poulin takes the loss in a 1-0 game to the Carolina Hurricanes.  The Isles drop to 4th place, with Carolina moving up to 3rd as the Rangers move to within a point after beating Columbus.  The Islanders are 6-7-3 with 15 pts. and on a 2 game losing skid.

 

A couple bright spots tonight were the play of Kevin Poulin who was 23/24 with a .958Sv%.  Call-up, Aaron Ness was impressive in his first game of the season.  He had 13:29 of ice time & saw time in the final minute of the game.

 

 

I wont go off on the head Coach again tonight.  The team was better on defense and in the net.  They fell short by missing the net on shots and on special teams.  They simply need to be better if the want to win.  That goes from the top line on down to the secondary scoring and defensemen joining the rush.  They still failed to keep a physical game on the ice, effectively fore check and control the pace of the game.  When a head coach continues to say that his team played well after being shut out by a third string, 1-5 goaltender, the culture will stay the same.  The worst thing they were guilty of was not getting the win for Kevin Poulin.

"A Few Little Things."

Tonight, your Islanders start a 4 game road trip against Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals.  The Isles have a chance to extend their two game winning streak and get closer to the first place Penguins of the Metropolitan division.  And a loss would put the Capitals, who sit only 1 point behind the Isles into second place ahead of them. 

 

Forwards:  Vanek-Tavares-Okposo, Bouchard-Nielsen-Bailey, Grabner-Regin-Clutterbuck, Nelson-Cizikas-Martin.

D-Pairings:  MacDonald-Hamonic, Hickey-Carkner, Donovan-Martinek.

Evgeni Nabokov is in goal with Kevin Poulin on the bench.

 

Colin McDonald & Eric Boulton are still out.  Brock Nelson & Peter Regin both in.

Defense is the same with no call ups made.  Nabokov is 12-1-0-3 vs. Caps over his career.

 

In the first period, The Isles moving the puck well and putting pressure of the Caps.  JT draws a high sticking penalty and scores (Nielsen & Okposo) just before time expires, 1-0 Isles.  Per arthur Staple, "Tavares now with 8 goals in 15 career games vs. Caps."  Thomas Vanek is really starting to look comfortable with JT, you can see things happening.  Matt Donovan and Thomas Hickey continue to impress me.  Nabokov comfortable with a few good saves and seems to be into the game.  Isles will end period on PP opportunity.  They generate some good chances but come up empty.  There will be :09 seconds remaining on PP to start the second period.  Isles were strong on face-offs in the first, winning 14 of 23 taken.  Shots were tied at 11.

 

Isles start the 2nd period strong with good puck movement and strong play to the net.  The momentum stops rapidly when Kyle Okposo turns it over and Carlson scores for the Caps, score now tied at 1-1.  Clutterbuck goes off for tripping, Backstrom wins faceoff to Ovechkin, 2-1 Capitals 3 seconds in.  Kyle Okposo (Tavares & MacDonald) scores :16 seconds later, score tied at 2-2.  Before N.Y. can regroup, Washington gets a lucky bounce and Johansson gets a PP goal, 3-2 Caps.  Then Urbom makes it 4-2 Caps, Nabokov looks rattled after being left out to dry as the Isles are un-raveling before our eyes.  The Islanders need to recover their game and re-execute their game plan.  Nabokov cant be left alone  and expected to win the game alone either.  Once again, they need to stop being cute & play the body. Make Ovi miserable & fore-check, control the puck, the play, then the game.  Ovechkin scores a PP goal, 5-2 Capitals.  Isles lacking discipline, taking stupid penalties and the Caps taking advantage in a big way.  Our Coach needs to settle the team down and do it quickly.  Caps with a 16-10 shots advantage in the period & 27-21 in the game.  3 PP goals in 3:52 for Washington is unacceptable for the Isles PK.

 

The biggest problem I see if that when adversity comes, they have a fragile confidence and if the leadership isn't there, they tend to change their style of play for the worst.  Almost as if they are unraveling.  When they play hard like in the Ottawa game and keep to the plan, they are able to endure and fight there way back in with their offensive talent and energy.  If their play isn't psysical and they don't outwork their opponent, their game suffers.  Lets hope it has been addressed and corrected for the third period.

 

In the third period, sloppy line changes bring rushes for the Capitals, Isles still struggling to find their groove.  Isles to the PP early in the period with out results.  Casey Cizikas brings it every time he is out there, has a nice effort in close to Holtby trying to energize his team.  Isles PP is dismal and they look defeated with over half the third period remaining.  Capitals Wilson, makes it 6-2 off another Isles man down situation.  And with that, play degenerates into a too little, too late temper tantrum.  Isles had a 15-12 advantage in shots for the period while the Capitals out shot N.Y. 39-36 for the game.  Nabokov was 32/38 with an .842 Sv%.  After tonight, Evgeni Nabokovs Sv% will be below .900. 

 

 

 

Isles fall to third place, Capitals move up to second.

Lack of discipline, poorly played defense and stagnant special teams with an inability to adapt brought the Isles back to an NHL .500 tonight in a terrible loss after two strong prior efforts.  Coach Capuano thought his team didn't play that badly, "just need to improve on a few little things."

 

 

 

 

Per Arthur Staple, Nabokov: "We lost the game in 15 minutes, simple as that... The consistency is not there, the discipline is not there."

 

Tavares: "It should be embarrassing. Just don't know why we can't stick with it. You give 8 and 19 those easy plays, it'll be a long night."

 

Martin: "It's just unacceptable the way we (PK) played tonight. We were terrible. We didn't give our team a chance to do anything."

 

Per Eric Hornick, "have had 127 shots on goal in the last three games -- most by them in 3 game stretch since Feb 24-28, 1990. "

 

Isles Notes:

 

Per @Mike_Sulls, "an Isles goalie is putting up eye-popping numbers: 9-3-3, 1.58 GAA, .948 sv%. That man? Mikko Koskinen in the KHL."

 

Per Kevin Schultz, "Here's the full episode of Big Shot on YouTube."

Isles News & Big Weekend Recap

11/4

 

Forwards at practice today: Vanek-Tavares-Okposo; Bouchard-Nielsen-Bailey; Grabner-Nelson-Clutterbuck; Martin-Boulton-Cizikas-McDonald.

 

Per Brett Cyrgalis, "Peter Regin not on the ice at Isles practice (dental work,) C. McDonald is. Team also places Brian Strait on IR, retroactive to Oct. 24."

"Neither Visnovsky or Strait has started skating. McDonald and Regin will both be available for tmrw, as is Nelson at center."

 

Your 2nd place, 6-5-3 New York Islanders have a 4-game road trip this week.  Tuesday, 11/5 vs Washington @7pm, Thursday, 11/7 vs Carolina @7pm, Saturday, 11/9 vs Columbus  @7pm and Sunday, 11/10 vs Montreal at 6pm.

 

11/2 vs Boston

The Islanders came out strong and their defensive corps led the way at home to face the Bruins.  The scoring was done in the second period behind Tavares (Vanek & Okposo,) MacDonald (Hamonic & Okposo,) & after a Boston goal, it was Thomas Vankek (Okposo & Hamonic.)  It was a 3-1 lead the Isles would command throughout the game.  A 3-1 win at the NVMC.  A confident Kevin Poulin (26/27 & a .963Sv%) silenced some of his critics with a good game in net against a good, but struggling Boston team and the Isles managed to play a pretty complete game. 

 

Daniel Friedman, Capuano on Poulin: "We know what he can do. We've got two solid goaltenders and we're gonna need 'em."

 

Per the N.Y. Islanders, "@T_Vanek26 scored his 500th career point and @BookerT2116 scored his 200th career point."

 

Per Brian Compton, "One month into the season, Frans Nielsen and Kyle Okposo are two of the top 10 scorers in the NHL."

 

 

11/1 vs Ottawa

 

It was a back and forth contest in Ottawa for the Isles.  Evgeni Nabokov was having a tough game and the team struggled to find their pace early on in the game.  After going down 2-0, they got back into it with a Tavares (Vanek & Okposo) goal and a Martin (Carkner & Nelson,) tieing the game at 2-2 in the second, only :28 seconds apart per Eric Hornick.  Ottawa scored two more with five minutes to take a commanding two goal lead once again at 4-2.  But if the Islanders are anything, they are a tough young team that can dig deep if the inspiration takes them.  They did just that by getting a Bouchard (Donovan & Okposo) goal in the final minutes of the second to climb within one goal of Ottawa at  4-3.  Nielsen (Hickey & Bouchard) would tie the game once again at 4-4 early in the third period.  Trading chances, the game would remain that way until an Overtime period would turn into a shootout.  Frans Nielsen would score the lone goal for the Isles to win the shootout 5-4 and bring a big 2 points to New York in a character win by the club.  Isles outshot Ottawa 57-31 in the contest.  57 are the most ever in a road game for N.Y.   Nabokov made 27 saves bringing him to 5-3-3 on the season.

 

Since Nabokov's demanded that they score at least 3 goals and they would start winning, the Isles are 5-1-2 when the score 3 goals and 0-4-1 when they do not. (Eric Hornick).

 

 

Isles Notes:

Per Kukla's Korner, "Islanders And NHLPA Fight Over Cable TV Money."

 

Per Brett Cyrgalis, "Rick DiPietro has given up 9 goals in 2 games with the Charlotte Checkers. He's "taking his time with comeback"...



HIFK of the SM-Liiga cancelled their contract with former Islander, Trevor Gillies today.

 

 

Sound Tigers Notes:

The New York Islanders Organization signed Jon Sim to a 25 game PTO with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers today, It will be Sims third turn with the BST.  In 2010-11, Sim left the Isles organization and went to play in Switzerland.

 

 

Isles Falter vs Rangers at NVMC

Tonight, your New York Islanders (4-4-3 11pts) faced their rival, New York Rangers (3-7-0 6pts) for their first meeting on the season.  Newly acquired Thomas Vanek will play along side John Tavares & Kyle Okposo on the Isles top line.  The Rangers will start rookie, Cam Talbot in net.

 

Forwards:  Vanek-Tavares-Okposo; Bouchard-Nielsen-Bailey; Grabner-Regin-Clutterbuck; Nelson-Cizikas-Martin.

D-Pairings:  Hamonic-MacDonald, Donovan-Martinek, Carkner-Hickey.

Evgeni Nabokov will get the start with Kevin Poulin on the bench.

Vanek and Nelson in, McDonald and Boulton out of the lineup tonight.

 

In the first period, both teams come out looking a little disorganized.  Clutterbuck with some good pressure.  Isles get the first few shots on net, but Nabokov would come up big in close on two Ranger chances.  Casey Cizikas is active in the offensive zone and irritating the Rangers.  An early Isles PP is neutralized and becomes a Ranger PP & a Kreider rebound goal, 1-0 Rangers.  Isles need more physicality in their own zone in front of Nabokov.  Donovan with some good wheels and involved early.  Vanek with some good pressure in close, but Talbot makes the saves.  Rangers outplaying Isles.  Islanders missing the net on several shots, Talbot barely has to move.  Isles out shoot Rangers 9-4, but trail in the game.  The Ranger's take a rare lead into the intermission.

 

Kyle Okposo victimized again in the second period, Rangers to the PP.  Isles look shakey again.  Trouble settling the puck down, winning face offs and dictating tempo.  Isles with a good kill, Nabby took a shot off the mask but looks ok.  Isles being outplayed again so far in the second.  Big fan of how Donovan's game is improving.  Cal Clutterbuck (Carkner) with a nice steal off Staal, breaks into the zone and roofs it.  Its his first goal as an Islander.  Game tied at 1-1.  Matt Martin goes after Derek Dorsett to stir it up for the Isles.  Bailey breaks in close, Talbot equal to task.  Josh Bailey is really showing some maturity this season.  Isles starting to force Rangers into turnovers as period goes on.  Both teams with an energetic back and forth in the final two minutes of the period.  Isles came close a few times there.  Casey Cizikas is a penalty killing, offensive pressure wielding monster.  Peter Regin (MacDonald & Hamonic) puts it in off Girardi for the go ahead goal, 2-1 Isles.  Rangers out shoot Isles 15-7 in the period and 19-16 in the game thus far.

 

Nabokov comes up big again to start the period after the Rangers pressure the Isles net on a broken play in the Isles zone.  Isles get called on a too many men penalty, McDonough scores through a screen, game tied at 2-2.  Okposo cant seem to stay out of the box.  Martinek way out of position,  Pouliot scores to give the Rangers a 3-2 lead at 13:46 mark of the third period.  Isles net is empty with 1:00 remaining.  Isles out shoot Rangers 8-5 in the period, tied at 24-24 for the game.  Richards and Clutterbuck throw down as time expires.

 

Isles have some bright spots in the game, but lose 3-2 with tons of Rangers fans in the lower bowl cheering on their goals in all the game highlights for the world to see.  Talbot (22-24, .917Sv%) gets the win.  Rangers get the two points. 

Its not that they lost a close game and made a few mistakes in the process.  It was they way they lost and were unable to come out and show something.  Not the kind of statement game the Isles needed to make after the trade.  They were and have been unable to play a complete game on a regular basis.  They failed to play physical, fore-check, move the puck and cant finish consistently.  The team is never ready to play.  They sometimes just go through the motions instead of fighting through those challenges.  To me, that's what the head coach is there for. 

 

Their winning streak, comeback and lockdown mentality of last season is missing.  Instead of taking the next step, they seem to be uncertain of what to do next.  Vanek should make the team better.  His chemistry will come with JT.  Help on defense is need and its needed now with their injuries on defense.  Waiting for the deep pool of prospects probably wont cut it.  Will more trades come?  Who would they add and at what price?  Is it time for a gut check?  A players only meeting to call out those who need to improve? 

 

 

Kevin Schultz on Twitter

 

Isles Notes:

More on the Moulson-Vanek trade:

Per Bob McKenzie, "BUF retained approx $1.4M, give or take a few thousand $, or roughly 20 per cent of Thomas Vanek's remaining salary, as part of NYI trade."

Per Pierre LeBrun," Another wrinkle in the Vanek deal: if the 1st round pick NYI sent Buff ends up top 10 in June, Isles have option to defer the pick to 2015."

 

 

*** I will be away on business this weekend.  I will try and get to a review of the Ottawa & Boston games on Monday 11/4.***

Islanders trade Matt Moulson & Picks for Thomas Vanek

Per Arthur Staple, "The New York Islanders have traded Matt Moulson, their 2014 1st-round pick and a 2015 2nd-round pick to Buffalo for Thomas Vanek."

@MMoulson 27 Oct

Would like to thank all the great people and fans I was able to meet in NY..I will miss you all. This is the beginning of a new chapter.

The trade of Matt Moulson was a shock to fans & team mates alike. But Isles GM, Garth Snow mentioned that it was in the works for months at his presser at Isles practice today.  He also admitted that he did not speak with team Captain and Long time line mate, John Tavares of the trade.  Hockey is a business and sometimes, requires that you make difficult decisions.

 

"It's sad to leave people you care about and love behind," Moulson told ESPNNewYork.com when reached by phone Sunday night. "I think over the years I've shown my want to be a part of the organization and turning around the team into being successful. I guess, obviously, in the long run, they didn't feel the same."

 

Matt Moulson had 3 thirty goal seasons with New York and was on pace for a fourth with 15 goals in last years lockout shortened campaign.  This season, he had 6 and 3 for 9 pts in 11 games as an Islander.  Snow had this to say about Moulson, "In that respect, it's always tough to see a player like Matt go out the door but you have to give up something to get something."

"I guess this is what happens in pro sports," Moulson said. "I gotta move on. Obviously, I'll miss everyone, but this will be a new chapter."

Moulson had this to say to ESPN.com about being traded to the last place Sabers, "Obviously not the start they wanted," Moulson added, "Hopefully I can be the guy that helps them turn that around."  Matt Moulson had 2 goals in a losing effort for the Sabers tonight.  I wish him the best of luck.  He is a classy player and an even better human being for his work in the community and charity work.

 

 

 

On the trade for Thomas Vanek, Garth Snow talked of the team's success in signing free agents who came in and got a feel for the organization before negotiating for an extension.  Recent exaples would include Lubomir Visnovsky and Evgeni Nabokov.

On the added packaging of this summer's 1st rd pick and next years 2nd rd pick, Snow said, "With the prospect pool that we have, that lessened the burden of losing a first round pick and second round pick."

 

The Islanders have shown a lot of inconsistent play this season.  Despite having success on special teams and scoring goals, they need work on the defensive side of their game.  That will almost surely come with prospects like Reinhart, Pulock, deHaan, Pelech, Pokka, Ness & Mayfield.  The right deal could bring a top defensemen to the team if another deal can be made at what Snow considers a fair price.  The Goaltending situation should remain the same with Nabokov giving the team the best chance to win and Poulin getting his chance to show if his game is improving enough to be considered more than a prospect/back up.

 

"We have to be more consistent, we have to be better. We need to take that next step and we feel that Thomas can help us get there." 


The trade also sends a message to anyone Capuano calls "passengers."  Any players who aren't giving the effort required might find themselves moved as well. 

 

Isles lines at practice today:

Vanek-Tavares-Okposo; Bouchard-Nielsen-Bailey; Grabner-Nelson-Regin-Clutterbuck; Martin-Cizikas-McDonald-Boulton.

Thomas Vanek will wear #26 for the Islanders.

 

On his trade to the Island, Vanek had this to say, "I was excited to come here, it's a great young team and an up-tempo style. I'm looking forward to it."  That kind of enthusiasm would be what fans and management call a good sign.  Vanek's agent said that there has been no talks by the Isles about retaining Vanek beyond this season as of yet.  I would assume the organization and player want to see how things develop and talks can happen later on the season if things go well.  If not, Vanek can always be moved at the deadline to recoup similar picks that were lost.

 

On playing with John Tavares, Vanek said, "An opportunity like this doesn't come around much. I'm gonna try and make the most of it."  John Tavares has never played with a player of Vaneks skill level.  The eight time twenty goal scorer is an elite NHL player and with JT, can find another level in his game.

Vanek can start when his New York Islanders face their arch rival, New York Rangers tomorrow night.

 

Isles Notes:

 

Per Arthur Staple, "Brian Strait (upper body), Lubo Visnovsky (concussion) not skating today for Isles."

 

Per Capgeek, "Vanek and Moulson rank among the 2014 UFA class's top 15 scorers." 

"Isles defenseman Andrew MacDonald leads the 2014 UFA class in average ice time."

An Up & Down Weekend For The Isles

10/26 vs Philadelphia:

The Islanders would follow up the Pittsburgh game with a home loss to the last place Flyers.  Kyle Okposo (Hickey & Tavares) & Frans Nielsen's SHG (Regin) would be the only goals for New York in the 5-2 loss.  Kevin Poulin (25-28, .871 Sv%) would struggle with positioning behind a poor defensive showing again for New York.  The game was another inconsistent effort in which they play down to the level of their opponent.  Carkner has become a glaring weak point of the Isles defense.

 

Per  Brian Compton, "Frans Nielsen already has more goals this season (7) than he had last season (6)."

10/25 vs Pittsburgh:

 

It was another late game comeback, but your New York Islanders got three goals in final 7:14 minute span of the third period vs the Penguins on Friday night to clinch a 4-3 victory in Pittsburgh.  It was the first time they had faced each other since the playoffs.  The news of the day was that Radek Martinek would join the team after signing a one year, $600K contract (in for Strait w/ upper body injury).  Matt Moulson (Nielsen & Tavares), Frans Nielsen (Hickey & Martinek), Pierre-Marc Bouchard (Martinek), Josh Bailey (Nielsen & Okposo) would do the scoring for the Islanders.  Bailey's game winner would come with 1:40 to go in the game.  Evgeni Nabokov played well in net for the game.  Thomas Hickey broke his nose and had his strongest game of the year getting his first point and getting a +3 rating. 

 

Per Nick Trickster, "Tonight is the first time the Pens have lost when leading after two periods at home since Nov. 11, 2010 against Boston."

 

 

Isles Notes:

Per Larry Brooks, "Rick DiPietro, subject of tomorrow's Slapshots, has signed PTO with Carolina AHL affiliate Charlotte, Post has learned."

Per Kevin Schultz, "Brett Yormark says there isn't much to change at Barclays in preparation for the Isles."