Nothing like getting a blogger fired up before the game even starts – it took me a while to find the game because we were placed on the seldom used CSPAN-2. Not only is it an obscure channel, but the compression is horrible (Can you say low bandwidth? Think Channel 55 horrible) – the video and audio are so terrible that I am tempted to view the Devils HD Feed…..
For Cablevision subscribers, CSPAN-2 is channel 79
First period is underway, looks like the intensity is there but let’s see what kind of shots they can get on Brodeur.
First Period
7:11 PM As the Islanders ice the puck, I just HAD to switch to the Devils HD feed….much better. Although I prefer to listen to Howie and Billy….the picture and sound was way too horrible.
7:14 PM Between both teams, there is only ONE shot on goal so far, and it is not from the Islanders. The Islanders just iced the puck – again.
7:21 PM Wow, defensive miscue by Bergeron lead to a point blank chance in front but DiPietro stones the shooter.
7:23 PM Campoli fell at the Devils blueline and Asham picked up the loose puck – passed and they hit the post. It was actually not too long after the Isles rang one off the post also.
7:26 PM Well…it appears as if the Islanders have DEFINATELY gotten a shot on goal with Comeau’s blast. We also have our first power play coming up! Yikes it was a 5-on-3 for the Isles…..full 2 minutes.
7:30 PM Comrie to Guerin – HE SCORES! PP Goal – still on the PP!
7:31 PM Hunter scrambled to pot the loose puck but couldn’t get a stick on it and the power play is over.
7:32 PM White is going to sit for Hooking, Islanders are going right back on the power play!
Second Period
8:00 PM Islanders on the power play, don’t know who got called for what – missed the call as I just came back to the PC from upstairs.
8:02 PM Hunter was working the puck down low, dished to Tank who cycled back to Hunter and he found Sillinger in front all alone to make it 2-0 Islanders.
8:12 PM DiPietro with a big save on the Asham line – they are all over the place tonight.
8:14 PM Comrie takes a hooking penalty, Islanders will be down a man for 2 minutes.
8:21 PM Great Comrie kill earlier, lets see if they can do it again as Berard was now called for hooking.
8:25 PM Penalty is killed and we will get a hooking call here again this time on Bergeron.
8:27 PM Just an observation on the Devils here – they are breaking out in a 5 man line across the width of the link. They aren’t pressuring the Isles much on this power play.
8:28 PM HUGE glove save on Elias by DiPietro!!!
8:29 PM Berard takes another penalty, this time for cross checking. Stop the parade to the box, please?
8:31 PM Devils will start the third on the power play, hopefully the last the Islanders take tonight.
Third Period
8:49 PM Through choppy cable service on the HD channel, the Islanders have killed off the penalty to Berard.
8:55 PM Devils sneak one past DiPietro, it barely got through but DP knocked it in himself trying to get it out of the crease.
9:01 PM Someone really needs to tell Doc and Chico that its not WASHicek its VASIcek.
9:05 PM Bergenheim has had several good chances here, he is playing great tonight which should make Dee extremely happy.
9:09 PM Gionta pulled down because he got past Meyer – Fedotenko had little choice. Devils power play.
9:10 PM 2 on 1 for the Isles but Sillinger lost control of the puck and it lead to a 3 on 2 back towards DiPietro and he came up HUGE!
9:12 PM Isles have killed their 5th penalty.
9:14 PM Just noticing that I haven’t seen Campoli for a while.
9:17 PM DiPietro continues to shine and stopping everything the Devils could muster late in the game.
9:18 PM Empty Net Devils
9:19 PM Guerin hits the empty net for his second of the game – 3-1 Islanders
And in Wii Sports Baseball style – “And that’s the game!”
What started out as a slowwwwwwwwww start turned into gold because of some good movement on the power play early in the game. The Islanders kept the pressure on and the Devils sat back and let the Isles bring the game to them. While there was still a problem getting shots through, DiPietro kept his team in it through 60 minutes stopping 35 of 36 shots. Some of his saves were outright highlight real material, as his glove was lightning fast tonight.
The win moves the Islanders into a tie with Philadelphia for 6th place in the east – this was a big two points because at last check the Rangers were leading the Sabres 2-1.
Great effort tonight and great win considering how the Islanders played last night. Let’s keep this momentum going!
As an isles fan living in carolina, for the last 2 years ive heard Vasicek pronounced with a W, rather than a V. I suspect we’re the ones who’ve pronounced it wrong.