Good evening everyone!
Tonight the Islanders are set to take on the Calgary Flames at the Coliseum, fresh on the heals of a decent western swing but also the night following a horrible showing in Madison Square Garden.
It will be a big night for at least one Islander though, as Defenseman Mark Flood was recalled from Bridgeport on an emergency basis to play in place of Dustin Kohn. Kohn, was hurt last night the result of Avery nonsense that went – unpenalized. Go figure. Good luck to Flood tonight!
The Flames are on the cusp of a playoff spot, only four points in back of 8th place Detroit in the Western Conference. This is not going to be an easy game for the Islanders by any stretch, one for the “Rangers Hangover” and two, because the Flames should come out hungry. I know this isn’t the type of thing that fans want to root for, but I would be completely OK with the team losing out the final games of the season if it meant a shot at the coveted number one draft pick once again. We can sure use the help.
Just a note of importance, there is NO POWER here in the Blog Box, so I am not entirely how sure my laptop will last on the battery. We shall see…
Your scratches: Trevor Gillies and Dustin Kohn
First Period
7:07pm Opening draw lost by the Islanders, iced by the Flames – forecheck working?
7:10pm Flames iced the puck again after some effective pressure by the Islanders.
7:13pm Islanders own the first three shots here so far, nothing really an amazing scoring chance though. Or even memorable.
7:16pm Just as I hit update, Jack Hillen with a howitzer from the point goes wide, followed by great pressure and another great point shot by Nielsen that is gloved down.
7:19pm Islanders forecheck is REALLY effective tonight, but they have still be unable to get great pressure on a consistent basis.
7:22pm Hunter scores. Gritty goal, bangs in a rebound. Assists to Nielsen and Sim
7:24pm Less than a minute later, Calgary notches the equalizer, even before the Isles goal was announced.
7:28pm Calgary scored on it’s second shot of the game. And, the Islanders are going to be a man down. Okposo for hooking.
7:31pm Islanders kill off Okposo’s penalty, start the game off the way they SHOULD have last night at MSG.
7:32pm Islanders headed back to the box, delayed penalty.
7:33pm Okposo back to the box – holding and unsportsmanlike conduct – equating to a double minor.
7:38pm Islanders have held the Flames to just two shots over the course of 6 minutes of penalty kill time.
Final Minute
Overall, that was a decent period, but then again anything would be a decent period compared to what we saw last night. Islanders hold the lead in shots, by a count of 12 to 6. Islanders have to stay out of the box, but credit is due to the penalty killers – they held the Flames to 3 shots on Okposo’s three penalties. They need to keep up the good work in the second and pot a goal or two to take the game over.
We got power here in the Blog Box, by the way!
Second Period
8:01pm Second period underway. Flames have gone offsides two times in a row.
8:03pm Tavares with a great pass to the late man coming in, whom waited and skated around a sliding d-man and the Isles did not get a shot off.
8:09pm Jon Sim just gave Kiprusoff a handful, should have drew a penalty and then got a Flame to drop the gloves on the way to the bench. He simply skated away laughing as always – it was pretty funny actually.
8:16pm Blake Comeau gets the gate for boarding. No penalty for the retaliatory shot to the face though.
8:16pm Fourth straight penalty kill for the Islanders
8:23pm Flames score, play was under review but stands – goal to Eric Nystrom. I hope he remembers the huge hits I had on him in High School – I miss those days.
8:27pm Kiprusoff makes a save on Hillen from the point, through traffic – made it look easy.
8:28pm Okposo draws a tripping penalty, first power play of the game for the Isles. About time.
8:3pm It looks like it is the Islanders first power play of the season, let alone the game.
Final Minute
Islanders gave up two, TWO breakaway’s here in the last minute. Biron came up HUGE on the second one, first missed the net completely.
The tale of two teams lives on. Let’s see if they come out with legs in the third, I don’t even know what to write about here.
Third Period
8:51pm Third period underway, Isles deep in the zone MOULSON SCORES 2-2!! Assists to Streit and Okposo
8:57pm Heads up play by Streit with a diving poke check on a 2-1 in front of Biron
9:04pm Islanders have had some great shots here in the third, something hit the iron a little while ago and they have been in the Flames zone for a decent amount of time down low.
9:05pm Calgary gets called for hooking, Islanders power play!
9:07pm Power play is much better in terms of movement and passing, but they still cannot….wait a minute Gervais just scored!!! Assisted by Streit.
9:10pm Jackman is in the box here….apparently there will be a penalty kill upcoming. Two for high sticking.
9:12pm Freddy Meyer clears the crease in front of Biron with a vengeance – he looked bad ass, per twitter.
9:15pm 7th penalty kill for the Islanders tonight.
9:20pm 2:32 remaining in the third and the draw is deep in Calgary’s zone.
9:22pm Timeout Calgary – draw is deep in the Isles zone and the Kiprusoff has vacated his crease with 1:38 remaining.
3-2 Islanders, Final Score.
That was nice. Ideal, even: Nystrom scores and Isles win.
It was nice, but I REALLY wanted to lose.
I’ll take it as a spirit lifting victory being they got hammered at MSG Wednesday. They cannot do this too many more times though.
How good did FMIV look last night? He’s playing as if he’s Sutton’s size! Team forecheck looked good at times, still need a lot of work though.
Penalty kill was on point, power play – not so much.