This post was published 13 years 2 months 9 days ago which may make its content inapplicable to the current Islanders roster and/or team news. This site is not responsible for any misunderstanding.Hello Islanders Fans!
It seems I say this often, but in any case – it’s a rainy windy night here on Long Islander and the game should be a great one regardless. It is the final meeting this season between the cross own rivals and this game isn’t any less important than it was last week at Madison Square Garden.
The Rangers are still searching for those valuable points to sneak up on the last and final playoff spot, as are the Islanders – who have a tougher path if they hope to make the playoffs.
Back tonight for the Islanders is Andrew MacDonald, whom was injured immediately following his contract extension by the Islanders. It comes at a good time because his reliability will come in handy tonight against the Rangers, who will be without Avery, Gilroy and Ryan Callahan. Should the Islanders win, they will have six points in their last three and 10 over their previous 10 games played.
Your scratches tonight are Jeff Tambellini and Bruno Gervais.
In other news, Rick DiPietro was shut down for the remainder of the season having only played in 7 games, due to knee swelling. He has not played much over the last two years and my faith in him ever regaining full health is fading fast. I should have a post up on this over at Bleacher Report in the next day or so.
First Period
7:08pm And they’re off.
7:10pm Islanders power play, too many men on the Rangers. Huge opportunity.
7:11pm Power play goal Islanders on a blast from Streit that may have been tipped before it reached the net.
7:13pm Goal was Streit’s, from Nielsen and Tavares
7:16pm Richard Park carries the puck into the zone and gets a shot off that’s stopped by Lundqvist.
7:22pm Roloson absorbs some contact from Gaborik and Christensen and let’s them know what he felt about it. It hemmed both of those players in the zone for the entire Islanders breakout.
7:23pm Meter still playing way bigger than his frame, he had three hugs hits on his last shift before going off due to a broken stick.
7:27pm Blake Comeau with a big shot coming down the left wing, hits Lundqvist in the shoulder and crosses the line to make it 2-0!
7:29pm Assists go to Jackman and Park
7:32pm More sharp play by Roloson in his own end, power play upcoming for the Islanders. Prust sits for a crosscheck on Moulson.
7:35pm Okposo called for an offensive zone penalty, hooking – even up for a minute.
7:37pm Two more penalties, Jokinen holding for a and MacDonald also for a hold. Rangers now on a short power play.
7:40pm Final minute of the period.
That right there was a great period. Islanders capitalizing on turnovers due to their strong forecheck. They are playing huge defensively, as is Roloson. They scored on the power play AND held the Rangers to just four shots despite giving them a short power play of their own. It’s up to the Islanders now to come up in the second period in the same way they came out for the first.
Impressive so far, leaps and bounds better than their showing last week at MSG.
Second Period
7:58pm Islanders win the opening draw, and promptly go offsides.
8:01pm Rangers get one back on a shot by Prospal that gave Roloson trouble glove side. 2-1 Isles
8:03pm Islanders power play, Rozsival for slashing.
8:05pm Prust just boarded Tavares really bad, 5 on 3 for a minute plus.
8:05pm Tavares is out on the PP so he isn’t too shaken up I guess.
8:07pm Islanders fail to convert on the five on three and the remainder of the second penalty due to tooooooooooooo many passes.
8:18pm Islanders defense is not clearing out the front of the net. Roloson is continuously absorbing contact and at one point got the stick RIPPED out of his hands – no calls.
8:22pm BAD turnover in front by Okposo, Rangers pick it up and fire it past the now screen named Okposo and past Roloson to make it 2-2
8:25pm Islanders getting chances breaking into the Rangers zone, but they are now breaking up every play and keeping them to the perimeter which is something they did not do in the first period.
8:28pm Bergenheim with a great self pass to earn the slot area but that space was taken away just as quickly.
8:3pm And like clockwork, the Rangers make it 3-2, three unanswered goals. (Goal by Gaborik (40))
8:32pm Gillies two minutes for roughing, Rangers power play
Final Minute
8:33pm Roloson stands on his head for the remainder of the penalty kill. Gillies gathers the puck out of the box and barely musters a shot. End of the period.
Like I said after the first period, it was up to the Islanders to come out ready in the second. It’s not that they failed to do so, they just cannot match the Rangers tempo.
First period > Second
Third Period
8:53pm Third period underway.
8:58pm I feel like I am watching a tennis match, lots of back and forth action.
8:59pm Make it four unanswered goals. Nice passing play gets Roloson moving and an almost effortless goal.
9:03pm If the Islanders plan on staying in this game, they need to come back from this TV timeout with a quick goal, otherwise just pack it in.
9:08pm Great shift by Bergenheim, kept the puck in the Rangers zone and Streit was fed with the puck for a point blast that beat Lundqvist but not the iron. It was a heavy, heavy clang.
9:16pm Islanders are now allowing the Rangers to get shots through on Roloson regularly, thankfully they have not been the best of scoring chances and he’s been able to see them.
9:17pm Islanders march back into the Rangers zone, Bergenheim to Comeau and it’s a 1 goal game 4-3 with six and a half remaining. Assists to Bergenheim and Flood.
9:26pm Final minute of the third.
Final score, Rangers 4 – Islanders 3
