Islanders are leading with two-minutes remaining. Kyle Okposo has just scored the go ahead goal for the Islanders on the power play, marking his FIRST NHL GOAL in the same game as his FIRST NHL ASSIST! Second game into his NHL career and his gets himself a multi-point night and game winning goal.

Congrats Kyle -what a game!

Trent Hunter just made it 3-1 into an empty net! First win and first points in 6 games.

What, is that smell?

Clearly, it is the smell of scorched jockstraps - after what was a very devastating loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning last night 8-4. Ted Nolan had what could only be described as “a night”, last night. I say it like that because despite his normal demeanor in the post game press conference, his answering was completely un-Ted like. I’m lucky - I really am, as I get to see the players and coaches after every game. I hear and see them first hand when the cameras are and are not rolling, so this was really the first time anyone outside of the room(s) (Room Six as we have come to know it, and the locker room) has seen or heard what what pure frustration sounds like. I want to emphasize, that the showing of frustration is a positive thing - not a negative as many of the message board posters have been saying. Wouldn’t you be more concerned with a player or coach who shows no emotion after a bad loss? I know I would.

Notes and Quotes

Just in case you all haven’t read the latest from last night’s loss, I have gathered some of the juiciest quotes in one location for you all to enjoy.

Nolan on DiPietro:

“The only thing you can do is keep going through it over and over again. You can’t do that. You’ve got to let our defense handle it a little bit more. He just wants to play it. What can you do?”

Greg Logan asking DiPietro of Nolan’s comments and if he had a response:

“No. Whatever.”

Guerin on DiPietro (Per Greg Logan’s latest blog entry):

“Ricky is a competitor,” Islanders captain Bill Guerin said. “He just tries to do whatever he can to make the team better. Nobody can really tell him…I mean, what are you going to do? He’s one of the best puckhandlers in the league for goaltenders. You don’t want to take his competitiveness away from him. You’ve got to be patient.

Nolan on the injuries and callups:

“I don’t know if we’re the New York Islanders or the Bridgeport Sound Tigers right now. There’s so many guys out, so many new guys.”

If you look at all these quotes, it is easy to see why so many people could twist and turn words into making stories where there are none. The team, as a whole - is completely frustrated and has no idea how to get past the endless injuries suffered this season. From the opening night roster, I would say about half are currently playing - which includes 4 original defensemen. I know, I know - injuries aren’t to blame for this teams woes, but it has a very big part to do with their situation.

Onto the game from last night - DiPietro, had he stayed in net would have faired a lot better. When the score was 3-2 in favor of Tampa, the score should have really read 2-1 Islanders as two of Tampa’s goals came when DiPietro was barely in his crease. This knocked him off of his game and the Lightning began to attack. Shot, after shot, after shot appeared to give DiPietro trouble and what resulted was an 8-4 loss. The Islanders power play scored a rare goal, I think they are now 1 for their last 97 chances. Their power play continues to struggle, giving up the first two goals surrendered on either a man advantage and a two man advantage. They were out hustled, out hit, out just about everythinged.

So, what little bit of hope the team had to make the playoffs has faded into the slightest glimmer, ever. It is after this realization that the team moves into Sunrise, Florida tonight to take on a team that shut them out despite a 53 shot barrage on their netminder. Should prove to be an interesting game, considering the team will now be without Fedotenko (knee), Hilbert (ankle) and Witt (knee).

And now, your New York Bridgelanders!

Well for everyone who wanted to see some of the kids get more icetime, this is definately your chance.

With Fedotenko and Hilbert being felled to injury last night, the Islanders had no choice but to bring in even MORE help from Bridgeport in the form of Steve Reiger, Tim Jackman and Matthew Spiller. This is in addition to: Tambellini, Colliton, Comeau, and Walter. One can only assume that Kyle Okposo will get his proverbial “cup of coffee” here in the next few games with this insane lack of scoring and rash of injuries.

Another intersting day in Islanders Country - I think this “Were all Islanders” motto has been taken a little too far.

Update!

Just some updates per Greg Logan’s latest blog entry!

Seems as if Spiller will be replacing Witt who has decided he can no longer work with his bum knee. I think this is a good choice as it appears the Islanders hopes of reaching the playoffs has faded. I would prefer Witt concentrates on getting healthy for next year.

Vasicek will be returning from the flu for tonight’s game, so Jeremy Colliton was sent back to Bridgeport. Reiger and Jackman will indeed fill in for Hilbert and Fedotenko.

Maybe Nolan really is coaching the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Three reinforcements arrived from the Islanders’ AHL affiliate to fill out the lineup tonight. Defenseman Matthew Spiller has the biggest shoes to fill. He’s in for Brendan Witt, who no longer can play effectively on his sprained knee. Forwards Steve Regier and Tim Jackman also will play in place of injured Ruslan Fedotenko and Andy Hilbert. Josef Vasicek, who missed the Tampa Bay game because of the flu, returns to the lineup, replacing Jeremy Colliton, who was returned to Bridgeport. Jackman and Spiller should add a physical element that has been missing since Chris Simon was traded. Certainly, Spiller’s callup might be a reaction to the way defenseman Rob Davison was handled last night in his second fight as an Islander.

This afternoon the Islanders are set to take on the Florida Panthers after an on ice ceremony celebrating the men responsible for the 4 consecutive Stanley Cup’s won on Long Island - The Core of the Four. I am about to head over there to catch the ceremony, I want to be able to snap as many pictures as I can (minus the walk of champions because it has already began as I write this).

This is another important game for the Islanders, as each loss from here on out gives them less of a chance to make the playoffs. A win today will also help lift the game of the Islanders - as so many of the teams greats will be in attendance. It should be a great game to watch and be in the building for. I love the honor and respect given to the Islanders greats.

Hopefully the Islanders can muster up the will to play a complete game and secure two extremely valuable points today. Catch you after the game!

Getting ready to head out the door to the Coliseum and I wanted to give you a quick update.

Brendan Witt will return for today’s game against the Flyers, after missing 8 games with a sprained MCL! However, with good news comes bad news (Isn’t that always the case?). Forward Franz Nielsen will miss the next 2-4 weeks after suffering an undisclosed shoulder injury during Thursday’s game against the Thrashers. Nielsen was hit awkwardly between two separate players and his arm went limp as he left the ice in obvious discomfort. Hopefully Franz will be back rather quickly, but in the meantime the Islanders have called up forward Jeremy Colliton from the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

You can read more on both stories over at the Islanders Website!

We are getting set for the opening face off here. This is my very first live blog from the Blog Box and I must say I am pretty excited! Pretty good crowd for a mid-week game, maybe 9k, I would say maybe 10k now that the first period is almost over.

First Period

7:08 PM Big Joe (Vasicek) set to take the draw, clean win and we are under way!
7:09 PM Fedotenko in front forces Conklin to make the stop.
7:11 PM Pens take the first penalty for a change, Staal 2 minutes for holding. ISLANDERS POWER PLAY.
7:12 PM And like that, Fedotenko called for hooking to even things up.
7:13 PM AND JUST LIKE THAT Isles man up again - Pens Ruutu 2 minutes hooking (Way to make a debut Ruutu). Islanders 4-on-3′
7:14 PM 4-on-4 for for 38 seconds
7:16 PM A rare….even strength shift for both teams.
7:19 PM Islanders are out shooting and out hustling the Penguins pretty good here - Pittsburgh is yet to register a shot on goal just yet (as much as I don’t want to say that).

7:22 PM Tambellini with a shot of Conklin’s cage.
7:23 PM Comeau with a nice shot getting it on net, Hilbert controlled the rebound and rimmed it around. Guerin accepts a pass and takes a nice shot that Conklin had to hold on to.

7:26 PM Hunter with a great back check breaks up an offensive zone rush for Pittsburgh.
7:27 PM Malkin frees up in front and gets to a rebound, makes his teams second count shot and it’s 1-0 Penguins
7:29 PM Davison makes his appearance from the locker room, with 7:06 PM. I don’t envy him - showing up late (due to flights) and not knowing many people on the team - yet trying to be your teams difference maker. Best of luck.

7:32 PM Pittsburgh takes ANOTHER penalty, Gonchar 2 minutes for holding. The Islanders NEED to get on the board here.’
7:33 PM NOW THEY REALLY NEED TO SCORE, 2 MINUTES DELAY OF GAME PENS, 5-on-3 Islanders just over a minute and a half.

7:35 PM Decent puck movement by the Islanders, but they need bodies in front. Half minute remains for the 2 man advantage.
7:36 PM Nothing really going for the Islanders, Gonchar sprang into the Isles zone and Satan made a nice play to break things up. Vasicek the other way - Conklin with the save.

7:40 PM Off the face off Park called for 2 minutes holding the stick.
7:41 PM Another shorthanded odd man rush, Hunter takes the shot and Conklin juggles it. Play comes back the other way and the Islanders are penalized again; 2 minutes hooking on Gervais.

7:43 PM 2-0 Penguins, despite being outshot 21-3. Pens still on the power play as the last tally came shorthanded.
7:45 PM One minute left in the first period, thank goodness.

No matter when the Islanders outshoot their opponents by a wide margin, I cant ever really help but to be worried because the lack of scoring always comes back to haunt them. This period, without all the penalties and power play goals - would’ve seen the Islanders fairing a bit better than 2-0 on the scoreboard. Tom and I knew that the Pens would come out fired up after all their teams wheeling and dealing today, but we also thought the Islanders would put out a decent effort given their GM kept the team relatively intact. Hopefully Ted Nolan talks to the guys and gets them settled down for the second period.

Second Period

8:04 PM Second period begins.
8:05 PM Penguins penalty, 2 minutes high sticking on Staal (maybe he ran the stairs too hard today)
8:07 PM Conklin gloves down a point shot by Berard (I think). 30 seconds remaining in the Islanders man advantage.
8:08 PM Islanders 0-5 on the power play tonight, cannot win hockey games (or come from behind when you cant score even strength or men up).

8:11 PM Delayed penalty on Pittsburgh. 2 Minutes hooking Laraque - do or die time boys.
8:14 PM Another power play by the wayside - as the Islander blow a 2-on-0 break.
8:15 PM The boo birds are out in force tonight after an icing (the first of the game we think here in the box) by the Islanders.
8:19 PM Nielsen sharp angle, shoots - he SCORES!!!!! 2-1 Pittsburgh.
8:24 PM Davison with some booming shots from the point - Tom, Ken and I comment on him being a replacement in a sense because it hit the glass (high and wide) pretty hard.

8:27 PM Laraque 2 minutes high sticking, yet another chance for the Islanders on the power play.
8:30 PM Islanders called for icing - come up empty on the power play due to some sloppy passing, including a give away in their own zone.

8:34 PM Pittsburgh penalty on Letang, 2 minutes for slashing.
8:35 PM One minute remaining in the second period - power play carry over if they cannot convert here.

The Islanders will begin the third period on the power play with 34 seconds remaining. I don’t think I have ever said this before - but the team needs TO BE MORE SELFISH. The Penguins had a bunch of turnovers in prime goal scoring territory, but the Islanders either made entirely too many passes or held onto the puck too long. They need to SHOOT when they are in the position to do so. The team is now 0-8 on the power play - and given they are trailing in a game where they are out shooting their opponents, this needs to change. Score one at even strength and one on the man advanatage then continue to play their game and they could take this one. We shall see which team comes out in third.

Third Period

8:57 PM Late getting back to the blog box - appeared the goal crossed the line, but it was ruled otherwise.
8:59 PM Conklin slows down a shot from the point, offensive zone draw won by Pittsburgh.
9:02 PM The trail referee just called holding on Martinek, who was doing an outstanding job keeping his man wide.
9:08 PM I am having a hard time juggling blogging, and taking pictures - kudos to Tom and Dee for doing this almost every game.
9:13 PM Offensive zone draw here, the Islanders need to keep the great pressure on the Pens.
9:15 PM Pens scored on a delayed Islanders penalty; looks like Staal and it’s 3-1 Penguins. Crowd is now starting to head towards the exits.

9:18 PM DiPietro hears jeers from the crowd for making a catch, Davison just levels a Penguin along the penalty box boards.
9:19 PM Islanders will eventually register their 50th shot on goal, despite being down by two goals.
9:21 PM Islanders getting called for a tripping penalty here, Fedotenko heads to the box. Maybe the Islanders can find some magic while down two men?
9:24 PM Well….that plan didn’t work. Pittsburgh just scored on the power play for the second time tonight.
9:24 PM Comrie with the fight! Jon Sim giving Comrie a pat on the back as he heads to the locker room.
9:29 PM Malkin off for tripping, Isles score a late power play goal. Fedotenko banging home the rebound alone in front.
9:30 PM Well the Islanders tried, out shot their opponents 52-20 and came up two goals short. Off to the press conference!