I was worried about this game. Everything I had read about the Thrashers previously made me worried. The fact that they were 10 – 0 – 0 when scoring first; the fact they lead the NHL in third period goals. Oh yeah…. I was scared about this one.
For some reason, I wanted Champagne last night. Was there a full moon? All I know is, I stopped on my way home, bought an already cold bottle, came home and popped the cork. I made my daughter and I dinner and then sat down to watch the game. What was I celebrating? I had no idea.
With eleven minutes left in the first, I had to run out to drop something off so I listened to the Thrashers first period goal on the XM radio in my car and promptly screamed an expletive at the top of my lungs. They said not to let them score first. The odds are with the Thrashers when they score first. Koslov, Lucky Number 13, had made it 1 – 0 at only 9:01 of the first. It just seemed ominous.
I rushed back to the house, the TV, my laptop and my champagne glass with raspberries floating in it just in time to watch the Islanders get out of the first only down by one goal. Perhaps all was not lost. It would all depend on which team came out of the locker room to start the second period. What would the pair of Scotts and one Dean say in there?
Then it became their game. Under two minutes into the second, Matt Moulson scored his 12th goal of the season. Once the score was tied, they could concentrate on playing their game – and they did. When the Islanders went on the Power Play at late in the second, it looked as if once again they would fall short in their efforts. Kyle Okposo had a shot on goal, but Rich Peverley took the puck back towards Roloson. The thought of them giving up a short handed goal probably didn’t sit well with anyone. And just when I didn’t think they’d get anything out of the power play, Matt Moulson took the puck deep into the Thrashers zone and blasted it past Pavelec for his second of the game.
After the second period, Matt was interviewed by MSG’s Rob Carlin. They always interview the guy who scores the goals. Rob brought up the last time Matt scored twice and everyone thought he had a hat trick on a third Islanders’ goal, but he left it for JT to tip in inside the paint. Rob asked if he was thinking about a Hat Trick now. Matt laughed at Rob. “Now you jinxed me.” Rob didn’t seem to have that power.
The third period is where Atlanta finds their legs and blast 10 shots on Dwayne Roloson. The Islanders countered with only 7. (Roloson once again received a little help from the posts on a few of the 27 shots he faced.) Richard Park was tagged with a tripping penalty, and it looked like the Thrashers would have the opportunity to make a comeback with their signature high-scoring third period. But what’s this? The Penalty Kill worked once again? You bet it did!
At 13:09 of the third, a tired Matt Moulson, who woke up at 6:30 am yesterday to argue with his father over the TV being on in the hotel room, netted his FIRST NHL Hat Trick. It was just a little tip in off a Mark Streit shot, but it was just enough of a redirect to find the back of the net.
John Tavares put an end to the worry about the Thrashers third period magic with an empty netter to close the game at 4 – 1.
So many players made a difference in last night’s win. They may not have points on the score sheet, but it was indeed a team effort. There were “good decisions at the blue line.” There were 13 blocked shots. There were 12 take- aways and only four giveaways this game. There were only TWO penalties! Everyone expects John Tavares and Kyle Okposo to make a difference on the ice, but last night it was a team effort. Hunter (who limped off late in the third), Sim (intelligent play and drawing a penalty), Gervais (saved a goal for Roli), Bergenheim (shooting from everywhere), Park (with two great chances), Thompson (proving Gordon right), Witt (who stayed out of the box!), Jackman (who came so close to adding to his goal totals) – go down the roster. Every one of them contributed in this win and no one needed to drop the gloves. This was a different team. This was Scott Gordon’s Islanders.
In the post game interview, Matt Moulson let on to some of his inspiration for his excellent performance. “My dad told me if we didn’t win and I didn’t score, he wouldn’t let me back in the room tonight.” Gordon said they wouldn’t want to disappoint their parents. But then he said, “Billy Jaffe said I couldn’t shoot a slap shot.” He proved Jaffe wrong with that second goal of his. Moulson admits it’s a team game and a matter of being in the right place at the right time. “I’m learning more and more every day.”
Every day, hockey fans are learning more and more about the NY Islanders. They just can’t be taken lightly.
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