Wanna blog? Start your own hockey blog with My HockeyBuzz. Register for free today!
 

Isles Win in SO in Minn

December 17, 2011, 11:40 PM ET [ Comments]
Dee Karl
New York Islanders Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
The home coming for Kyle Okposo was outdone by the home coming of Andrew MacDonald scoring his second goal of the season in his first game back after missing seven. At 11:13 of the second period MacDonald put the Islanders on the board 1-0. John Tavares assed his 15th assist point and Moulson his 9th. Things were going well. Shots on goal were 9 - 5 in the first period, but increased to 15 in the second period and ten in the third. They held the Wild to only 21 shots total including the overtime. (Speaking of McDonald, so nice to hear Jiggs call the game.)

But Cal Clutterbuck, the guy that yaps at John Tavares, ruined Okposo’s welcome home party and capitalized on a lucky break and lapse in defense to tie it up at one at 8:22 of the third. Mark Streit’s turnover was a gift.

Nino Niederreiter was also activated today along with MacDonald and played a total of nine minutes in his first game back from concussion. MacDonald played 22. While Matt Martin may but up there on the hit parade of the NHL, the isles were outworked in that area with the Wild throwing 24 hits to the Isles twelve.

I was baking cookies all night with only one ear on the game, but when I finally sat down to watch in the third, I couldn’t help but think how perfect for Christmas time is the Wild’s deep green uniforms. As nice as the teams looked on the ice, that Clutterbuck goal almost took the life out of the Isles. We’ve see the third period meltdowns and it was within a hair of another one. Chance for the Isles to score were there.

“Take a little advice from Danno, lift the effing puck when you’ve got the goalie down. Don’t slide it along the ice.” There were multiple curse words coming from the den. The puck sat in Backstrom;s crease. -- twice. Two chances to win the game in regulation for the Isles were lost.

Overtime it was, and while both teams worked hard the five minute period ended without a winner and it was off to the shoot out. While Okposo had a few chances and some fancy stick work, he didn’t end up being the hero in his home town in front of his Mom.

The shoot out didn’t start right away and Cullen, who was shotting first, was just hanging out at the blue line. He skated in on Montoya using Lots of dekes, but as he slowed down Montoya stayed with him.

JT lost speed with his stick movement and missed a five hole opportunity when again he didn’t lift the puck.

Zidlicky stopped by Montoya

Nielsen with his patented shoot out move made it look easy and scored on Backstrom.

And finally, Heatly was stopped.by Montoya which ended the game and meant Kyle didn’t get to save the day in the shoot out for his Mom..

With the 2 - 1 Isles win in the shoot out giving the Wild one point continuing the division dominance. Seriously, the Isles needed that second point more than the Wild did. The Isles are now at 26 points with only three teams in the league less than that. (Who’s the top prospect this year?)

With MacDonald back and Montoya playing very well, the Isles can win some hockey games, but the sad state of affairs seems to be that they will be playing the role of spoiler more than they will be preparing for playoffs.

I found the concussion stat very interesting. There are $87 million in NHL payroll out with concussion injuries. Holy crap. Yes, something will be done and it will be drastic. Hold onto your seats.

I noticed that due to the Isles game going into overtime and the shoot out, good old MSG Hockey Night Live didn’t have much of an Islander post game. Hell, they didn’t have one at all. Guess I won’t know what Jack Capuano had to say until they post the MSG interview footage that didn’t air. I also won't know why Matt Moulson left the ice before the final buzzer.

The Islanders head to Winnepeg to play on Tuesday. Winnepeg is a dangerous team right now and just beat the Ducks 5 - 3. Well, it will be Travis Hamonic getting the home cooked meals as he heads back to “Winterpeg.” May I suggest staying out of the box Travis? You’ve been victim of those phantom calls again. Try to keep the penalties down to the same as tonight: one.

Well, I’ve got to clean the kitchen. There’s icing and flour everywhere.
Join the Discussion: » Comments » Post New Comment
More from Dee Karl
» Boychuk for Seven
» Good Ain't Good Enough NYR 2 - NYI 1
» The Return of Isles' Capt. America
» The JT Show in TO in OT
» Kennedy's Debut