3:19 pm: with 3:58 left of the third, the only line that can do anything finally breaks through the Rinne wall with a goal. At least they weren't shut out.
Moulson and Okposo gain assists for their stats as well.
So... really... where is the magic?
3:12 pm: The Preds call a time out to rest a little with onl 7:03 left of the third and a very nice lead on the Isles.
There will be no coming back from this no matter how many shots on goal the Isles manage to fire at Pekka Rinne. As Gary, my seat mate here in the sky, said -- after the dust came off of Poulin, he really didn't do too badly.
It's a shame the Isles had the start they did or perhaps it would have been a little more competitive.
3:01 pm: As the third period begins, nothing else has changed with the exception of the Isles being one shot on goal above the Preds at 26 and the Preds have blocks ten Isles attempts.
2:29 pm: Gary Harding, a fellow blog-boxer, had the perfect way to explain this game so far. The Preds are ahead of every pass as if they are telepathic. Maybe that's it.
2:19 pm: Well, so much for a power play. The Isles did manage to even the shots on goal which are now at 17 - 17, however they must have had at least another seven blocked. This is crazy.
2:13 pm: With Borque in the box already, Mike Fisher is called for high sticking giving the Isles a two-man advantage. Jack calls a time-out to get them set up. If they cannot score on Rinne with a 5 on 3, there is a serious problem with them today.
2:05 pm: Just as the second period began, I watched JT try to hit a Pred heading to his bench. It bothered me that JT bounced off the guy and fell on his butt.
Travis Hamonic took a puck to the foot inside Poulin's crease trying to help defend against a Preds FOURTH goal and was helped off the ice by Garrett Timms.
While the Isles have increased their shots on goal during the first 7 minutes to 11, the chances they are getting are being outweighed by the turnovers they have.
I know I'm really bad at the number thing with attendance, but it's 10,700 and change.
1:49 pm: Hopes were raised when the Isles went on their first power play when Wilson was called for elbowing, but the teams still went to the rooms with the same score. The only place the Isles are leading is in hits with 11 to 4 and Travis Hamonic has three of the 11.
1:28 pm: At 11:37 of the first, the Predators (what a perfect name for them) socred their third goal of the first period. I'm not sure if the Isles realize the game started and this isn't just practice.
Also, I do believe there is a nice contingent of Preds fans here as they are cheering when goals are scored. (Unless our Isles fans are just getting a little testy.)
1:22 pm: Matt Martin takes a 2 minute boarding penalty and the crowd boos. Just noticed all the guessing about who was in goal was wrong and it is Rinne. So far the only save that Poulin has made was on ex-NYI Jack Hillen
1:16 pm: Make that two goals on two shots.
1:07 pm: One shot, one goal. Poulin was not ready. But then, he's been sitting on the bench for a week!
12:04 pm: The history:
ISLANDERS VS. PREDATORS:
All-Time Record vs. Predators: 5-8-1
Last Season's Record vs. Predators: 0-1-0
Last Regulation Win: 4/11/02 –Islanders 5 at Predators 2
Last Regulation Loss: 12/13/10 –Islanders 0 at Predators 5
Last Overtime Decision: 10/15/02 –Islanders 0 at Predators 1
Last Shootout: 2/9/10 –Islanders 4 vs. Predators 3
11:10 am: The NY Islanders Twitter feed confirms Jack Capuano has decided on Kevin Poulin to start this game today. Also decided to shake things up again and has moved Michael Grabner to a line with Nielsen and Parenteau.
7 am: It's the annual MLK Day 1 pm start for the New York Islanders where fans can bring their kids for a special afternoon of hockey. They are also collecting warm winter coats today in exchange for a ticket voucher. So if you're heading over this afternoon, check your closets.
Afternoon games worry me for the Isles. It throws off their schedule and some time they're just not ready to play. And some days they surprise me. But I've learned to keep my expectations low.
This is from today's NHL.com preview:
Stat Pack: Nashville is 6-0-2 in its last eight games against the Islanders, who haven't beaten the Predators in regulation since winning 5-2 in Nashville on April 11, 2002.
The Preds are on a winning streak but the Isles aren't doing so badly themselves lately. With Al Montoya still concussed and Nabokov getting his 300th win, let's HOPE to see the future of the Isles in net this afternoon: Kevin Poulin.
My buddy from the Nashville blog "TheViewFrom111" thinks we will not see Rinne in net since the Preds play the Rangers tomorrow, so we will see Lindback. That's all well and good, but the Preds have been winning through defense, so this will be no walk in the park for the Isles.
Predators: The Preds have won seven of their last eight, and they've been doing it with defense. Nashville limited the high-scoring Flyers to just two goals on Saturday night, and the Preds have surrendered just 16 goals during their hot streak.
uh, oh.
Look for Matt Moulson to extend his point streak and at least two break-aways from Michael Grabner.
For additional thoughts on today's game from the other side of the rink, check out Buddy's blog at Preds On The Glass: http://www.predsontheglass.com/2012/01/could-predators-be-caught-by-trap-on.html
Look for me to get to the rink late since I am going to work and will try to leave by the lunch hour. I hope.
New York Islanders Blogger • 
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