**NOTE: Today's entry will run DOWN, not up. (cause I don't have to worry about the net timing out on me)**
It's 3 pm and I'm sitting in the comfort of my living room with uninterrupted internet, a glass of wine and an excellent lunch instead of tea and popcorn. Ahhh... Love the press box but it's nice to cover the game from home.
Okay, this game gives me a very different feeling than yesterday's. Biggest reason? Sean Bergenheim. He will score and he will bang. But this game is very important. According to Eric hornick on Twitter:
Eric Hornick@ehornickReply
#NYR have done their part. #Isles can get within 6 pts of playoffs (1st time since 12/9) with win this afternoon. #NHL
Wow, six points out? That's almost do-able.
Jack Capuano has chosen to go with the same line-up as yesterday. Nabby is making yet another start while Al Montoya gathers dust. I'm not sure about this. I would have liked to see Montoya.
At least we don't have to worry that Moulson and Martin were actually injured yesterday. They are both in the line-up.
Who is scoring the Isles 1st goal today? Let's go with PA Parenteau. The reason I'm saying that is due to Art Staple of Newsday's article regarding his contract negotiations. PA is trying to make a case for himself to triple his salary. Seems a little big headed, don't you think?
Okay.... let's see what happens today.
3:13 pm: Frans Nielsen scores the 1st goal with a feed from PA Parenteau and then Nabokov makes an excellent save on Sean Bergenheim on the other side of the ice.
3:36 pm: with 4:52 to go in the first, an errant puck off Steve Staios' knee and over Nabokov's shoulder. He looked at him like "What did you do to me?" but really, is it his fault?
4:04 pm: Second period begins with a seven second PP for the Isles with Sean Bergenheim in the box for the Panthers on a holding call that carried over from the first.
4:07 pm: Great shifts by the Isles can't keep Fleischmann from scoring 18" outside of Nabby's net as Ness couldn't stop him. 2 - 1 Panther's with shots on goal 11 - 9 in favor of the Panthers.
4:18 pm: Matt Martin called for a penalty puts the Panthers on the power play as Martin sits in the box for roughing on Erik Gudbranson (the kid I thought we should have drafted, but couldn't.)
4:22 pm: Verseteeg gets his 22nd of the year and the 3rd Panther's goal of the game as he's got Kopecky screening Nabokov for him all the way. Nabby had no chance on the goal at all. Power play goal for the Panthers and a mark against the otherwise excellent Isles PK.
4:25 pm: Nielsen and Grabner had the best chance of the game but Gudbranson broke up the pass once and then again a few seconds later. He also blocked a Milan jurcina shot. the kid should be hobbling now and meanwhile, the isles still haven't scored.
4:33 pm: With the second period almost at a close, Skille has made it 4 - 1 Panthers. Art Spale feels there are "several culprits" as the Isles have "come up small in a very big game." Great way to put it Art.
So tell me ... why are the Isles D allowing Nabby (who probably shouldn't have been playing back-to-back games any way) to be screened the way he is?
4:49 pm: Okay, so with such a terrible period on the ice, it seems the fans are throwing their hands up in disgust. Twitter is filled with fans turning off their sets and cdalling it a day as well as questioning their devotion to the team.
4:52 pm: With the game basically out of reach for the Isles, Al Montoya has been given the net. He needs the work as he hasn't seen a game in weeks.
5 pm: Holy Crap. With 13:01 left of the third and the Isles still not managing to help themselves out, Fleischmann hits the cross bar at such an angle, Al Montoya is looking around for the puck. We're all sure it went in, but it went over. That was a lucky break for Montoya but unless the Isles find a way to get the puck past the panthers D and behind Theodore, they can leave the ice embarrassed.
5:05 pm: Ness stuck in a 3 on 1 towards Montoya. I'm wondering if he needs to change his shorts after that rush.
5:07 pm: Isles on the power play as Gudbranson is called for hooking down PA Parenteau. You wouldn't know it was a power play.
5:21 pm: With 3:32 left of the third there is no hope fror the Isles in this game. Al Montoya showed his rust when he went to cut an angle but landed on his butt. Luckily the puck once again hit the cross bar and up so no goal was scored.
What a shame. On a day that the Isles had a good gate with kids in the house for the Marvel Super Heros, they leave their fans disappointed. Those who are still in the stands with one minute remaining begin to boo their team.
The frustration on John Tavares' face is evident as he leaves the bench looking up at Moulson and shaking his head. Moulson does the same as he walks through the tunnel to the locker room.
This is the type of game I would not be able to go into the locker room. There would be nothing for me to say or ask.
Post Game: JT spoke with Stan Fischler and just seemed almost without words. "We let them dictate play." He couldn't find the one moment when the game turned against them, because there wasn't one. It was a lot of moments as they managed four goals.
Nabby said they had their chances. "They scored a big goal on the power play and after that, it took the air out of us. I don't know. You have to have balance. Today wasn't the case for offense or defense. Regroup, take a day off and sleep on it."
Staios "Disappointing. we felt like we were in a postion to climb up the standings and we didn't have our best effort." Seems the Panters play a trap system. "They play a stingy system. It was just overall, wasn't a great effort. we'll deal today and get back on the horse tomorrow."
Streit also agreed they didn't play well. It's always funny to me that Streit will say they didn't play well and Jack always says he's happy with the effort. Jack candy-coats it for the media and the players know what they did and didn't do.
They head to Winnipeg for Tuesday and then to St. Louis. I'm not even sure any more what team will show up.
New York Islanders Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»