Another 1-0 game between the Isles and Devils. This time the Isles were on the winning end of it. Kyle Okposo scored the only goal of the evening, even though John Tavares should have had two and if you give P.A.Parenteau credit for being taken down into the net, if he was a puck, he'd have one too.
In only his second NHL game, Anders Nilsson was well protected by his Defense. It seems they took extra special care blocking shots and getting in shooting lanes. Steve Staios even ended up in the box for a few minutes after protecting Nilsson when he felt Bernier was a little too close for comfort. But at Nilsson's size, he really doesn't need too much protection as he proved when he whacked at Clarkson's ankles on his own.
The biggest problem was that there should have been more goals considering the amount of power play opportunities the Isles were given. Teams should score especially with a two man advantage. They didn't. That needs to be fixed.
Perhaps the NHL could also fix the mistakes on calls or lack there-of. Matt Moulson took ten stitches to the face after being hit with a high stick. With three zebra shirts on the ice, no one noticed the hit? How about the blood?
The Islanders blocked 27 shots today and laid 20 hits. Now only five points out of that last play-off spot, but with no games in hand, the Islanders are not ready to give up. I don't think Islander Country is either.
Photo credit to the NYIslanders Twitter feed and my buddy Rob McGowan from TheCheckingLine.com who is on Nilsson's left.
5:21 pm: 1:28 left and Marty leaves his crease but there's a fast whistle and he has to come back. Time out and everyone draws up their plans. They do not want the Devils to tie this game up and go to overtime.
Face off win will be key. With 1:06 left, Marty leaves the crease again. JT comes down the boards and PA Parenteau skates down the middle and is taken down by Zidlisky and they both slide into the net. Broduer had to return to this net and with 40 seconds left he leaves again. JT hits the post and the puck comes back into the Isles zone.
There is havoc, pure and simple. But ultimately, Nilsson gets his first NHL shutout in only his second NHL start.
I'm guessing Anders will be the first star of the game. Yep.
Casey is the third star, Kyle is the second star with the only goal of the game.
5:13 pm: Another casualty of the game as PA Parenteau is having a huge problem with his right hand after being slashed.
Anders has been 10-0-1 since January 1st proving that the faith Garth Snow put in him originally is paying off.
4:56 pm: In an effort to really protect the kid in his second NHL game, Hamonic first takes offense with Patrick Elias and then Steve Staios wrestles with Bernier in a very unusually chippy game.
John Tavares is hooked while on a breakaway towards Broduer, but instead of being awarded a penalty shot, only a two minute penalty is called. Marty Brodeur is not happy about something as he looks up from his crease.
The Isles are on the power play 4 on 3 and JT gets another chance to score on Broduer. JT is sat on for a good five seconds and there's no call at all. Penalties are over and the play continues with no whistles.
The crowd is into the game and you can hear it with every blocked shot.
4:48 pm: Ten stitches later, Matt Moulson is back on the ice during the power play at the start of the third. I took a little nap during the break. Yep. It's a Sunday Isles Devils game.
David Ullstrom drives to the net down the left wall and straight to the crease. Broduer makes the stop. Isles get one shot on net during the power play.
4:30 pm: At 19:44 of the second, the Devils take a holding penalty which means the Isles will be on the power play when they return to start the third.4:24 pm: with under 4 minutes to play in the second, Milan Jurcina sits in the box and the Isles are on the PK once again. Devils manage 1 shot on net during the power play.
4:21 pm: Zach Parise is in considerable pain after trying to glove a Milan Jurcina shot. That seems to be the only way that Jurcina really makes a difference.
Nilsson doing a nice job of keeping the puck out of his net.
4:11 pm: Bookkeeping. Isles with a five on three opportunity, but there should have been an additional penalty or penalty shot as a hand is closed on the puck as Brodeur's net is dislodged.
The power play operated well, but their set ups were blocked repeatedly. The Devils cleared and matt Moulson was hit with a high stick that was not called and had to leave to be stitched up.
Butch Goring was just as incensed as Moulson with the referes who missed two callsduring the power play.
Isles do not score on the power play.
4:05 pm: Maybe seeing fellow youngster Casey Cizikas play so hard has lit a small fire under the butt of Nino Niederreiter who didn't let Kovalchuk out of his sight. Nice work Nino.
3:59 pm: Kyle Okposo scores the 1st goal of the game early in the second period.
Casey Cizikas gets another assist point to add to his stats. As I said on Twitter, Casey is really impressing.
3:39 pm: No score as the teams head to the dressing rooms.
3:31 pm: The Isles killed off the 1st Devils' penalty without them scoring a short handed goal. Considering the NJD lead the league in shorties, that's a good thing.
Casey Cizikas did a Superman move on Matt Taormina, no harm no penalty.
3:16 pm: Aaron Ness sits as Mark Eaton is deemed well enough to play. Although after watching him get smacked around on the boards, he may have wished he was in the press box.
Marty Brodeur is doing his best impressiuon of a defenseman tossing the puck up ice for Parise for a clear shot at Nilsson.
Okay, maybe this game won't be so boring if it's going to continue like this. HA! And Howie and Butch are discussing how it's not the same game the Devils have played before.
11 am: That's right, it's Bridgeport call-up Anders Nilsson who gets the nod today between the pipes for the Isles vs. Devils 3 pm start.
The American Hockey League announced Thursday that Anders Nilsson of the Bridgeport Sound Tigers was named the Reebok/AHL Goaltender of the Month for February. In seven appearances, Nilsson went 6-0-1 with a 1.26 goals-against average, a .955 save percentage and one shutout as the Sound Tigers remained the hottest team in the AHL. Nilsson is the second straight Sound Tiger goalie to earn this monthly honor after Kevin Poulin was named Reebok/AHL Goaltender of the Month for January
Anders isn't the only Sound Tiger to get the call either. Aaron Ness has been recalled on emergency basis as Mark Eaton and Dylan Reese are both questionable for today's tilt. Also sitting again is most likely Michael Grabner.
Where were those flu shots? Really? Now Reese supposedly has it.
The Devils have their share of injuries as well. This from the NHL.com preview:
Devils forward Alexei Ponikarovsky had an MRI on his injured leg, which kept him out of Friday's game. New Jersey is also without defenseman Henrik Tallinder (leg) and center Travis Zajac(Achilles)
But with the way Zach Parise has been playing lately, it may not matter who is out of the line-up for the Devils. Parise had a hat trick in Washington on Friday night. He's on fire.
The last five games the Isles have played against the Devils have been one goal games. Read: boring hockey. We'll have three more of them this week.
Hopefully Josh Bailey will be able to keep up his point streak. The Islanders will have to find a way to keep Parise and Kovalchuk away from the puck. Also, just get a goal or two past Marty Brodeur early and it throws him off his game the entire way.
New York Islanders Blogger • 
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