11 pm: Some stats from the boxscore tonight. Andy MacDonald has the most time on ice with 27.13 followed by Travis Hamonic who had 25.01. Travis also had the most shots on goal with 4 along with the only goal for the Isles.
Strait played a little over 15 minutes with no special teams works and Doug Weight said he liked the way he played. Eric Boulton must be the new Trevor Gillies playing a little over 3 minutes total.
The "hit parade" tonight was actually lead by -- Joe Finley with three. Matt Martin only had one hit tonight.
Keith Aucoin won 8 of 10 faceoffs, but was kicked out of the circle a few times late in the game.
Amac blocked the most shots tonight at five. He'll be sore tomorrow.
Devils hockey isn't exciting, but it did get interesting in the third period. But as boring as it is, you can't deny they don't get the job done when you see the shot totals they manage. But it's going to be tough seeing this team as often as we'll have to.
9:43 pm: In other news, the Bruins beat the Rangers and Rick Nash 3 - 1 in Boston in front of another packed house.
9:35 pm: John Tavares was tripped by Elias and he ended the game face down on the ice. After some discussion, they put two seconds back on the clock and a power play.
but that two seconds goes by quickly. So the Islanders lose their home opener just as they have so often before.
9:26 pm: The last five minutes of the game is the most exciting. Travis Hamonic almost ties the game again by keeping his head up and finding a lane. Brodeur made the save and Travis skated away cursing.
9:21 pm: The Isles are awarded another power play as Kovalchuk heads to the box after a late hit on Aucoin.
Can they tie this one up?
9:13 pm: In typical Islanders fashion, 30 seconds after the Isles tie it up, Clarkson made it 2 - 1 Devils as a shot from the blue line may have been deflected as Nabby was screened by Stait and Elias. It was deflating.
9:08 pm: Finally a call goes the Isles way, as a blatant hook on Okposo was not ignored. Isles on the powerplay almost get one by Brodeur with Matt Moulson on his doorstep.
Travis Hamonic scores the first Islanders goal of this season standing all alone in the slot as four Devils are playing dogpile on Okposo. All even at one.
9:02 pm: Michael Grabner had the best opportunity of the night close in on Brodeur, but the puck trickled of his stick into and into the paint and Brodeur swept it aside. Grabner tried a second time from the edge of the net but another Devil said "um, no."
Mark Streit gets a bad holding call that put the Isles on the PK. As bad as their special teams have been, they kill it off.
At the 16 minute mark of the third, the Islanders seem to be getting a little more desperate. Michael Grabner has been, as everyone has said tonight, the best player on the ice for the Isles.
8:32 pm: The first goal scored on the Islanders this season is credited to Travis Sajac. Mark Streit tried to do what he could, but it wasn't enough and Nabby gave up the first goal of the season at 14:01 of the second on a pass by Kovalchuk.
7:49 pm: The Islanders are being out shot by the Devils 8-3 and out hit 14-9. The play is sloppy but still enjoyable. John Tavares is his usual brilliant self and Matt Moulson had an excellent opportunity on a blind pass by JT, but Matt was stripped of the puck by Kovalchuk.
Scoreless 1st in a packed house.
7:33 pm: Midway through the first period and the Isles have yet to notch a shot on net. The Devils iced the puck and Clarkson took Mark Streit into the boards with a loud bang. Streit took exception and gave Clarkson a little shove and before Clarkson could get angry, new kid Strait went in to push him around a little as Streit skated away.
Okay, new in town and already sticking up for his partner. Nice.
Howie and Butch are having a difficult time with the name similiarites and have blamed -- Garth Snow.
7:19 pm: And the Isles powerplay is tested early and (as expected) fails. Oh, and the champagne is open and the Coliseum is FULL. So much for worrying about the lockout effecting the home opener. Right. We are weak.
6:43 pm: And the basketball game is finally over and they cut to the game night with Peter who is rushing through his script.
Stan Fischler looks good. But it seems that Jack doesn't look good. According to a test, Jack will not be on the bench due to medical reasons. (Flu? or did those butterflies turn into Teradactyls) Jack has kidney stones.
6:37 PM: It seems that Cablevision, the Evil Dolan Empire has deemed that a college basketball game is far more important than the return of actual NHL hockey and their MSG produced pre-game shows. For your viewing pleasure, you get a college bball game. Maybe, if they're done before 7 pm, we may actually get the NHL games.
Lines according to Art Staple: Moulson-Tavares-Okposo, Grabner-Nielsen-Boyes, Ullstrom-Aucoin-McDonald, Martin-REasoner-Boulton. D pairings: Macdonald - Hamonic, Strait-Streit (ha) Finley-Carkner.
It's almost 3 pm and NHL Hockey is about to be televised on NBC around the country. Are you excited? I am. Of course, I'm still a little angry that it should have happened in October, but we're here now.
Tonight the NY Islanders take on the New Jersey Devils and it will indeed be Nabokov in net with Rick backing him up. So, I was wrong.
I am most concerned for Jack Capuano and his shortened camp. "The penalty kill will be a work in progress." His decision to start Nabby, "We sat down with Mike Dunaham and our coaches, it's just one of those things, Nabby finished here last year so hopefully we can get off to a good start here against NJ."
Art Staple things that Radek Martinek will be the odd man out tonight on D. (PS: This must be so very important that Newsday even sent out Mark Herrmann to cover the morning skate!) Art also mentioned that there will be no rotation of "A's" this season. It will just be John Tavares and Kyle Okposo. Perfect choice since one of them will be wearing the C next year.
There will be plenty of new faces in the line up tonight and guys to watch. "We've looked forard to this day all summer long. I know the players are excited, the coaching staff are excited and most importantly the fans. It's been a long wait, but I know we're ready to go tonight."
Jack admitted he will be nervous and things everyone should be. It's important. Every game will really be worth four points, not two. And it starts tonight.
It's hockey time!
Drop the damn puck!
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