10:44 pm: Jack is not happy with his top line tonight and made no bones about saying that some guys were 'soft along the walls." It seems he's having the same conversations and while things are getting better, he's not completely happy.
When asked about Hickey's play, Jack was complementary.
"Hickey was pretty good, composed, contained real well down low. He was on the 'D' side of the puck tonight. I thought he was fine."
Butch called him 'solid.' This was certainly a confidence builder for the kid.
10:32 pm: Kyle Okposo had his first good shot on Montoya in Overtime and Streit fell over Montoya as he gloved it down.
Nabokov making excellent saves at the other end of the ice. Aucoin fanned on a puck and then there was the turnover. Kane scored the overtime winner.
For some reason, the Isles never left the bench and waited for a review. The call stood and the Isles lose 5 - 4 with one point in their pocket.
10:28 pm: "I can tell you Al Arbour wouldn't have a rookie out in the last minute." Oh yeah, more proof Jack is NOT Al Arbour.
Time runs out and they go to Overtime.
10:14 pm: Well, nothing lasts forever -- including the Islanders PK streak. With 7:01 left of the third period, Byfuglien beats Nabokov and the crowd has found their voices again.
Burmistrov then ties the game with a shot that bounces off Nabby's shoulder pad. He is not happy, but the crowd certainly is.
10:11 pm: Mark Streit on a power play gives Doug Weight a bonus goal.
10:01 pm: Doug gets his wish. He almost had it on an opportunity by Aucoin, but he shot wide. With a concerted effort by the Isles and some excellent play by John Tavares, a Moulson redirection of JT shot beats ex-team mate Al Montoya for the Isles 3rd goal. I think it's Matt's third of the season.
9:54 pm: Twenty-two seconds into the third period and John Tavares scored his first goal of the season. He has had plenty of assist points, but every top scorer wants to do exactly that -- score.
9:51 pm: Doug Weight would like to see two Islander goals in the next period. So would hte rest of us. He had some good insight and good advice for his club to try to do that. But that's why they pay him the big bucks.
9:48 pm: Could Jack be happy with Okposo's game tonight?
9:22 pm: Thomas Hickey's mother and brother are at the arena because there were only two seats left on the flight to Winnepeg out of Calgary. Nice man.
9:17 pm: Jack shakes up the top line in order to get something going.
9:10pm: Eric Boulton made a lousy clearing attempt. The Jets score. It's going to be a long game.
The Isles go on the power play and can't get anything out of it.
9:04 pm: The Isles PK has been stellar so far. Just wish they didn't need it so often.
Nabokov is absolutely the best player on the Isles tonight.
Although in the replay of a puck that hit the post just now, it looked exactly like a video of Rick from Friday night that he was yelled at for being out of position.
8:57 pm: Both Kane and Hamonic receive double minors for roughing. So I guess then it's still a Jets power play.
Jets are outshooting the Isles 12 - 6 and they are winning all the face-offs as well. Maybe they'll get tired in the third.
8:53 pm: Thomas Hickey admitted to being nervous his first shift, but once it was out of the way, he felt better. Carkner and DiPietro have been talking to him the whole time giving him advice.
8:42 pm: Carkner takes a penalty for boarding as Kane was smart and turned his back at the last second, even though he knew Carkner was coming. Bet he laughed about it too.
In the last four seconds of the period, Travis Hamonic dumps Kane on his butt and the two have words. The linesmen quicking come in, but Kane still gets a punch off at Hamonic. he's not going to be happy about that when period two begins.
8:38 pm: it's a shooting gallery on Nabokov, including one give-away of his own. All the action has been in the Isles end and the play has been called by Howie "sloppy and sloppier."
They can't get out of this period fast enough.
John Tavares is being booed every tiime he has the puck. Interesting.
8:34 pm: The last minute has seemed like a Jets power play.
8:25 pm: Burmistrov levels Tavares and Travis Hamonic goes after him to say "what for." With the distraction, Ponikarovsky gets in front of the net and fires one past Nabokov who is not ready in the commotion.
Jack sends out the big guns on the next shift. Just in case.
TV Time out photo:
8:21 pm: Seems Kyle Okposo hasn't received the memo regarding 'closing your hand on the puck' penalty. For that, he sits two minutes in the box and feels shame.
8:18 pm: The Islanders kill of another penalty and with the penalty just expiring, Nabokov gloves the puck from mid air. Cut to commercial. Perfect timing.
8:12 pm: David Ullstrom with Keith Aucoin on his wing, blasts one passed Montoya for the Isles first goal of the game.
Colin McDonald took a puck to the leg blocking a shot and seemed in a lot of pain. Hopefully he'll shake it off.
He did came back and took a slashing penalty. ooopppssss
Opening line-up from Trevor.
7:42 pm: Thanks to Twitter buddy Trevor from Canada who is in the stands tonight in awesome seats in Winnepeg!
It's so loud in the arena, you can't hear Howie and Butch is losing his concentration.
7:25 pm: I almost had a fit, but the Isles pre-game will be airing on MSG Plus Plus infinity which is channel 81 on Fios and 73 on most Cablevision systems.
11 am: Finally! The news I've been waiting for!
Thomas Hickey will skate for the Islanders tonight in Winnepeg against the Jets as he replaced Finley. Eric Boulton will sub for Casey Cizikas and Nabokov will be in goal.
When asked why he chose Hickey over Martinek, he said he knows what Radek can do, but he needs to see Hickey in game situations. Good move Jack!
Mark Streit has been under the weather but is supposedly still playing tonight. Maybe not a good move.
Al Montoya's familiar face will be at the opposite side of the ice tonight. Okay, let's see how that goes.
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