11:03 pm: Boulton had 1:36 total time on ice. That included the fight he had with Aaron Asham. Interesting.
9:58 pm: Well, well, well. The Isles win in the shoot out. Frans Nielsen, Mr. Shoot Out and John Tavares seal the deal for the Isles, but give the Rangers a point in the process.
9:47 pm: An hour later and the Isles remain tied at 3 in OT. Nabokov makin g big saves and hoping for the other point.
8:58 pm: While I was eating dinner, the Rangers tied the score on a reviewed play.
8:15 pm: Matt Martin scored for the Isles cutting the Ranger lead in half. Yes... Matt MARTIN. Then Both Boulton and Nielsen were in the box and the Isles killed off 33 seconds fof a 5 on 3 and longer of a 5 on 4. The PK still clicks. With the Penalty expiring John Tavares carrys this team on his back and scores to even things up at two.
Brad Boyes then gives the Isles a 3 - 2 lead on a Visnovsky pass. The crowd calls for Lundqvist.
7:30 pm: If we are going to depend on Matt Martin to score on a breakaway against the Rangers, we've got an issue.
7:28 pm: Gaborik's goal on 10 shots on goal with Isles with NO shots on goal. 2 - 0 Rangers. And did I hear Butchie call out Kyle Okposo? I believe I did. Trade him.
7:17 pm: Asham and Boulton beat the crap out of each other at 5:25. They're so good at this neither one looks worse for the wear.
Note t Boulton: Asham's got a bum wrist. Use that to your advantage.
7:14 pm: 3:36 into the first, Rangers on the board. Well, that didn't take long did it?
6:42 pm: Real quick. How much do you believe in this team. They winning tonight? Let me see?
12:09 pm: Nabokov in goal and Reasoner, Hickey and Ullstrom take a seat tonight. Mark Streit will be paired with Finley and Cizikas and Martin will be with Boulton for the fourth line.
Jack told Art Staple of Newsday he wanted more size in the line-up tonight. I guess if you can't' 'beat 'em' he wants to just 'BEAT 'em.'
7 am: I stayed away from the computer yesterday for two reasons. The first is that today is my anniversary and I was running ragged. The second is that I was just so annoyed by the quotes I was reading coming out of yesterday's morning practice that I actually had to look away.
Some of the quotes from players and coaches I could play you from my interview achives from the last five years. Over and over again we hear the same things.
#JT91: "We've gotta stay focused and stay sharper on the little details of the game that are going to make a big difference." #Isles
"...All you can do is keep working harder, stay focused and stay committed, and have the willingness to compete every single shift." #Isles
Cappy after practice: "Gotta stay positive, have a good spirit ... you just have to keep battling." #Isles"
I understand you do need to stay positive, but how about getting angry? Like the fans are.
Jack changed lines yesterday at practice with new defensive pairings: Strait-Hamonic, MacDonald-Visnovsky, Finley/Hickey-Streit. Carkner (lower body) skated earlier, not ready to return.
Complete lines: Moulson-Tavares-Boyes, Bailey-Nielsen-Okposo, Grabner-Aucoin-McDonald-Reasoner, Ullstrom-Cizikas-Martin-Boulton.
Some were complaining about Okposo's placement on the second line. I'd complain more about Reasoner's, but I'm not the head coach. And if they lose again tonight, who knows if Jack Capuano will be either.
There are rumblings everywhere of shake-ups at the Isles coming soon. We've heard it before, we'll certainly hear it for the next few weeks. I can't confirm anything, but think two GMs already lost their jobs this season. One even before it started. There is no job security in hockey. It's a business that depends on success. And right now... the Isles have none.
"Playing hard despite the losing streak" (thanks Art) doesn't cut it when one or two more loses in this 48 game season would mean the Isles should just pack up once again because there won't be a chance of making playoffs.
I'm sure you have plenty on your minds, especially with tonight's game at hand. Isles worked on their 5 on 5 play yesterday, maybe it will pay off.
New York Islanders Blogger • 
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