9:48 pm: The game ended as we all knew it would, with a Leafs OT goal. I thought it would be Kessel, but it was Phaneuf.
It was a let down for the crowd of Isles fans, but it caused the Leaf fan contingent to clog the tunnel while they sang "Oh Canada" in their drunken glee.
I went into the locker room for a moment as everyone crowded around Kyle Okposo. It should have been a wonderful night for him, but it ended with the same disappointment as they have had so often this season.
Matt Moulson sat unlacing his skates. All I could hear was the rip of the laces through the eyelets. He never looked up. When he did you could see in his face how the entire team felt.
I had nothing to ask and nothing to say. I left to wait in the room where Capuano delivers his post game report.
Jack Capuano:
Don't think it's what they did, it's what we did. We had the bad change and they did a good job of keeping pucks in. The line changes hurt us in the second and the third we came out and played hard. Kyle has played well for us. He's making quicker decisiosn with the puck when it's on his stick and that's iimportant for him.
Man on man coverage. We just got beat.
We changed it up in the third, put Casey's line back together spotted different guys. We have some decisions to make for Sunday. They were a fast team no question.
We can't be satisfied, but it's a point.
Hopefully the luck will change, the bounces will change.
On Grabner's lack of finish "I think the one thing with guys who are struggling, you could watch video of yourself but for me it's find a hole and shoot where he's not. It's a matter of time before he gets those. It's a matter of confidence."
"There were breakdowns on both sides. We had some chances to score and we didn't. We have to tighten up. We didn't We talk about it all the time. We try to get better every day, try to keep teaching."
On the system and the team's overall play:
"We've been inconsistent obviously. We know how we have to play we know who we have on our team. There's a certain style we have to play. When we try to do things that are too cute, you get yourself in trouble. You have to grind teams down. I'm not taking the creativity away from our players. But if you don't have anything, you have to grind things down."
Sideboard: yes, there was a RDP saga. Like Jack who doesn't like to comment on his goalies, I'm not going to comment either with the exception of -- it shouldn't have happened.
9:18 pm: Kyle Okposo from outside the left circle evens up the score at four and gives the Islanders the life they needed.
Now, please please please, don't allow Kessel to score the game winner. Thank you.
9:07 pm: A sign of life finally. As Brad Kurtzburg, Chris Hessel and I were all talking about the lack of life in this building, Kyle Okposo earns his second assist of the night on a goal by Andy MacDonald. I had to look twice to make sure it was right, but yep. Andy MacDonald's first goal of the season makes it 4-3 Leafs.
8:28 pm: Kadri gets the hat trick and Nabokov is a little stunned.
8:19 pm So, while I had my head down trying to write about Kadri's second goal of the game, JVR scores the Leaf's third goal. Capuano shakes his head on the bench. I'd love to see what Scott Gordon is actually doing on the other.
8:12 pm: Visnovsky scores his first Isles goal at 6:22 of the second period after Casey Cizikas's attempts are blocked by sliding leafs. He doesn't give up on the puck and gets it to Visnovsky who let's it fly over Reimer's right shoulder. It was beautiful.
7:37 pm: Michael Grabner, all flash, no finish. After getting a breakaway opportunity and getting interferred with, he is awarded a penalty shot that he shoots at the glass. Net Michael. Net.
7:27 pm: Well, that didn't last long, Kadri ties the game at one and Andy MacDonald let it happen.
7:15 pm: Kyle Okposo made a beautiful pass to Josh Bailey in front of Reimer's net. From his knees, just like the old days, Bailey scores his first goal of the season at 3:34 of the first. congrats Josh.
Now WAKE UP BOYS!! You have a lead, but the shots on goal are 5 - 2 toronto.
A clank off a post and everyone is wondering if there was a second Okposo/Bailey goal. Post instead, no review necessary and they can't pot the rebound.
12:43 pm: Nabokov in net and some "projected" line changes per the Isles Twitter feed:
Matt Martin will play with Boulton and Reasoner. Casey Cizikas will center Grabner and McDonald. Cizikas received praise from Jack this morning saying he pays attention to details and shows up to work every day.
Aucoin, Martinek and Ullstrom will be tonight's scratches.
John Tavares said he will take nothing for granted. "WE can't expect anything to come easy because we're at home or because Toronto played last night." He said they have to be ready to play.
7 am: The Leafs have a much better record than the Islanders right now, 12-9-0 to 8-11-1, but they also suffered a terrible loss last night to Montreal. They flew in last night and are probably a little weary.
On the other hand, they're probably a little pissed off since they lost to the Isles 7-4 in January. Angry teams are dangerous no matter how tired they are.
Scott Gordon will be returning to the building he once called home and he knows the Isles top line pretty well. The man who so many say is emotionless will more than likely be a little more animated on the bench tonight.
I wonder how he feels seeing Jack Capuano's losing record. Although i think if they speak, he may be more surprised at Jack's weight loss than the fact he still has his job.
James Reimer is rumored to make his return after suffering a knee injury a while back and I would guess that after the day of rest, it will be Nabokov and not Poulin in net for the Isles.
Will this be the game that Jack finally sits Kyle Okposo? Probably not, although he should. Something has to give.
This could be another blow out win for the Isles or another devasting home loss. It all depends. I'm sure we'll once again hear the words:
"defensive zone breakdowns"
"puck possession decisions"
"soft along the walls"
"Lucky bounces"
etc.
The question will be out of which team's coach.
Sideboards: Rick DiPietro is in Bridgeport and ready to play. Sound Tiger's beat writer Mike Fornabaio had an indepth article in the CT Post with actual quotes from Rick. I'd like to point out that the Rick DiPietro that ex team mates such as Brendan Witt knew is NOT the same team mate that Nino Niederreiter knows. He is a different man now at 31. He's not the cocky kid that wanted the world to rotate around him.
He will play. Maybe he'll even win. But he will be a good team mate in Bridgeport. You'll see.
Later.
New York Islanders Blogger • 
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