9:57 pm: Jack Capuano with Peter Ruttgaizer said he "juggled the lines in the 2nd period, whatever reason, it helped the team get back in it. That was a big goal by Johnny. This is a tough building, and they're a good team. We were handling the play, but in the 2nd period, if you don't change at the right time you get hemmed in your end. It's a good character game."
When asked about Colin McDonald he said he stayed in the system and was rewarded.
Both goalies made some good saves tonight. "You don't win these games without goaltending."
Looking foward to facing Pittsburgh and their well publicized changes, "We've played them pretty tough though. If you want to be the best, you have to beat the best. It will be a good challenge for us."
Oh yes it will. Will the Isles be the team that ends the Penguins winning streak? Wouldn't that be a kick in the pants.
9:51 pm: I'm sick. They had to make this difficult, didn't they? But they managed to snag the second point in the shoot out as Boyes and Josh Bailey beat Bryzgalov for the win.
I'm amazed. This is the first time this season the isles have won three in a row. Meanwhile, the Penguins won yet again. That's 14. Big, big difference.
Howie wants them to have a new Mantra? "Why Not Us?" They've had that mantra for years. Maybe this year, it will actually mean something.
9:27 pm: No calls on either side. Giroux boarded by Viz and Zeeker smashed in the mouth with a stick, bleeding badly, no call.
Frans Nielsen is then called for closing his hand on the puck during the face off. Flyers get a plower play with 1:32 left of the third leading by one.
Nabokov must be the best penalty killer they have.
Empty net at the Flyer's end and two extra skaters for them. Isles need a clear.
There is a mad, wild scramble with the puck loose under so many bodies and Hartnell scores with 29.8 seconds left. There was no whistle because Nabby never had control of the puck.
I hate this game.
9:22 pm: Colin McDonald scores the go-ahead goal and his second of the game to give the Isles the lead. Casey Cizikas and Matt Martin get well deserved assist points. It was a beauty.
Howie talking about the Long Island Ducks hockey team makes me realize -- he really is a hockey fan.
9:20 pm: Bruno Gervais was called for delay of game, but the Isles failed to score a power play goal... again.
9:10 pm: Colin McDonald is having a good night, ties the game at 2.
8:37 pm: Never play John Tavares at pool or pinball -- according to Brooks Simpson, my Twitter buddy. JT scored a late period goal to cut the Flyers lead in half by banking the puck off a Flyer's skate and into their net.
I suppose that didn't sit well with the Flyers because with just a few seconds to go in the second, Shenn knocks over Nabokov who was behind his net to play the puck. The Isles will start the third on a power play and hopefully Nabokov isn't too bad off.
Poulin was getting ready though.
8:19 pm: Not how I wanted to see this game begin, but what I actually expected. 2 - 0 Flyers end of the first. And Flyers outshooting the Isles early in the second.
11:34 am: As expected, Nabby in net and Boulton will be skating with Martin and Cizikas in place of Marty Reasoner. Sorry Marty. You still get no points.
7 am: This is the team the Isles are most likely sticking with at the treade deadline. If this is what they’ve got, then they had better show what they can do under the tough situation of playing at the Wells Fargo Center against a team with a worse record than they have looking to save face.
The Flyers are in a spot they’re not accustomed to: 14th in the East. Their loss to the NY Rangers has them nothing but angry. They will not want to lose to another NY team at home. This game will be intense, it will be dirty and it will be dangerous.
The Isles have Pens fans and Devils fans rooting for them tonight to beat the Flyers just to seal their fate while a win will get them into a tight race for 8th place and that coveted playoff berth.
But can they do it?
This morning’s Newsday article by beat writer Art Staple discussed the importance of the road wins and the quizzical home record. Capuano said he doesn’t know why. I say it’s the Coliseum’s asbestos levels. Okay… that was just another dig at the County. But if the Isles have any intention of keeping this “core group” into next season and telling us they are a playoff contender, then it is contests such as this that must be won.
It doesn’t matter how either. They only need one more than the Flyers. It doesn’t need to be the same as the 7 - 0 shelling the Flyers laid on them at the Coliseum. It could be as sparse as 1 - 0 as long as that ONE is on the board under the Isles name.
The Tavares line again may have to play hero and Jack may want to shore up the roster with a fighter, just in case. In looking at the Flyers roster, you can see some very high penalty minutes. However, their own fans say it’s because their D can’t do anything but hook and hold and get called to the box. So… we may have that going for us.
Michael Grabner needs an extra Starbucks double shot tonight and he needs to keep his head up and his eyes on the net. Convert on that breakaway chance we all know he’ll get. Moulson will have to take a few sticks to the back in front of the net, but it will all be worth it if he can dish the puck to JT and have it fly by Bryzgalov.
And maybe, just maybe, the hockey gods will smile down on Marty Reasoner and at least let him get on the score sheet for something more than a great face off record. Maybe.
Miller’s Ale House viewing party tonight in Levittown if you’re interested. The viewing parties have been a great place to gather. This one will be a nail biter so you may want company.
Sideboads: How bad do the Penguins want the Cup this year? Holy crap! I went to bed thinking Iginla was a Bruin. Woke up to find out he was a Penguin. REALLY?
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