9:37 pm: What a difference a win makes, especially one at home. The room was certainly different tonight. But there was no loud music blaring, but smiles all around.
Especially from Matt Moulson who ended his goal scoring drought with the help of one of his closest friends.
"I'm sure glad March is over!" he told me. Hopefully April will be different for him, and for the team.
The fans were chanting "We want playoffs." So do the Isles.
Anders Lee was smiling from ear to ear as he was surrounded by the media. I asked him how he felt having his entire family here. He said he couldn't believe it, it was so special.
This is pretty close to being the best game they've played in the Coliseum.
Jack in the post game: "They got pucks to the net. First shot on goal, and it had eyes and found it's way in. It's a big and quick team, and he handled himself very well. I thought Kevin played well. He was aggressive. His goalie touches were good tonight. I give Mike Dunam credit. we're not hesitant to put Kevin in. Our puck management was real good. We were disciplined enough to get pucks in. The game might have to end 3 - 2. We got some pucks out of the blue line."
Jack was very confident in Kevin Poulin, and he did play very aggressive tonight. "And it paid off." He said to me in the dressing room.
Everybody contributed tonight. Each line scored. This is what they need to do heading towards facing Washington.
Most importantly tyou have to win you're one on one battles. That is the name of the game according to Coach Capuano.
9:31 pm: Who is the happiest man in this building right now? Matt Moulson scoring his 12th of the season. Thank you John Tavares.
9:13 pm: Kevin Poulin having an especially agressive game tonight, but playing well.
8:58 pm: the third period gets under way and the Isles now have 30 shots on net. There have already been two scary situations in front of Poulin, but they managed to escape.
This period has the potential of being very rough.
Hickey battled in the corner with Byfuglien and went to the bent to take his helmet off. Bet he lost two pounds doing that.
8:36pm: On the power play, Mark Streit from the blue line to AMac then in front of the net tipped by Bailey and then Nielsen just figured the hell with it, I'm going in after it and while Pavelec was down, the puck sailed over him and into the back of the net.
Nice going there Frans!
8:28 pm: The Jets call a time out. A lot of the action has been in the Jets zone as the shots are now 28 to 15 in favor of the Isles. I'm noticing that Pavelec likes to play way out of his crease, and it's working for him as he seems to be getting a piece of everything being thrown at him.
8:15 pm: It seemed like a pinball, but a shot from Streit, to and banged in by McDonald gives to even the score at 2 at 9:56 of the second period.
8:10 pm: With Hamonic in front of the net, he misses a pas from Thornburn to Postma that he just pops past Poulin for his second goal of the game and his third of the season.
The ice is tilted in the Jets favor tonight. Nothing is working for the Isles.
8:05 pm: Matt Moulson had yet another good scoring opportunity, but it just didn't happen. It's been almost a month now since Moulson's last goal.
Cormier knocked shoulders with Carkner and they have a few words. It was enough to give them each 2 for unsportsmanlike conduct.
The four-on-four was spent mostly in the jets zone with some great chaces, with nothing finding the back of the net.
7:39 pm: The hockey Gods giveth and the hockey gods taketh away. Anders Lee is beaten in front of Poulin and Paul Postma scores to even up things at 18:06 of the 1st.
7:35 pm: Those people with the 27 jerseys, they were all here for Anders Lee's first NHL game and first NHL goal at 16:13 of the first period. Casey Cizikas fished the puck out of the net for the kid. What a moment for him and for us. I screamed and grabbed onto Christian. He had actually called the goal earlier when we sat down.
7:28 pm: Soooooo a linesman lets Cizikas gets smacked around right in front of him with no call, but Carkner gets an interference penalty for just about nothing.
Isles on the PK. Can Poulin do this?
BTW, Rick DiPietro has let up two goals in the 1st period of the Sound Tigers game.
No shots on Poulin for the Jets on that power play.
7:02 pm: And here we are at the Coliseum and the teams are taking the ice. I am sandwhiched between Christian Arnold and Brad Kurtzberg and they have already noticed quite a few Lee 27 jerseys in the crowd. As for me, I noticed a great Notre Dame jersey on one Katrina Doell.
5:06 pm: Anders Lee officially makes his Islanders debut in tonight's game. Art Staple thinks Lee will be on LW with Cizikas and Matt Martin. Also, it's Kevin Poulin in net tonight. OMG!!! Also Marty Reasoner sits tonight.
And me... without my freakin' camera!
1:30 pm: As per Art Staple, while an extension with Captain Mark Streit is still in the works, he is unlikely to be dealt elsewhere as the Isles would still like to retain his services. Especially if the Isles can make it into the playoffs this season.
Andrey Pedan has signed an ELC and may report to BPort by Wednesday. Ryan Strome will play for BPort this evening. Keep an ear out for those updates from Twitter.
I was wondering why the normally excellent coverage of the morning skate by Travis Betts and Art Staple was missing today. Seems it was optional and Jack Capuano will not address the media until 5 pm. So much going on I suppose.
7 am: The Jets are fighting to stay on top of their division while the Isles are clawing up the ladder in theirs. This is a must win game for two teams that may be a little weary from playing last night.
Historically, home games are not very lucky for the Islanders, but perhaps their luck is changing. Jack Capuano seems to have found the right buttons to push to keep his team playing "within the system" and doing "all the little things."
I'ver heard those terms for six years now. I still don't know what "the little things" are. But that's okay. I'm not playing. But someone who is said to more than likely be in tonight's line-up is Anders Lee.
I think the Notre Dame Captain must have signed his entry level deal in his skates and then hit the ice. It was that quick. I've been hearing about this kid for years, it would be great to see him play.
Tavares has 37 points for the Isles and Ladd has 32 for the Jets. The Jets have Big Buff and the Isles have ... uhhhh..... uhh...Matt Martin?
If you saw the post game interview with Nabokov and MSG's Stan Fischler, I'm pretty sure you had to laugh. Nabby has a great smile and sense of humor. When asked if he'd be ready to go tonight after last night, he vehemently said yes.
If the Jets play Montoya, just maybe this one won't be as tough as it might be.
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