|
Isles Pounce on a Tired Team Until the 3rd |
|
|
|
|
|
Final 6 - 4 Isles, respectable for the Preds and tellling for the Isles who let the Preds climb back from a substantial deficit. NOT GOOD
The Isles scoring drought ended only 1:25 into the first period. It was Travis Hamonic flying to pick up a bouncing puck that Captain John Tavares tips into Rinne’s net. Hopefully that is the start of a few more goals by the Islanders.
After Anders Lee was expected to be in the line-up, it surprised everyone to find out that Brett Gallant was in his place. Gallant almost had a goal in the first after the Predators Craig Smith got the puck past Nabby at 7:49 of the first. I don’t know if it was a soft goal or not since I couldn’t see the game and depended solely on the radio feed.
With just the radio feed the MacDonald and McDonald designations become a blur.
“Not the best of shifts for the Islanders defense right there.” At least that was kind, and it is pre-season.
I think Matt Moulson dumped someone, or maybe Moulson was dumped. But John Tavares scores his second of the game when the Isles forced a turnover and Hamonic shots the puck and JT picks up the rebound -- again. Moulson and Hamonic get the assists on that one.
Brock Nelson seemed to make Seth Jones look silly as he went around him off the rush. He’s trying to make a case for being in Uniondale and not Bridgeport.
Isles get a power play. Preds get a short handed chance, but Nabby makes the save. Then Visnovsky gets a power play goal making it 3 - 1 on a “great pass” from Moulson at the 16 minute mark. Colin McDonald gets the other assist on the goal. That’s 3 goals on 14 shots. Very Un-Rinne like.
Gallant and Gaustad will sit for five minutes after they engage in a wrestling match. It was to be a motivational move for the Predators. Helmets were not exchanged this time.
Art Staple made an excellent observation: The Predators just stepped off a plane four hours earlier.
The nice thing about the WRHU radio feed is the interviews they play between periods. They are in depth and interesting. Listening to one with Peter Regin after the first.
Brooklyn Burger now underwrites a portion of the radio broadcast? Already???
SwedishIslander brought up a very interesting question, “Is Gallant actually fighting his way past Boulton as the #Isles top goon?” I think he just may be!
Moulson took a stick to the face and made his way slowly to the bench as the second period started. We cannot afford to have Moulson hurt this early. He didn’t miss a shift, thank the hockey gods.
Islanders get their second power play as a hooking call on Eric Nystrom sits for two. His father was taking photos with fans at the Coliseum. IslesChick said so.
Rinne makes a save on Moulson who is probably going to get pretty angry in a few minutes. Josh Bailey takes the face off and I think he lost. Okay, Radio is good but it’s hard to follow!!! Also seems Josh had a lapse in judgment that caused an odd man rush for the Preds.
Casey Cizikas throws a hit on Colin Wilson but seems to get the worst of it and skated off the ice holding his arm. Again. Great.
Rinne leaves his net vulnerable and Colin McDonald scores after a Brock Nelson fake that deflects to McDonald’s stick. Only 4:45 into the second and the Isles are 4 - 1. Cizikas returns to the ice.
“Sloppy passing in the last minute.” is what they said on the radio about Visnovsky. Who knows if he’s right. Only those who are at the Coliseum.
Matt Martin said the youngsters are “very mature and talented and thinks the game well.” “They are two guys that are big pieces of the future of this team.”
Cizikas knows that guys are vying for spots. “I’m not taking anything for granted. I have to keep working hard, keep doing the right things and hopefully I’m rewarded.”
The announced attendance was 9,314 which is a lot lower than Saturday in Brooklyn. Maybe it would have been closer had it been a Saturday.
Hamonic in the box and the Isles go on the PK. Nabby saw some pucks. Colin McDonald “mental mistake” throwing a puck to no one.
No goals for the Preds on their Power Play, but Brock Nelson’s shot deflected by Matt Donovan past Rinne to make it 5 - 1. Matt Moulson gets an assist on this one too. He’s on a tear!
Tavares slow to get up on a play with 3:30 left to play of the second. The game is lopsided according to Art Staple. The Isles went back to the power play as Simon Moser went off for hooking. So, basically while we want to be excited about the offensive play of this game for the Isles, we cannot forget the effect of travel on the Preds who beat the Isles on their home ice.
The Isles third power play with a little more than two minutes left of the second period. Tavares was back out on the ice, so he is fine as well. Although he was stripped of the puck during the power play. The Isles didn’t convert on that one either. Guess special teams still need work on setting up.
While the Barclays Center was filled with Isles fans last Saturday, it seems some of the fans at the Coliseum took to chanting “Barclays Sucks” and booing Stan Fischlers Brooklyn montage on the video board. Yeah, this will be two interesting years for sure.
Colin McDonald was interviewed before the third and seemed to be his low-key, modest self. He echoed Travis Hamonic’s description of how they have to continue to work harder and noted their power play struggles.
Pekka Rinne was replaced to start the third by Carter Hutton.
Brock Nelson is receiving praises from most who are there tonight at the Coliseum along with the third line.
The special teams get more work as Rich Clune was sent off for hooking with 13:11 remaining in the third. So far the power play unit is 1/3, can they make it even money?
Art Staple announced the president of Slovakia was in attendance. Interesting.
JT was robbed of his hat trick with a glove save and the isles didn’t improve their PP stats.
Josh Bailey deflects a Travis Hamonic shot to make it 6 - 1. Lots of points will give the boys some needed confidence. This is the Preds third game in four nights though. Maybe they can keep playing very tired teams.
The guy who sat in the box early in the game, Simon Moser, on a PTO gave the Preds another goal with 8:42 left of the third.
Once again Michael Grabner used his speed but hit the post. Still can’t finish.
Preds take a minor penalty for delay of game on the faceoff. They really are tired. The Isles fifth power play begins with JT, of course. Puck shot into Islanders bench. Accident?
Grabner stopped by Hutton just as the power play expires.
Craig Smith scores his second goal of the night with 2:51 left of the third cutting the lead in half. The Isles have let up off the gas as Colin McDonald said they couldn’t do.
With 73 seconds left to go the Preds get another one past Nabokov. Defenses lapses from being complacent with a big lead brought the game to a two goal spread.
The Preds pulled their goalie looking to make it a one goal game. Brian Strait through a big hit and was called for boarding. Preds lose 6 - 4 which makes it very respectable.
It also made it obvious that the third period lapses still remain with the Isles. They’ll never win a cup that way.
New York Islanders Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»