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Isles Host Lackluster Yotes 6-1 Final |
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11:06 pm: Back at home with better connection to the internet. A 6 - 1 Islanders win was good for the soul of all Islanders fans and a few prospects, but it really doesn't tell the entire story. The Coyotes didn't seem to have it all together and this was their second big loss. While their confidence was shattered, the Isles' is gaining momentum.
Multiple point game for Bailey, Nielsen, Grabner, Regin, Donovan and Tavares. Colin McDonald, Nelson and Okposo also made their way to the score sheet. However, it really is a shame that goalie stats don't stand out as much as skater stats as Nabokov made 33 of 34 saves.
Things were so good for the Islanders, that the usually reserved and serious Captain John Tavares was joking with the media. Okay, just 'joke' singular, but it was good to see.
Comments from the locker room tomorrow as it's too late to transcribe now.
Live blog with exceptionally poor wi-fi service:
None of us here in the press box at the blogger table, think Capuano should have gone with just a few changes to his line-up, but he is not. That includes Nabokov in net leaving Poulin as a bench warmer.
The argument up here between Temo Seppa, Brad Kurtzberg and Daniel Friedman is where would you rank Nabby out of the 30 starting goaltenders in the league. The agreement is middle of the pack, but Daniel feels far more positive about a playoff push for Nabokov than any of us. We'll see.
Today the Sound Tigers sent Kirill Kabanov to their ECHL affiliate not as a "punishment," but to get top six minutes. Sure. Right. Okay.
So let's see how this works out for the Isles. Kyle Okposo still is on the top line and Bailey is on the second. Let's see if that changes at all.
A note that I didn't get to discuss before, so Lavy is back on the unemployment line. Remember, head coaches are hired to be fired. Remember when we wanted Cappy fired? Yeah.
Peter Regin scores his first goal as an Islander at 1:49 of the first with a Brock Nelson assist for his first NHL point. Isles get on the board early as the Coyotes defensive pairs are staying on the ice way too long. (That is from Timo, I wouldn’t know)
What a fright as the puck squeaks by Nabby just OUTSIDE the blue pain. It looked like it would go in from here. There was a collective gasp.
MacDonald has had some pretty bad turnovers so far and dropped his stick. Hope that repaired hand isn’t bothering him.
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Top line for the Isles were out a really long time and JT was playing without his left glove, but every time they tried to clear the zone, the Coyotes would pick it off. Finally JT passed it to Matt Donovan who exited the zone and JT got off.
Colin McDonald takes a stick to the face and draws the first Isles power play of the night as David Schlemko and just as they drop the puck, Vermette closes his hand on it and gets two minutes delay of game. A five on three chance for the Isles for a full two minutes.
While the Isles were getting just a little too fancy, time was ticking off the clock. But with 30 seconds left in the two man advantage, a little tac-tac-toe with Okposo and Nielsen gave John Tavares his first goal of the season.
The penalty expires and with 2:48 left of the first the Coyotes go on their own power play as John Tavares is called for hooking and heads to the box. Casey Cizikas plays aggressively and I worry he’ll take a penalty, but he manages to get the puck to Regin and when JT is sprung from the box, he picks up the puck at the blue line, penalty expires and the Coyotes manage no shots on net during that power play.
Timo says it’s just because Phoenix was sucking
Second period begins as we all try to wedge ourselves back in the press row. Section 329 is the only area trying to get the crowd going with their chants.
Coyotes get a shot on net at 16:58 left of the second -- and it’s a weak one at that. A blast of a pass from Donovan was deflected by Grabner and the Isles had an excellent chance, but it went wide of Smith.
Tired players and Kyle without a stick is not a good situation for the Tavares line before the puck is cleared, JT stays on while other gets off the ice and there is a line change. Timo mentions the Cotoyes shouldn’t have taken that penalty. It was sarcasm. There was no power play for the Isles, it just seemed that way.
Great chances for the Isles and Smith makes some great stops from close range. There’s a little gathering behind the net but nothing big comes of it.
With 8:45 of the second to go and the Isles trailing in shots, Ribeiro is called for hooking on Matt Moulsong and the Isles go back to the power play. Matt Donovan takes a shot almost from the blue line and Smith thinks he has it, he does for a second, and then it just dribbles behind him in the paint. It counts, it’s now 3 - 0 for like three seconds until Hanzal banks one over Nabokov. Nabokov was screened by Josh Bailey.
We were so busy writing about Donovan’s first NHL goal, we actually missed it. 3 - 1 now with 7:11 left of the second period.
Michael Grabner has regained his old form and while his first shot was saved, his relentless efforts gave John Tavares his second goal of the night and Josh Bailey his second assist.
And Colin McDonald makes it 5 - 1 with 2:34 left of the second.
I don’t think we’ll see Smith in the third period. Do you?
As I expected, the Yotes have made a goalie change and Thomas Greiss is in net.
Matt Donovan takes a roughing call, but he wasn't the only one who deserved it. He was just the only one that sits in t he box.
Can the officiating staff get a delay of game penalty? Everyone stands around and waits.
The Nelson Cizikas line creates some havoc in the Yotes zone until they finally clear the puck and skate towards Nabokov. Grabner gets a breakaway and Hanzal gets a penalty for roughing up Grabner. He takes offense and the Isles are back on the Power play. Nielsen skates it up ice for Lubo to JT, but it’s sent back the other way
Okposo to Moulson and then it’s out of the zone again. Looks like the Isles are a little tires on this Power Play.
Bouchard to Bailey to McDonald to Donavan, and now tic-tac-toe behind the net and Donovan can’t keep it in the zone. Penalty expires and no shots for the Isles with the man advantage
The crossbar made an excellent play to keep the Coyotes at one.
Once again, Grabner gets the puck almost at center ice and leaves everyone in the dust, sadly, he lost the pick at the dots but managed to settle it down behind the net and pass it to Nielsen in front of the net and then Bailey got it it behind the goalie from an angle. Bailey scores the 6th of the night.
A fight with Colin McDonald and Shane Doan breaks out in front of the bench and try as they might the zebra staff has a hard time containing them. Something had to happen to get that reaction out of Doan.
McDonald gets 4 minutes and Moulson serves one of the penalties for him. Then it becomes some penalty fest. Nielsen did slash Hanzal’s legs and then Boedker knocked him down to the ice and sat on him. The penalty box was full.
Teams skate at even strength with 4:45 left of the third.
New York Islanders Blogger • 
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