In a game that featured two teams who hadn’t played in 18 days it certainly looked liked two teams that hadn’t played; in 18 days. In a choppy, sloppy game featuring two rusty teams the Islanders managed to come out with a 5-4 OT over the Maple Leafs in Long Island. Lubomir Visnovsky found himself all alone in the slot and was able to fire home the game winner. The Islanders were sparked by their call-ups as Anders Lee, Ryan Strome and Mike Halmo as they all left their imprint on the game.
Micheal Grabner added two shorthanded goals on the same penalty kills as the Isles were able to build a 2-1 lead going into the third. The third period was a back and forth goal fest that saw the Islanders fall behind twice before rookie Anders Lee was able to knock in two goals. The manner in which he scored is encouraging to Islander fans as he was simply an immovable object in front of Maple Leafs’ goalie Jonathan Bernier.
By no means was this a clean game by the Islanders as turnover and poor defense led to goals. Also goalie Evgeni Nabokov wasn’t great at times; however being shorthanded with the likes of Frans Nielsen and John Tavares the team played hard and showed some grit and desire.
I was extremely impressed with Mike Halmo. He was active, drove the net and buzzed around the ice taking the body at every opportunity. His physicality was meaningful and had purpose. There were no going through the motion hits to pad a meaningless stat column. There were no hits after the puck was out of the zone for two seconds. There was tangible disruption caused by Halmo and the other fourth liners on the team should look at that example on how to make an impact in limited minutes. If you think I am pointing a finger at Matt Martin; then you are correct; I am.
The Islanders will return to the ice tomorrow as the take on their Metro Division rivals; the New Jersey Devils at 1pm at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. It will be interesting to see if the team can put together a good stretch of hockey leading up to the deadline. I said before yesterday’s games that there will be ups and downs with this now young roster but if they are going to scrap and claw and fight their way through every game it will be an encouraging watch throughout the rest of the season. By no means was last night perfect but the effort but forth made for a good watch. Some of the struggling veterans should take notice of how hungry the kids played; perhaps some of it will rub off. As always for more things hockey please follow me on Twitter and Instagram at @DanDanNoodles78.
New York Islanders Blogger • 
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