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Isles Gain 2 Points But Lose Bailey

October 23, 2014, 10:05 PM ET [6 Comments]
Dee Karl
New York Islanders Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Anders Lee made his presence known in his first NHL game of the season as he was called for interference after barreling an opponent into Svedberg’s net. The puck subsequently crossed the line, but the goal was waived off and Anders took his first penalty of the season as well.

Frans Nielsen opened the scoring for the Islanders with his first goal of the season but Lucic evened it up at one and also took down Boychuk to welcome him back to Boston.

Zedeno Chara knocked Captain Tavares onto the ice, but may have gotten the worst of it as he never returned after playing only 4:18 of the first period.

The Isles were all over the Bruins to start the second period and Kyle Okposo wasted no time taking the lead.

Fourth line offense with the CCM line had Clutterbuck score his first goal of the season from a back hand pass from Matt Martin at 9:27 of the second and the Isles had a two goal lead. But where is Josh Bailey? He was not on the bench.

Kulemin moved to Conacher’s spot on the line with Tavares and Okposo, and Conacher moved to a spot with Nelson and Clutterbuck. The Islanders were out shooting the Bruins as the second period wound down 10-6 in the second and 25 to 17 for the game.

Josh Bailey’s hand injury kept him from returning to the game, and will keep him out indefinitely, so jack would continue to juggle lines.

Clutterbuck with Shannon during the intermission report said they were happy with the way they played in the second period. It looked a lot more like the third period of the last game since they were very disappointed with the second period against the Leafs. “We have to focus on doing the same thing for 60 minutes. The job isn‘t done yet.”

On his line with Cizikas and Martin, Clutterbuck said they try to keep things simple and play in the offensive zone as often as possible. “Defend hard, play hard,” and try to make the right decisions. Simple, right?

I like Chad Johnson’s style. He is aggressive and doesn’t fear skating out towards the puck, but is also calm when the play comes to him.

The third period started with a determined Isles team. Matt Martin took a puck of something and seemed to have difficulty shaking it off on the bench. But you knew he would.

At about the 11 minute mark, Jack Capuano used his time-out to slow things down as the Bruins were beginning to carry the play.

Conacher had his stick chopped out of his hand as he was on a break-away and there was no call.

Chris Kelly got a lucky break as Johnson was preoccupied in the paint leaving an open net to his right. Nelson just watched as the puck went into the net and the Bruins edged closer to tying it up.

Johnson, who hadn’t seen too much work began to get pressed midway through the third.

Casey Cizikas had a golden opportunity all alone, but failed and the Bruins took the puck the other way where they kept it for what seemed like forever. Newsday’s Art Staple said it was only 1:36. I’m sure Johnson thought it was forever.

Clutterbuck range one off the post and the play was immediately take back to Johnson’s end.. The Bruins were desperate to tie the game up and threw everything they had at the Isles. The Isles were getting tired at the 2 minute mark of the third narrowly holding on to that one goal lead. The net seemed dangerously open time after time.

Boston pulled their goalie at the 1:10 mark for the extra skater and the Isles couldn’t get the puck out of their zone. It was edge of your seat hockey. Especially when the puck trickled into the paint right in front of Johnson as Krejchi was only inches away from it.

20.9 seconds left and Boston took their time out. It was nerve wracking. The Isles didn’t get an empty netter, but they did get the two points and Johnson got his win.

Boychuck was the first to congratulate Johnson on the ice. Truthfully, they were both probably relieved it was over.

Jack Capuano was pleased, but still reserved of course. .“There are going to be games like this. There was some soft plays on our management of the puck. We weathered the storm.” He gave kudos to the Bruins who had a shortened bench and were down to five D. “They knew how to execute their game plan.” This was no easy win.

Chad Johnson was probably one of the reasons they won the hockey game. “Especially in the third. When we needed Chad to do it, he came up big for us.” As Butch Goring would go on to say later in the broadcast, the other reason the Isles won was the work of their fourth line. “Good decisions with the puck physical when they needed to be and got an important goal. Overall they did exactly what they aught to do. Job well done.”

Jack continued with Shannon, “Overall they did a lot of good things with that line. They really set the tone for us.”

When asked about Anders Lee’s first NHL game of the season, Jack said he did “a fine job…” but there are a couple of things they can work on.

All eyes were on Johnny Boychuk’s return to Boston and how he would deal with it. “No question he respects the Bruins organization from the top on down. But he’s an Islander now and he wants to help us win hockey games.”

Chad Johnson felt the same way and said he was more nervous tonight than he was playing his first NHL game. He admitted -- he’s glad it’s over.
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