I haven't been able to get on Hockeybuzz.com all night from the top of the Coliseum in the press box. It all started when Kevin Poulin went down during warm-ups and was helped off the ice. There's been a perpetual energy suck every since. Someone please tell me if there is a space ship over the Coliseum that is draining the life out of it.

So, yes, on a day that say Trent Hunter's season come to an end and Blake Comeau officially put on the IR, Kevin Poulin was taken off by the trainer and a few players because he could not put any weight on his knee at all.

Enter Mikko Koskinen in his first NHL game.

Mikko let up two goals on two shots, but he just needs to settle into the game. The game he didn't expect to have to play.

Joel Martin has been called up from Bridgeport on emergency basis after league approval. The rumor was that Poulin was taken to the hospital, but the Islanders PR staff quickly squashed that one.

Taking advantage of a bad situation, the Leafs scored at 1:29 and 6:31 of the first period. Matt Moulson cut the Leafs lead in half at the 10:48 mark on a power play goal. The Isles have been given additional power play time that they have not converted on half way through the second period and are leading in shots on goal 16 - 11.

With 9:36 remaining in the second, Colliton takes a hooking penalty to put the leafs on the power play and the Isles PK unit to work. Now, usually the goalie is the best penalty killer on the ice. Can Koskinen be up to the task?

Leafs allow two short handed chances from both Michael Grabner and Frans Nielsen. The Penalty ends and as JT skates to the Leafs net, he "gets his bell rung" and hits the ice. Play continues towards Koskinen's net and JT skates off the ice.

In a bit of retribution Michael Grabner managed to get the puck behind Reimer after he scrambles for a rebound. Score tied now at 2 - 2 with the Isles leading in SOG at 20 - 16.

The Islanders momentum was short lived as Ty Wishart was sent to the box for hooking and with only 17 seconds left on his penalty, A-Mac is called for holding at 18:03 and th Isles are two men down in their own zone. Jack Hillen blocked a shot and passed it all the way down the ice to Ty Wishart who was sprung from the box.

Jack Hillen skating in with Frans Nielsen to his right takes a rocket shot that is gloved by Reimer and you can hear it all the way up here. "The Isles play better short handed some times." Said my buddy in the press box.

Joel Martin has arrived from Bridgeport in record time and Kevin Poulin will have an MRI tomorrow on his left knee.

The building is less than half full - officially at 7,249 on a frigid Tuesday with gale force winds.

The third period stars with Joel Martin on the bench for the Isles wearing #34. Welcome to the NHL kid.

Travis Hamonic and assistant coach Scott Allen seemed to be having a discussion of some sort to as they entered the ice. Hmmm...

At 2:34, Kaberle makes it 3 - 2 Leafs as Mikko decides to protect the face-off circle instead of the paint. This was all set up by a Ty Wishart turnover, who is now a -3 for the evening so far.

The Leafs go on their third power play as Radek Martinek is called for tripping at 4:21.

With 8:49 of the third, Phil Kessel gets past Travis Hamonic who bounced off him and hit the ice and then Kessel passed to Nikolai Kulemin who was all alone on Mikko and lifted it over his shoulder -- even if he is 6'6".

Leafs lead now 4 - 2 with the Isles leading in shots on goal at 29 - 23.

Sjostrom makes it 5 - 2 at 14:53 of the third. Mikko is just not NHL ready. He may be one day. But that day is not now.

At the other end of the ice, the Islanders try to get another one past Reimer, but can't. Hamonic and Kessel don't seem to like each other. But with 2:18 left, this game is over and I need to pack up.

10:53 pm: Home again and warm. The Isles lost 5 - 3 when they could have lost 5 - 4. It didn't matter.

In the post game locker room media scrum, the packed room actually stood looking around the room not even knowing who to talk to first or what to say. What can you say? Matt Moulson was targeted first. Lights, Camera, action -- reaction. Travis Hamonic hustled past me and PA Parenteau sat and waited for his turn. He is good that way. Very professional, no matter what the outcome of the game.

On the other side of the room, the two fresh faced goalies. Joel Martin, a few weeks removed from the ECHL's Odessa Jackalopes, sat in the stall and smiled. Just happy to be there. Mikko Koskinen stood in the corner a head above everyone else and told them how he was not happy with his performance.

This was a tough night. However, Capuano faced the room of reporters in a more relaxed mood than I would have expected. Okay, maybe it was just sheer shock. No. He's never seen anything like this in his career. Ever. And yes, he is greyer than he was just a few months ago.

There is no word on how long Kevin Poulin will be out. He will have an MRI tomorrow. Jeremy Colliton, who also left the game with an upper body injury, will be evaluated tomorrow as well. There is hope that Nate Lawson will be ready to go some time this week. If indeed, you look at that as hope.

Jack said all personnel moves are up to Garth Snow, so let's see what happens this week -- before the Penguins get here.

UGH!! What a night.

Photos will be at my 7thwoman.blogspot.com site as soon as I can get them uploaded. The internet seemed to have been fighting me all night so I could do basically nothing on line tonight.

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