An NHL Agent Twitter feed had this interesting Tweet today: Hearing the NYI's came into New York City last night after their game by bus with a snowplow and police escort leading the way.
Why they bused last night into the city, I do not know. Sounded foolish and dangerous to me. But, that's just the mother in me.
Poor Michael Grabner gave us a glimpse into the trip and the hotel. @Grabs40 has been the Islander who has kept us informed of the behind the scenes doings of the team while others have gone sadly silent.
Waited 2 h 30min for room service.they must have waited for the hen to lay the eggs first to make the omelets.
With a short handed MSG crew, one pre-game show was broadcast on all three MSG stations. I started a slight Twit-fit when I thought we were going to be listening to the Ranger announcers for the evening. After a few others chimed in, my fears were quickly eased by MSG's Rob Carlin who told me they were just short handed, but Howie and Butchie would certainly be calling the game for the Islanders feed.
Rangers get a lucky goal 44 seconds into the first because a puck hit by Gilroy was deflected by Rob Schremp's stick.
With Trevor Gillies in the line-up, there is sure to be a little blood on the ice. Jim Cerny mentioned that the two had a few words during warm-ups. (no hand gestures Trevor.)
Butch Goring felt the Islanders were a half a step behind early in the first.
With a little more than 12 minutes left of the 1st, Rob Schremp carried the puck into the Rangers zone, decided to shoot instead of pass and caught Henrik at an odd angle to get the Islanders on the board.
PA Parenteau gives Glenn Sather a little "Hey! Remember Me?" when 1:52 after Rob Schremp scores, he puts the Islanders up by one by catching a rebound and beating Lundqvist. I had a feeling PA would score tonight. He's been doing that a lot lately. (7 points in 6 games. SCHNOICE!)
Gillies and Prust center ice to engage, but the zebras look nervous about it and stop it even before it starts. Gillies and Prust each get four minutes for roughing. Usually Trevor gets five for fighting and a ten minute misconduct. This was window dressing.
Mark Eaton hit a cross bar that clanked over Lundqvist's head. Although, it may have been Wiz. The shots on goal that were tilted heavily towards the Rangers early in the first period had started to even out a little late in the first.
Dwayne Roloson has had not only excellent positioning at close range, but also excellent rebound control. Travis Hamonic took a tripping penalty behind the net with only 1:44 left of the first to give the Rangers their first power play.
Quickly, there was a shorthanded attempt by Comeau and Eaton but they couldn't make it work. Back in front of Roloson's net, Gaborik's shot got passed Roloson to tie it. He should buy Staal a beer. Wait, is he old enough to drink yet? But the PK unit was just overwhelmed on that last shift.
The Rangers almost had the go-ahead goal as the puck clanged off the right post with only 4 seconds left. So the teams will go to the locker room all tied up at two.
During the first intermission, Rob Carlin interview Rob Schremp who said that an old Juniors coach called "Wheels" gave him his best advice. He told him to play "help" hockey and not "hope" hockey. He said it has improved his work ethic and his game. Rob Schremp now has a six points in six games streak going
As the second period started, Josh Bailey was denied by Lundqvist. While Bailey has had a few very good games since his return to the line-up, another goal would do his confidence a world of good.
Jon Sim made some nice moves and had patience with the puck waiting for Rob Schremp to get close enough for the pass, but it was broken up by a Ranger's stick.
The second Ranger power play came with Konopka in the box for my least favorite penalty: Delay of game over the glass. Once again the PK unit had to defend against the Ranger's best and that 12-year-old looking kid, Stepan.
Roloson made a good stop on a Dubinsky shot and with only two seconds left in the penalty, Gaborik shot from his knees and Roloson stops him. They got three shots off on that power play, but Roloson saw them all.
While Roloson has had to stand on his head yet again, I'd like to say that this is the first game that I have actually noticed the play of Mark Eaton. Just sayin'. Just sayin'
While Lundqvist had to make a save on a close range shot by John Tavares from a Matt Moulson pass, Roloson couldn't stop a weird bounce that Matt Gilroy shot from the circle after skating up the boards with the puck and being able to keep it away from Rob Schremp. Rangers were up 3 - 2.
Once the puck dropped again, Bailey stole the puck and Frans Nielsen had a chance close in on Henrik. The Rangers took a penalty and put the Islanders on the Power Play once again. John Tavares won the face off and after a blocked shot, the Rangers skated the puck out of their zone on a short handed chance.
A good rush in the Rangers zone and Lundqvist had to make a few saves. Bailey and Fedotenko play "I've got it, no you got it, no I got it" to the right of the net.
Teams were back at full strength and again the Islanders took a penalty and PA headed to the box with another puck over the glass. Seriously, I HATE that penalty.
Just as the penalty was about to expire, while the Islanders were about to make a change, Boyle threw the puck at the net from an odd angle that managed to bounce off something and find its way behind Roloson. (I do believe that spot Boyle found has been called Rob Schremp's office.)
The clock ticked down the second period and the Rangers had doubled up on the Islanders on that last power play goal. The Islanders would have their work cut out for them in the final twenty minutes.
Twenty two seconds into the third, Frans Nielsen draws a hooking penalty and the Rangers will be down a man. It didn't matter. The Isles only managed two shots on the power play before Anisimov skated out of the box and grabbed the puck and skated it in close range of Roloson.
Dubinsky put the Rangers up to 5-2 on a failure to clear from behind Roloson's net. It was basically the second goal that could be attributed to a Rob Schremp error. That will NOT sit well with Jack Capuano who is already not as enamoured with Bob the Builder as I am.
The Islanders continued to be horribly out shot by the Rangers 39 - 17. Brandon Prust shot on Roloson from a drop pass by Tank, which Roloson stopped, but Prust found the rebound at close range and banged it right behind Roloson to make it 6 - 2.
The turnovers are killer in this game.
Matt Martin in the box for a marginal call and while the Rangers were on the power play there was a very scary moment as Frans Nielsen was hit with a high stick by Gilroy and went down on the ice. No call on the play as it was a follow through. right.
Stepan made it 7 - 2 immediately after. 46-17 in shots and I'm thinking they should unleash Trevor Gillies just for the fun of it.
Perhaps it has something to do with Dwayne Roloson being named the first star of the week. It's like a curse.
When the camera panned after the TV time out, the players looked dejected on the bench. This was not a very good game for them. They let it get away from them.
Whether it was a help or a hindrance, the scoreboard clock went nuts at 5:03 left of the third and the horn sounded. The players stayed on the ice and waited for it to be sorted out. If they could get one goal back, it would help their mental attitude.
Didn't happen.
At the one minute mark, the big angry man I live with shouted "There is one minute left of your torture. One minute."
Konopka bumps Henrik while he was at the boards well out of his net, and Sauer immediately went after him. There was no reason for the final altercation.
Final shots were 52 - 20
Jack Capuano wants to throw this game video out. There really weren't any positives to take from this one. They just couldn't get their act together for anything. He also feels they need to look in the mirror.
To say the least, Jack was not happy.
Considering that most Islander fans that can put up with losing over and over hate losing to the Rangers even more. A 7 - 2 loss against the Rangers doesn't have any positives is right. Wednesday game agains the Penguins may not either if they don't find their "sync."
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