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Isles 5 - Flames 2, but at what cost? Poulin called up

January 4, 2011, 8:10 AM ET [ Comments]
Dee Karl
New York Islanders Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
10:45 AM: Kevin Poulin is being put on a plane to Canada to join the Islanders in the event that Rick DiPietro will not be well enough to be on the bench during the balance of the road trip. Frans Nielsen is also awaiting results of testing for a -- groin strain? Huh? In the replay he was hit with a high stick to the face. Perhaps he fell awkwardly and tweaked something.

If you can, check out Katie Strang's quotes from DiPietro from last night. They're priceless.

Today, Chris Botta at Islanders Point Blank has an excellent little entry regarding what the Islanders should do with Matt Moulson. I was nervous to read it at first, but once I saw he thinks they should lock him up for three years, I continued reading. That's what I was hoping for back before arbitration and the one year deal. So, hopefully, everyone in the Islanders organization feels the same way and we get to keep Moulson for a good amount of time.

Original Post:
Rick DiPietro was announced as being the goaltender for the evening, even though Nate Lawson is a Calgary native. Nate would get his chance to play in front of his hometown crowd mid way through the second.

Blake Comeau was scratched right before the game with what was classified as neck spasms. Seemed odd, but both he and Trevor Gillies kept each other company as spectators.

The first period was all NY Islanders as JT made it 1 - 0 15 seconds into a power play opportunity with ex-Islander Tim Jackman in the box. That set the tone for the period and gave JT a dose of much needed confidence. It also showed the power play was getting better. It was the third power play in a row that the Islanders were able to capitalize on.

Zenon Konopka wanted to make sure his PIMs keep piling up and he took Tom Kostopoulos’ invitation to tangle at 9:15 of the first. It was Zenon’s 13th fighting major and it lasted for what seemed like forever.

Rick DiPietro played 25:33 total last night. He was looking sharp. I held my breath when he came way out of the net to play the puck in the right corner for a clear. Moves like that have often backfired on Rick and the puck would end up in his empty net in a nano-second. This time Rick made a great pass to PA Parenteau in the neutral zone who passed it to Matt Moulson skating toward the net. He couldn’t tee it up properly, so he passed it to the point where Andy MacDonald was already waiting.

Now, I bring up that play-by-play because I can’t tell you how often I’ve screamed at the TV “Who’s there?” at the point as the puck would normally just slide over out of the zone and a rush would start the other way. Positioning: that’s what I am beginning to see.

The goal that Rick gave up was not a soft one. No, David Moss headed toward Rick like a missile and got passed Jon Sim and just about ran Rick over. I didn’t like the goal. I’m pretty sure Rick didn’t either. Moss would be credited with the only goal on Nate Lawson as well, also on a fluky play that bounced off Lawson’s pad and then off Moss. Yep, it’s always better to be lucky than good.

Good wasn’t the word for the play of John Tavares. Great was the word. He was doing it all in his latest three point game. He was in the right place at the right time throughout the entire game. There was a bit of a scare when he was taken into the boards behind the net and the replay showed that JT’s head hit the glass and he went down on the ice and stayed there. My heart skipped a beat, but he managed to shake out the cobwebs from his head a few minutes later. Not sure if he knew what day it was, but he kept playing.

Matt Moulson, who had previously been snake-bitten, managed two REAL goals in the game giving him his 13th and 14th of the season. Matt is back on a roll. The goal that made it 4 - 1 Islanders was almost credited to Hamonic, but it was Matt that tipped it, so -- sorry Travis. Your first NHL goal will have to wait a little longer.

Now, on Rick. With the team on the PK DiPietro was facing a shooting gallery close to his net. He made the saves and was determined. But one over extension to the right of his net did him in. He struggled to get back to his skates while still being shot on. He made two more saves while in noticeable discomfort. But he never gave up on the play.

When he finally got the puck and the whistle, he fell over face first onto the ice -- and stayed there. Islanders trainer, Garrett Timms (who has really been earning his pay lately) came out to tend to Rick. They talked, Rick stretched, he looked like he wanted to try to tough it out and stay. Garrett said “uh, no.” and Nate Lawson put on his equipment to make his home town debut as an NHLer in front of his family and friends.

It was a bittersweet situation. A wonderful opportunity for “Nate The Great” to play in his home town, but horrible for DiPietro to have to leave a game he was playing so well.

I’d like to say this to all those who constantly needle Islander fans about Rick DiPietro. If you watched the game, you have got to say that the way he maintained himself in net while in pain speaks volumes about his conditioning as well as his resolve. He would not and did not give up. He didn’t let the Flames score a goal just to get the whistle and get him out of the net. Even with the strain, he managed to be in position and not just sprawl across the goal crease.

According to Lawson in his post game with MSGs Rob Carlin, while getting in net in Calgary was a dream come true, he felt bad because he and Rick have a great friendship. Rick even gave him a little pep talk before he took the crease to set up, telling him he could do it.

He did just that stopping 28 shots of 29. But Nate knew it was a team effort. “The D was awesome. Every chance they had blocking shots and clearing rebounds.” Perhaps it was because they felt Nate was coming in cold and not expecting to play, every player in front of him gave their best.

Even Bruno Gervais, still sporting a full cage from that broken cheekbone he received taking a punch protecting JT, did some pushing and shoving in front of Lawson’s crease. (Although why he would push Kostopoulos around after he had already fought Zenon was beyond me. ) Nate himself isn’t exactly an easy mark. He doesn’t like to be pushed around. He pushes back. The refs even had a little chat with him about how much they would let him get away with trying to clear his crease. (A page out of the Billy Smith Goalie handbook for sure.)

When all was said and done, and Michael Grabner scored the final empty netter from his own blue line to make it 5 - 2, it sealed the deal. The Flames were not going to be able to stage the comeback to make up for the first period trouncing.

Konopka tried to pick Lawson up to congratulate him. He didn’t’ get him too far off the ground. Nate is solid as a rock and looks like he’s heavy as hell in his gear. The group hug showed the chemistry that is there. It also showed that -- change the uniforms and it’s the Sound Tigers. But surprisingly enough, Jack Capuano and company has them winning on NHL ice.

Awaiting news on Frans Nielsen who took a stick to the face as well as Blake Comeau’s neck spasms and Rick DiPietro’s strained adductor. The team has a few days to rest before playing on Thursday. After last night -- they will need it.
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