There was a big to-do today regarding the announcement that Tomas Vokoun would replace Marc Andre Fleury in net for the Penguins. The reporters have made a huge deal out of Vokoun’s three shut outs this season, one against the Isles on 3/30 (2-0), one against Winnipeg 3/28 and one against the Rangers on 1/31. By the way, they also shut out the Rangers on 3/16 with Fleury in net.
Yes, yes. Vokoun has 300 career regular season wins. But Nabby has 335. Vokoun is 36-years-old and Nabokov is 37. Okay, so we now have an interesting game here. But just because Vokoun is in net doesn’t mean the Isles will make it any easier on the Penguins. Actually the Isles don’t really care who the Pens put on the ice.
“We’re trying to focus on what we’re doing, trying to dictate the play for ourselves and not to get to caught up in what other teams are doing or what line-up they’re bringing.” That is what Matt Martin (today’s birthday boy!) told me after last night’s win.
“If we prepare and play the way we want to play, dictate the pace of the game, we’ll be okay.”
Travis Hamonic joked with reporters, even though he had to skate extra minutes after losing his D partner Andy MacDonald to an injury. “Everyone obviously gets a lot more minutes. I think we did a good job adjusting.”
Hamonic loves playing against the top players in the league like Crosby and Malkin. Jack Capuano said he actually spends some time studying them.
“I think everyone has their role on the team and has something they want to do well and they want to bring to the table. And I think I’m starting to find my little niche a little bit, just what I can do. Every game I try to learn and get better. It’s a pretty big responsibility against two major layers. They’re going to get their chances. Obviously, when I can, I want to limit where they’re getting them from. Really try to get in their face. Play hard. Play physical and let them know if they’re going to beat me; and they might -- they’re going to have to work for it.”
Casey Cizikas was a little more pointed in his responses to the media. He was asked if he thought the Pens were getting frustrated by the play of the Isles. “They may be a little frustrated, but that’s playoff hockey and we’re not going to back down from that. We’re battling hard. We’re playing our best. We’re leaving it all on the ice right now.”
They’re have to do the same in Pittsburgh tomorrow.
I asked Matt Martin if anything about actually playing in the Stanley Cup playoffs was different than what he’s imagined all these years.
“Coming into this, I think a lot of us were thinking it would be a lot different game than what it is. But really it’s the same game we’ve been playing all season. It’s just the crowds are a little more energetic. Everyone is a little bit frustrate. Frustrations and emotions are a little higher because we’re playing the same team over and over again. You just gotta think it through, play smart and simple.”
So easy, right? Just smart and simple.
New York Islanders Blogger • 
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