10:52 pm: Yes, the Islanders managed to hold off the Penguins in the final minute and win the game.
As Jack Capuano said, while they are down to the last few games remaining, it changes nothing about how they are working. They want to win games whether it's the last one or not. Their confidence is building for the future.
Kyle Okposo hit 20 goals, his career high, and while very matter of fact about it, you could still see that amazing smile come across his face every now and then as Art Staple interviewed him as we all crowded around.
But it was really Josh Bailey night as he is the first Islander to have five points on home ice in a very VERY long time. He was the guy every one wanted to talk to.
Everyone but Stan Fischler. It was odd not having Stan in the room immediately after the game and us tripping over the MSG cameras. Without him, Al Montoya's Q&A session was pretty brief.
But they had other duties tonight. They were signing autographs and taking photos in the tunnel. The players really aren't there for the media. They are there for the fans. And tonight -- the fans really enjoyed it.
9:19 pm: With the clock winding down to the 1 minute mark, it looks like -- like -- like Effing Malkin will score the Penguins 3rd goal. They have 1:31 to tie this game at 4 and head to overtime.
Don't do it boys. Don't do it! I wanna get home at a decent hour!!!
9:10 pm: BTW over $58,000 was raised for John Walsh's missing children charity here tonight. Nice going Mr. Wang. Thank you!
9:06 pm: at 8:20 of the third Jordan Staal scored his 24th goal making it 4 - 2 Islanders. Booo Hiss. Montoya should have had that one.
9:02 pm: Kyle Okposo is a beast. He scores his 20th goal and second of the night as Josh Bailey has a four point night, his first.
Mark Streit is in the box at 13:51 of the third. Don't ask me why. Probably to stop the Isles momentum.
8:53 pm: Start of the third period and at the 44 second mark, Neal is called for boarding on MacDonald. The Islanders get no shots on goal during the power play.
At 3 - 1, this is a dangerous 20 minutes for the Isles. We know how they can give up leads in the third. Don't. Although again, an Isles win will help the dreaded Rangers. Hmmmm.... How do I feel about that?
8:29 pm: Kyle Okposo put the Islanders back in the lead at 16:46 of the second. It could have been Nino's goal as he was in Fluery's face. I believe Kyle even apologized for it. But the goal belonged to Kyhel.
With Matt Martin in the box for a boarding call that he (and I) didn't agree with, Josh Bailey scored a short handed goal at 18:36 of the second and basically stunned the Penguins. Jay Pandolfo gets an assist on that one as the Isles are up 3 - 1 and the shots on goal now stand at 13 to 14 with the Pens leading.
Okay, again, Who are these guys.
8:22 pm: with the Pens outshotting the Isles 14 - 10 they skate four aside as both Parenteau and Orpik are called for slashing.
Matt Moulson takes another one on the chin. His second in this game and Orpik is called for a penalty and sent back to the box. Maybe he likes it there.
8:16 pm: Sid the Kid returns to the ice to boos and cheers. There are a lot more Pens fans here in the 12,018 fans than I thought there were and they have found their voice as Dupuis has evened the score.
Side note. I just watched Deryk Engelland fly up the ice toward Montoya and shoot into the stands. If he had his eye on the puck, it would have blown a hole through Montoya's pads.
8:12 pm: At 8:37 of the second, Pascal Dupuis scores a short-handed goal to even the score at one. Glove side on Al.
Now they start from scratch.
8:02 pm: Start of the second and there is bloodshed. Not from a Matt Martin/Matt Cooke fight, but from an errant clearing attempt by Dylan Reese meeting Sidney Crosby's face. Blood everywhere and Crosby off to the room.
Thank goodness it was the puck as had it been a high-stick by Reese, he probably would have been banned by the NHL.
Speaking of high sticking, Kyle Okposo takes a high sticking penalty at 4:40 of the second. The Pens have 8 shots on goal to the Isles 4.
7:35 PM Nino almost scored his first goal as Michael Grabner danced into the Penguins zone with the puck. just a little too high and over the net.
Reese, who looks like there is a chunk taken out of his nose bridge almost had another facial injury grabbing a puck out of the air as the horn sounded.
End of the first and the Isles are up 1 - 0 and playing like you would not believe.
7:34 pm: The Penguins managed four shots on goal during the power play as Matt Martin drapped himself on Evgeni Malkin. It was a sight to see.
7:29 pm: Josh Bailey takes the first Islander penalty for hooking with 5:40 left of the first period.
7:24 PM: At 11:07 of the first Marty Reasoner pots his first goal as a NY Islander from March Streit. It was a long time coming, but the hard work has paid off. Isles have the first goal on their second shot on Fluery.
At the other end of the ice, Al Montoya has the luck of the hockey gods on his side as a puck hit the post and skimmed across the red line and out!
7:17 pm: some fancey fancy footwork by El Nino nets him nothing but respect, but the Isles do get the first power play of the night as Matt Cooke is in the box for holding at 5:11 of the first.
Nielsen, Parenteau JT and Moulson crowding Fluery's crease. One shot on net so far for the Isles. The Pens have the Isles fighting to get out of their own zone as the power play expires and Cooke is sprung from the box and almost scores on Montoya's blocker side.
7:04 pm: And here we are, Nino back in line-up and Milan Jurcina is scratched.
John Walsh will be dropping the ceremonial puck.
Let's drop the puck and get this party started.
Thurs 12:04 pm: Also from Twitter, Fluery will be in net tonight for the Pens indicating that his injury after their game on Tuesday was far less severe than Nabokov's. (Lucky for the Pens who will need him.)
Thurs 10:25 am: John Grahame has "officially" signed an agreement to play the balance of the current season as a NY Islander. Meaning -- whatever he will make in the next ten days will still exceed what I make in a year. Thank you.
Kevin Poulin will still be backing up Al Montoya tonight, so I'm guessing Grahame makes his debute as a bench warmer on Saturday? Maybe?
David Ullstrom has been returned to the Bridgeport SoundTigers. Look for Nino Niederreiter to be back in the line-up tonight.
Montreal has fired their GM. It's a weird day for hockey. I'm pretty sure it will get weirder. (Is that a word? I'm not sure.)
Wed 9:20 pm: Oh, this is bad. At 8:15 pm, Newsday's Art Staple, the Islanders only beat-writer announced on Twitter that the Islanders had agreed to terms with Goalie John Grahame to finish out the season with the Islanders. This must mean that Nabokov's injury will take him well past the next two weeks.
So, let me explain how I THINK this works. John Grahame is not currenlty classified as an NHLer. He last played in the AHL in 2011 for Lake Erie. The 36-year-old has played for Boston, Tampa and most recently (if you call 07-08 recent) for Carolina.
There has been no official word as the team cannot make an announcement until after the League has approved the move. This is actually a good move, as Art has stated, so that Kevin Poulin can play in Bridgeport that is currently trying to make the AHL playoffs.
We are the Islanders, and it's always interesting.
Wed 4 pm: Ah Nuts!
Yes, it happened. Word has finally come down that Evgeni Nabokov's "lower body" injury is bad enough to call Kevin Poulin up from Bridgeport. And while there are unconfirmed reports that RDP may have begun skating, he cannot back up Al Montoya at this time.
Although, when it comes to the Islanders, you can't be certain that Kevin won't actually be the starter for tomorrow's game.
David Ullstrom did skate this afternoon, but nothing has been said about his condition or whether he will be ready to go against the Pens tomorrow.
If you are going to the game tomorrow, know it's a special on as the Islanders join the fight to protect children as they partner with John Walsh and the national Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) for a fundraising night.
There will be activities to raise awareness and money for the cause and John Walsh will drop the ceremonial puck. Please consider buying your chance at the "Chuck-A-Puck" intermission contest, a portion of which will be donated to the cause and Charles Wang will match the donation.
As a parent, this is a cause that stirs up fear and anger. So anything you can do to help is worthwhile.
Also, Josh Bailey's Tee shirt will be on sale at the team store for $19. It will probably work very nicely over a bathing suit this summer. ;o)
More if it comes over, if not. See you tomorrow for pre-game.
Oh! and if you haven't seen the statement from the Country, here it is.
New York Islanders Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»