9:12 pm: With 16:07 left to play of the third period and the Isles on a Power Play, they have dug a deep hole for themselves of 5 - 0. This is not entirely Nate Lawson's fault. Not by a long shot. Butch and Howie must have said the team was playing "passive" about nine times. Passive and looking tired. Like a team that has been on the road for eleven days. Oh... they are. That's right.
The PK that had done so very well this trip had no chance trying to kill off two early back-to-back penalties. It was quickly 2 - 0 Hawks and the Islanders were being outshot times two.
While Newsday's Katie Strang must have been sitting directly behind Howie and Butch because she kept using the exact same adjectives they used immediately after each call, she must have become exceptionally concerned about Nate Lawson's ability in net.
It seems she texted Garth Snow asking if he was going to be acquiring a goaltender.
@KatieStrangNYI: GM Garth Snow confirms via text he has no plans at this point in adding a goaltender; says diPietro should be back at some point this week.
After all, this was just a strain.
Some other notes about this game's broadcast (even before it ends):
It was absolutely awesome to see Chris King on the TV Broadcast with Rob Carlin. Kinger never gets enough credit for the exceptional work he does on his radio broadcasts. And there is no reason in hell why that man can't do TV.
Michael Grabner turned on the jets twice for break-aways and twice couldn't convert. The first time he didn't lift it enough over Crawford and the second he couldn't control the puck and just as he was in scoring position, the puck just got away from him. I'm sure he is incredibly frustrated.
Tonight we saw the scary side of 20-year-old Travis Hamonic as he was so frustrated over the Hawks scoring a late goal on Lawson before the buzzer that he just grabbed Bickell by the head and mugged him. Good that the kid tried to spark the team, bad that the lines-man treated him like he was a bully on a school-yard and pushed him out of the way. At least there was no misconduct call.
Josh Bailey is going to start losing his confidence again if he can't get the goals he is looking for.
However this game ends (and it will end badly for sure), it was a good road trip considering the injuries incurred. But we'll see what the final is as the buzzer sounds.
Nope, no matter how hard John Tavares tried to get the Islanders on the board, he couldn't do it all alone. Score remained 5 - 0. Punctuated by a foolish fight at the 20 minute mark, this was not how everyone wanted the trip to end.
On the plane guys. You've got a long home stand next week.
Original post:As I expected, Jack Capuano has decided to give Nathan Lawson another go ahead as the starting goaltender in Chicago tonight to face the Black Hawks. He knows what Nate is capable of and his last showing was purely a fluke -- maybe. But Jack, who is fair, is willing to give Lawson the benefit of the doubt and gives him the nod between the pipes tonight.
Frans Nielsen is scratched AGAIN with that lingering groin strain. This is concerning me a little. He seemed well enough to hang with the boys, but not well enough to play. Being uber cautious? Or again not telling us something? We won't know until the team is back in Uniondale I suppose.
This will be the only meeting between the two teams this season. Let's make it a good one.
More as the night progresses (of course)
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