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Two Points, One Less Goalie |
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In front of a packed house, the Isles scored first against the Redwings on a deflection through Gustavsson’s five-hole by Tavares with a Josh Bailey helper. It is Bailey’s first point in 11 games. But the euphoria lasted all of nine seconds as the Red Wings scored on Nabokov at the other end. Darren Helm was on a breakaway and Nabokov pulled something trying to defend. He left the game with a confirmed groin injury and Kevin Poulin took over.
Matt Martin went to the room, followed by John Tavares for equipment issue. Clutterbuck seemed to be in a bit of discomfort and the Isles bench was quite roomy. Both returned.
Bertuzzi was called for holding, which it should have probably been interference according to Butch, and the isles were on the power play with 6:37 left of the first. The Isles passes during their power play looked to be in slow motion and the Red Wings cleared the puck repeatedly. Isles had no shots on net during the Power Play.
The Red Wings had their own power play chance with 3:07 left of the first, as Matt Donovan sat for hooking. By 2:42 left, Datsyuk scored while wide load Bertuzzi screened Poulin.
At 16:47 of the second, Clutterbuck sat on the ice on all fours after getting clipped with a stick to the face. Andrew MacDonald “was petitioning for a penalty that didn’t come. Cal needed help getting off the ice, he wasn’t moving his head much and almost seemed to be faint. Isles continued to be short handed.
I’d like to bring up that Fiona Quick of QuickFacts had told me that Clutterbuck was prone to injury. I think he is prone to bad luck which causes injury. Not exactly a great thing for the Isles.
With less than five minutes in the second, Bertuzzi was awarded his second penalty of the night after falling over Poulin in the crease. The Isles again recorded no shots on net.
The score was tied at two at 17:50 of the second by Casey Cizikas who scored on a rebound into a basically empty net. And the Red Wings scored 33 seconds later to make it 3 - 2. But The Isles went back on the power play and Brock Nelson poked a puck into the net while Gustavsson was on the wrong side of the paint.
In 1:20 there were three goals scored.
Franzen was awarded four minutes for high sticking. That was to make up for the no call on the high stick on Clutterbuck for sure. The clock ran out and the isles had power play time carry over to the third.
Matt Martin called the Red Wings quick equalizers “Frustrating.” He has been with the team long enough to know ”When things are bad, they go real bad..”
It was an even strength goal after the four minute power play was over. Clutterbuck was awarded the goal for letting it bounce off him into the net. The Isles were in the lead in the third.
The fourth line continued to dominate the Red Wings late into the game as Detroit attempted to tie the game again at four. Michael Grabner has a break-away chance with less than 5 minutes left of the game and left the puck at Gustavsson’s feet. He didn’t know it was there.
With 42.5 seconds left of the third, and the crowd screaming for an Isles win, Bertuzzi was once again in front of Poulin as the Detroit net was empty when Datsyuk tied the game. Brock Nelson could have won the game in the few remaining seconds, but hit the outside of the net.
Travis Hamonic drew a penalty in the overtime frame and Jack Capuano took a chance putting four forwards on the ice for the power play. Gustavsson made save after save. It looked like Hamoinc may have created the winning goal again as the clock ticked down. He skated down the left boards and passed to John Tavares, who managed to get a shot off before being taken to the ice.
Teams waited for the Zamboni to finish before beginning the shoot out. Nielsen scored easily as Gustavsson was too far out of his net. Zetterberg was stopped by Poulin as the crowd chanted his name. Bouchard sped up the center of the ice, but the puck bounced off pads. Datsyuk was also stopped by Poulin. John Tavares was the last shooter in the round but was stopped. Red Wings had another shot at it.
Todd Bertuzzi skated down the ice thinking he would be the star of the game, but his shot was too high and Poulin ended with the win as he grabbed the puck out of the air.
While the Isles may have won this game, the issue of letting their opponent score right after their own goals continues.
John Tavares spoke with Peter Ruttgaizer after the game. “We fought hard to get where we’re at.” They had 4 out of 6 at home. “We just want to build on this one and get some consistency going.”
The Isles do have consistency -- it’s just not the consistency they want. But this time, they ended the night with the two points and one less goalie.
New York Islanders Blogger • 
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