The first period told the story of the game. The puck was bouncing every which way. No one could settle it down. The cold wasn't as much a problem as that damn puck. I've never seen so many missed shots from both teams ever. You just knew it would be a low scoring game. Maybe even just a single goal game.
But then finally Brock Nelson found a way to get the puck passed Lundqvist at 18:33 of the second. Could that be the game winner? I didn't feel it. Actually, I knew the Rangers would score immediately after. That's the Isles 'MO' recently.
Sure enough, while I was trying to Tweet out "Please don't give up a late goal," the Isles did. With Nabokov splayed on the ice and Vanek on top of him Pouliot just bounced the puck over both of them and into the net.
I wondered if the game would have to be decided by a shoot out since it was so difficult to score in the first place. Not a chance. At only 4:36 of the third, Carcillo scored the game winner and I knew it was all over.
Sure, the Isles tried. They did, but you could tell there was nothing they could do to make it work. Jack said maybe they tried too hard. The Isles only managed six shots on net during the third period and thir power play could not help them.
The night was special. But it's over and the two points are lost. I'm thinking, the season may be as well.