Update 11:20. Same lineup, Chad Johnson in net
The Islanders got out of the gate strong as they defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 5-3 in Raleigh, North Carolina. While there is plenty to work on from last night’s game it was still a great sign that this team was able to get out of the gate strong and pick up two points. The Isles were up 5-1 at one point in the third and they didn’t exactly finish strong but two points are two points and there are no style points in this league. Islander teams of the past would have laid an egg in Carolina last night but the Islanders were able to use the power play to propel themselves to a five goal outburst. The two teams are back at it again tonight at the Coliseum at 7pm.
Brock Nelson led the way with two goals and two assists. Johnny Boychuk is going to love playing significant power play time and the new Islander added a goal and two assists. Travis Hamonic and Mikhail Grabovski also scored their first goals of the season. John Tavares added three assists and Ryan Strome also chipped in with two helpers. Jaroslav Halak was solid when he had to be, stopping 21 of 24 shots.
The Islanders will need to work on their penalty kill as the Hurricanes were able to score on two of their five chances. The Islanders' power play, however, was clicking as they scored on two of their three chances. This is only one game of a long eighty two game journey but it is still encouraging nonetheless. The Islanders' schedule out of the gate is difficult and they simply need to beat a shorthanded team like Carolina.
What I took away from last night’s game was not the two goals given up late in the game, rather it was the team’s response to the first Carolina goal. When the Hurricanes cut the lead to 3-1, I felt everyone collectively groan “here we go again.… But the response to that goal was what was so encouraging. The Islanders bounced back and added to that lead making it 4-1 and then 5-1 crushing any hopes of a comeback.
We now look ahead to tonight, the final home opener at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. When describing the Coliseum to someone, recently, I said, “the place is a dump, but it is our dump.… I’m excited for what the future holds for this franchise in Brooklyn, however, I’m going to cherish every moment that happens in the final season at the Coliseum. This team has the chance to be good this year and nothing would be more fitting than to send the old barn out with an exciting playoff run. While last night was only one game, it was a start. The Islanders never beat Carolina. The Islanders never beat Cam Ward. However, with eight new players in the lineup, sprinkled in with a few rookies, are these really the Islanders of past seasons?
If you are going to the game tonight, enjoy it and embrace the final season at the old barn. I finally feel that this organization is moving in the right direction. A strong pool of prospects is finally supported by quality veteran leadership. Last night was only one game, but it was a start, a start of something that could result in a special year on Long Island. As always, for more on all things hockey please follow me on twitter @DanDanNoodles78.