Islanders Rise Above Jets

In as important a game as they’ve had in the last couple of years, the New York Islanders wouldn’t be held down as they obtained a 3-1 victory over the Winnipeg Jets, cutting the deficit from the 8^th place in the Eastern Conference to 6 points with one game in hand. The win also gave the Islanders their first four game road winning streak since January 2008.

After a very rough night against Florida on Sunday, the Islanders weren’t about to let up another huge game slip by their fingers. The first period was a rough one, as Winnipeg outshot and for the most part outplayed the Islanders, obtaining the lead after a bad rebound from Nabokov and worst defensive coverage from Staios gave Thorburn all he needed to give the Jets the lead late in the first. However, although the Islanders didn’t start out the game they were necessarily hoping to, they rebounded early in the second after a one-two between Matt Moulson and John Tavares ended in a power play goal for the Islanders, tying the game at 1. The rest of a second was a battle throughout and would end tied at 1, as both teams refused to give up in the slightest way in a battle for a spot in the playoffs. This would change however early in the third, as a heads up play by Milan Jurcina enabled a tip in the slot by PA Parenteau giving the Islanders a 2-1 lead. The battle would continue for the remainder of a game, but the defense and Nabokov refused to give up absolutely anything, and an empty netter from Martin would close the game at 3-1. 

Capuano described the first period as one that they had to battle through, and that “it was gut wrench time for us, and I thought we played much better in the second and third period”. The Islanders certainly did that, blocking shots throughout, skating harder and plain out wanting the game more than the Jets tonight. 

Every game is huge at this point in the season for the Islanders, but games against teams in the race with them are even bigger, as they can hardly afford to give up opportunities to jump up in the standings. Andrew MacDonald definitely noticed that, “everyone tried to do a little bit extra tonight, cause there was a lot on the line.”

The Islanders now look to St. Louis on Thursday, who’s seemed to be almost impossible to beat in their own building, but Capuano thinks of it as a “good test”. It certainly would be as a win against a team that has only lost 3 games in regulation in their own building would go a long way as far as confidence goes.

A few other quick points about tonight’s game:

-Refereeing almost cost the Islanders again, as the referees made 3 bad calls which could’ve easily cost the Islanders had it not been for Reasoner, Pandolfo, and MacDonald’s work on the PK.

-Staios had a rough night at the office. Bad coverage led to first goal, and almost cost the Islanders on the PK when a failed attempt at clearing the puck led to Byfuglien hitting the crossbar on a slapshot. Possibility of Wishart making season debut on Thursday, but only a possibility as Capuano said Wishart call up was more for insurance purposes.

-Bailey had another great game. He’s really impressed me this season, points may not show a lot, but he’s been playing with as much confidence as anybody, and is single handedly making that 3^rd line dangerous. The Parenteau goal was a result of his refusal to give up the puck in the boards, and turned in yet another goal in which he was crucial but was given no credit.

-Aaron Ness has been excellent the past few games. He’s been the best defenseman for the Islanders after MacDonald, and is definitely making a case to stick around after Hamonic returns. Look for Snow to be more open to trading a defenseman following his recent play.

-Pandolfo was probably the hardest worker on the ice tonight, killing penalties and skating as hard as anybody.

-Wishart’s call up seemed to give Jurcina a bit of a wake-up call. Jurcina was probably the worst defenseman for the Islanders the last few games, and now that there’s a chance of him being a healthy scratch, he made very few mistakes in his own zone and was the main contributor to the Parenteau goal.

-Nabokov was huge for the Islanders tonight. He let up a bad rebound on the first goal but was lights out the rest of the way through. 37 saves tonight, probably the best player on the Islanders the past few weeks.

-Parenteau was huge as well tonight. If you thought his goal was impressive take a closer look at the empty net goal by Martin. PA was in the middle of a long shift, and after the puck was dumped in the Winnipeg zone everyone skated for a change, everyone except PA that is. Instead he outskated the Jet defenseman, got the puck, waited and dangled the puck in the corner for the Islanders to change and basically handed Martin a goal.

-Reasoner was a very respectable 55% on faceoffs in his return; covering up a hole he left when he broke his hand, and which was only partially covered by Pandolfo.

- I saved the best for last. Pat Flatley was once again between the benches for the Islanders tonight, and at one point during the third period, he started talking about how John Tavares’ work ethic and pure determination would one day push him to being the best player in the NHL. Couldn’t agree more with Flatley on that one.

Pre-game New York Islanders @ Winnipeg Jets, Legislature Meeting Takes Place on Hub

No large changes to report for tonight’s game, other than Marty Reasoner makes his return after missing the last couple of weeks with a broken hand. Reasoner will take back his place on the 4^th line as a center, between Pandolfo and Niederreiter, while Wallace will be a healthy scratch.

Nabokov will start in goal, and Montoya will back up, while Wishart’s season debut will have to wait for another night. Capuano was quoted as saying that he decided to call up Wishart to add to competition between defensemen in practice, and also as insurance in case one of the defensemen actually did succumb to injury.

Winnipeg is four points above the Islanders in the conference standings, but the Jets also have 2 more games played. A win would go a long way for the Islanders to pass Winnipeg in the standings in the not too distant future. Every game is a must win right now for the Islanders, and there’s no room for mistakes. The Islanders must make sure to get at the very least one point in every single game possible in order to stand a chance to remain in this race, there’s very little room for error the remainder of the way.

On a side note, a legislature meeting on the HUB took place today. Chief Deputy County Executive Rob Walker was quoted as saying “Isles at the latest will need to have a plan in place by December 2012… County will not use taxpayer dollars.”

Free Agency Frenzy

While the Buffalo Sabres, Philadelphia Flyers, and Florida Panthers were busy re-modeling their whole team, the New York Islanders stuck to their initial game plans and only made the moves that were necessary. With a roster which is for the most part ready to go for next season, pardoning any unpredictable trades or injuries, the Islanders made only one move on this Free Agency Frenzy.

This move was the acquisition of veteran center Marty Reasoner. Reasoner had a career year last year with the Florida Panthers posting 14 goals, and 32 points. Reasoner is a gritty veteran center. His main strengths are face-offs, being a two-way player, penalty killer, and apparently a very good team mate. Subtract two-way player, and add fighter and you have a copy of Zenon Konopka, except that Reasoner can also score goals.

To sum this signing up, Reasoner has been signed as the replacement of Zenon Konopka as a 4th line center who will be counted on to win important faceoffs, and provide veteran leadership for the young guys in the Islander locker room.

Expect the Islanders to only make one more move during this off season, and that would be to, as Garth Snow said, trade for a top-4 defenseman to replace the hole left by Radek Martinek and Jack Hillen who were both released by the organization.