After last nights loss the Islanders were hoping to bounce back against the New Jersey Devils at the Nassau Coliseum. It also happened to be Dennis Potvin mini locker night. This was the second of these events. All throughout the season the Islanders are inviting back some of their past heroes from the Stanley Cup era and honoring them with their own night. The first one was last week when Billy Smith came back to the Coliseum.
Before the game Potvin said “It’s like that torch is really being passed to them and they’ve got a chance to do something. It’s all about them. You don’t have to prove yourselves to us. They have a great opportunity now to write their own history.” He also planned to address the team before the game and then lead them out onto the ice. It's great that he was able to make it back for this event. It was another sellout crowd and as a result the Islanders were flying at the start of the game.
As far as the hockey goes the Islanders had Halak in net. Cory Schneider started tonight for the Devils. Halak had won nine games in a row and had only given up 10 goals in that time frame. Visnovsky and Boychuk were still hurting from last night so that meant that Strait and Donovan were back in. Still no Michael Grabner in the lineup. Not much information coming out of the Islanders as to when he will be available for game action. One wonders if he's not ready yet whether the Islanders are trying to decide how to make a roster spot for him.
After the ceremonial puck drop by Dennis Potvin, The Islanders came out with more energy than they did last night. New York got an early power play and had numerous chances but unfortunately Schneider was up to the task. The Devils had their own power-play but the Islanders were able to kill it off. Very fast paced period with lots of up and down action. With a little over seven minutes left in the period Kulemin knocked in a rebound off of a Okposo slap shot to make it 1–0. Tavares got the second helper on Kulemin's 5th goal of the year. However, just a couple minutes later the Devil's got the equalizer. It was a shot that was re-directed in front of Halak by Brunner. New York would have one more chance on the power play before the end of the period, however they again failed to convert. Both teams finished the first 20 minutes even at 1–1. Isles had a slight edge in shots 11–8 for the period.
In the second period, the Devils came out of the locker room and had the better of the play. The Islanders could not get out of their own end for a couple minutes. It seemed like the momentum was changing a bit. Then The fourth line stuck again after a face-off in the Devils zone. Calvin de Haan took a blue line slap shot from the center ice area and it deflected off Cal Clutterbuck's skate to give the Islanders 2-1 lead. Overall, it was a good period for the Islanders. New York out shot New Jersey again this time 15-10. However, as well as the Islanders have played they were only up one goal until the last period.
In the last frame it was all Devils. After two periods the Isles had the edge in shots 26-19 and had the better scoring chances, however, in the final 20 minutes the Devils out shot the Islanders 16-2. In the final two minutes New York had a to kill off a 5 on 3 power play and Czikas iced the game with an empty net goal for the 3-1 win. It was Casey's 3rd goal of the year and his 4th point in the last three games. In a game when the Isles could not convert on the power play they came up big on the penalty kill. Halak was lights out stopping 34 shots to get his 9th straight win. In those games Jaro has only given up 11 goals. Truly stellar play from Halak who may just be the best goalie in the NHL right now.
With the win the Islanders move to 17-7 and will still have a share of first place with a Pittsburgh win. After the game the Islanders took the league lead in wins, barring the outcome of the Montreal game. It was one of those games that they would have found a way to lose in prior years. Another good sign for this team. Now it's on to a home in home with Ottawa next Tuesday and Thursday. The NHL schedule maker was a little lazy this year and scheduled a bunch of home an home games this year.
Go to any game (not just against the Islanders) during the year at Madison Square Garden and you will hear jealous Ranger fans yell “Potvin Sucks!” It's all part of Rangers tradition and Islanders lore. That could not be farther from the truth. After having a career in which he had 310 goals and 1,052 points, 4 Stanley Cups and a hall of fame induction, Potvin clearly does not “suck.” Guess what…neither do the Islanders.
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