The New York Islanders (Blue and Orange) took on the Edmonton Oilers (Orange and Blue) in the third game of their Western Canada trip. It was not too long ago that both of these teams were in the same boat. Both teams have had losing seasons for quite awhile now and have accumulated a boatload of high draft picks. The difference is that while the Islanders youngsters are starting to pan out and contribute, the Oilers have not made any progress. The result is that the Islanders are 26-11-1 while the Oilers have the worst record in the league at 8-22-9. This was a classic trap game and the Islanders could not have taken the Oilers lightly. It is much harder to get up for these type of games. There were no line-up changes for the Islanders and Jaroslav Halak was in net against Ben Scrivens for the Oilers. You have to wonder when Chad Johnson will be getting another chance in net.
The first period had a lot of skating, very few stoppages in play, very few shots, and very few scoring opportunities. The problem with playing a bad team is that you need to jump on them early and break their will. As an Islander fan we know this all too well. If you do not establish play early you give the underdog a chance. All it takes is one bad play or or one bad bounce and you are behind. Then wouldn't you know it there was one bad play that led to a Edmonton Oilers goal. Halak got the puck behind the net and fanned on a pass and gave it to Matt Hendricks who knocked it in the empty net past a sprawling Halak. It was very reminiscent of the type of mistake Rick DiPietro would make towards the end of his career. After that the Islanders then seemed to wake up and drew a penalty but they could not convert. They started to throw more pucks at the net but the period ended before they could score. Even though the Islanders out shot the Oilers 10-5 it was pretty even period.
Early in the second period, the Islanders dug themselves a hole. Right off the face-off Jordan Eberle put one past Halak at the eight second mark. Not sure why the Islanders were standing around. It seemed at that point that it was going to be one of those games. The Islanders finally got on the board a couple of minutes later when they got a power play goal from Johnny Boychuck. It was a laser guided missile from the point for his 4th goal of the year, all of which have been on the power play. It was Boychuk's home coming game as he had a number of family members in attendance. The goal was assisted by Nick Leddy and John Tavares.
The pace started to pick up when Fish Oils Hickey got a terrific chance right in front of Scrivens on a 4-2, but Hickey broke his stick. Because the Islanders were caught down low watching the puck straddle the goal line, the play led to an Oilers 2 on Oh in front of Halak but both players were turned away without a shot attempt. It is hard to figure out how you don't get a shot on goal when it is two against no one. I guess that is why the Oilers only have eight wins. Anyway, that seemed to energize the Oilers the rest of the period as they spent what seemed to be almost five minutes in the Islanders zone.
Before the end of the period the Oilers got their first power play when Anders Lee went off for hooking and then about a minute later Casey Czikas accidentally ran into Scrivens for goaltender interference. The Islanders were able to kill off the five on three and got out of the period without any further damage. However, the Islanders still had to kill off another half a minute to start the third period.
The Islanders killed off the remaining penalty to start the third. However, another mistake dug the Islanders another hole. Lubomir Visnovsky went behind Halak and tried to clear the puck, but his pass hit the side of the net and popped out in front of Halak who had no chance as Roy scored the goal to give the Oilers their two goal lead back. With a 3-1 it seemed pretty insurmountable. Capuano decided to pull Halak at the three minute mark to try to get a quick goal. But the Oilers would add an empty net goal by Matt Henddricks and then when Halak went back in net to finish the game the Oilers tacked on a fifth goal by Matt Fraser to end it. That is when picked myself up and went to bed. Brock Nelson would get a meaningless power play goal before time expired. It was his 15th goal of the hear from Tavares and Boychuk. Islanders ended up out shooting the Oilers 33-23 but it did not matter in this one.
This was clearly a game where the Islanders played down to the competition and when that happens it gives the underdogs a little confidence. Edmonton played harder and seemed to want it more than New York did. After the game Capuano said that the team did not play all that poorly, but there were a number of people that did play poorly. I would have to think that Capuano will shake things up next game by putting in Michael Grabner if he is healthy and sit someone to make a statement. They need to do something. The Islanders have a lot more at stake than in previous years and cannot afford a losing streak. It is ok to lose a game here and there, but performances like this one is unacceptable..
The Islanders missed a golden opportunity to take sole possession of first place in the Eastern Conference and the Metropolitan division. Hopefully the Blue and Orange will bounce back on Tuesday with a big win against a good Vancouver team.
No comments:
Post a Comment