Geez - Ricky nearly BLOWS it! - Another Shootout win vs. Panthers | The View From Section 317

Well - just when you think it is safe to have a lead in the last two minutes of the game, the bungee cord breaks.

Ricky with the game stopper Ricky had his momentary lapse of judgement and Rusan Salei took advantage. With under a minute to go, the 12,800 + fans in attendance had their heart ripped out. Then a hooking penalty to Viktor Kozlov 55 seconds in, caused the fans to hold their collective breath.

After allowing seven shots in the overtime, the Isles got two last shots in. Miro Satan and Viktor Kozlov connected on shots past Alex Auld, to lift the team to a 5-4 victory.

Like the game on Thursday, the Isles got a quick goal to start the game off. Andy Hilbert got his second of the year, 90 seconds into the game. Arron Asham got his 5th and his second goal in consecutive games to give the Isles a 2 goal cushion.

Once again, the Isles got themselves into penalty trouble. After Sillinger took a hooking penalty, Nathan Horton got on by Rick DiPietro, to bring the deficit to one.

From there, the Isles slowly began their lackluster effort. Then, after the Isles managed to get one shot on a four minute power play (with two minutes as a 5 on 3), Gary Roberts gets out of the penalty box, and slides one past DiPietro to even the score. Twenty four seconds later, DiPiertro lets an extremely soft goal get by the five hole, and all of a sudden, New York is down one.

With five minutes left in the game, my wife turned to me and said we are just not getting the breaks. Lo and behold, Radek Martinek, the best overall defensmen on the team right now in my opinion, gets the puck at the right point, and blasts one be Auld to even the score.

Sure enough, enter the fans, enter the energy, and yes, enter the Islanders.

As the clock passed the two minute mark left in regulation, a scrum ensues in front of the Panther net. Kozlov in the shootout With Sillinger and Simon crashing the net, Miro Satan found the puck and pushed it to the open left side, giving the home side a one goal cushion.

Enter the Ricky D twilight zone. Was he looking to score a goal? Was he just trying to clear the puck? We may never know, but it was indeed a large BRAIN FART. Rusan Salei got the puck along the left boards, and threw it at the near empty net, and the boo birds began.

After the shootout, happiness returned to the fans; maybe they will even forgive Ricky (some I know will not). However, a win to keep up with the Devs and Rangers was needed, with the upcoming five day break. Just what the Doctor ordered.

THREE STARS