PREGAME thoughts….
Rollie in net – same 18 skaters. Pens in Baby Blues, Isles in White.
My player to watch: Andy Sutton. He has been sch a shut down presence, and the fact that he has been so healthy this season, he has been quite impressive. Especially when he gets to lay the smackdown on his opponents.
FYI on the Pens vs Isles – All time – NYI 92-84-30 – 1-4-1 last season.
Milestones closing in: Gervais – 1 point from 50
Hopings…. – Establish the forecheck. Especially in periods 2 and 3. Be agressive, but smart. You need to play a 60 minute game against the Pens – today will be a nice chance for the boys to show that.
Next report – after 1
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Brent Johnson in the nets for Pitt today – Rollie in nets for the Isles. Crosby is starting – what a surprise.
Islanders lineup – Roloson – Sutton – Hillen – Jackman – Thompson – Park
Stephen from our Blog Box was attempting to be in the next big boy band…Hey buddy – don’t give up your day job!
13 Seconds in – Engelland and Jackman start to dude it up – with both pugilists got some good jabs in. Nice draw!
Sutton got a good check on the Crosby/Guerin combo. And Hillen made a great play to Okposo for a shot on net that Johnson had to struggle a little with.
Isles showing a little oxie early on – but we ll know that they have done that a lot at the start of games. It is just a matter of sustainment. Only 2:13 before Rollie got save number 1. He is not used to that…
Sutton and Malkin in the box together at the 2:55 mark with Malkin getting the diving call.. 4 on 4 Crosby out there again.
BTW – Malkin is Greg Louganis on ice.
Dupuis on a great tip – hit the post. 1st lucky break of the game.
4th line looking Trio Grande out there – except not connecting. Bailey jumps on a rebound in front of Johnson – 1-0 Isles! Streit and Meyer get the helpers on the goal.
The second efforts are showing – and now the Isles get a PP – thanks to the work in the corners by the forwards. The only issue I see with JT at time he is waiting for the puck to get to him, rather than attacking the puck.
Sim clanked one at the end of thePP. He has looked better recently. Is he thinking that he may lose his spot? Who knows.
Shots after 12 minutes are 6-5 Islanders.
Hillen got called by Kelly Sutherland for holding. The lethal Pens PP is out there with Maklin, Crosby and Guerin up front with Gonchar and Eaton at the back.
The goal light came on when Okposo was working behind the Pens net on the PK.
The “Let’s Go Pens” chant is pretty loud today. But no shots for the Pens on that PP.
It has been a good first period. I am pleased with the effort.
I said it too soon, as Malin scores on the shortest of sides, getting the puck throught the tiniest of holes between Roloson’s arm and the post. 1-1 tie game with 2:40 left in Period 1.
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Shots were 9-7 Isles after 1.
For period 2, as stated so many times before, the Isles need to keep the forecheck going – not getting lackadasical, and proving that although this may be Pittsburgh, the defending Champs, they are a beatable team, if played the right way.
Tavares with a great move, beat Skoula like he was standing still, but did not get the roof shot on Johnson.
Sim did a great job, drawing a penalty on Adams by just being a complete pain in the gluteus maximus. The PP ;lasted just five seconds as Hunter got called for a hook. Well – so much for that opportunity.
It was all pretty quiet – until a deflection from a Jordan Staal shot by Matt Cooke got by Roloson – 2-1 Pittsburgh.
Pittburgh has started the hitting, and the Isles are just not responding as well as they should. The Isles need to respond, and need to do it in a hurry, because that is the kind of shot that can send your team in a funk.
It took the fourth line, to sustain some pressure on the net – to get the team going. Bergie then on the next shift, got some opportunities going. Johnson – was up to the test.
Line of the day from the Blog Box… as I mentioned that Bruno Gervais is a -2 for this game, Mike from Islesblogger.net replied,
But he can cook!
In a word, this period is:
A) Competive
B) Outsanding
C) Sluggish
D) Wonderful
The answer to me is C)
Hillen gets a call on a hip check on Sidney Crosby. Bogus on bogus.
Now Sutton gets 4 for high-sticking. Looks like Pttsburgh got an early Christmas present, giftwrapped by McCreary and Sutherland.
Hillen gets out of the box, and gets an open net try that just misses. Then Nielsen gets a chance that misses on the short side. Isles have brought their game up on this PK. Keep it up – they are showing signs of life. Crowd is up on their feet as the penalty is thwarted! GREAT JOB!
Rise above it!
Assessment of Period 2 – not a total disaster, but this team could have floundered with that 4 minute PK. They showed resiliency and toughness that helped them get throught. Now – as a song from the movie Cool Runnings said it best, they have to “Rise above it!”
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Lately, this team has had the lead going to the third stanza, and lost momentum. This time, they are in the trailing end of te score sheet, outshooting the opposition by a 20-16 count. 11-9 forthe second period.
Bergenheim – with a blast over the goalie’s right shoulder, knots the game at 2 – just 1:24 in. That will make Dee (7th Woman) so happy!
What a great shot – and a great cross ice pass from Neilsen.
Thompson got a call for a hit, which caused Jordan Staal to tangle with the Islanders middleweight. Ater Staal exuded all of his energy – Nate took over and gave his #11 counterpart a beating. Not only did Staal lose the fight, but got 2 for instigating + 5 and 10.
Seems like this New York hockey team really wants this game. The energy level from both the ice and the crowd is electric. I know it is not a playoff game, but when it gets this loud, it is good for the home team.
JT just had a wide open opportunity, and then laid a behind the back pass to no one, that ticked off the crowd, but got a PP because of a too many men on the ice.
Right away – Hillen is in the SLOT of all places – not the one I woud want there, but I’ll take the body out there.
“WE WANT CHILI!!!!!”
Great opportunity – and probably one of the saves of this seson here as Johnson got his glove on a shot that hadto get through about five bodies or so to get through to.
Bruno – please get the shots ON NET!
Great chances – no results on the PP!
Tamby is getting his chances today. He has played better. BTW – Sutton was my player to watch. 12 minutes played after 2 periods – a +1 and 6 PIM.
Bergenheim line getting sloppy behind the net.
Steve, my fellow blogger is pleading with JT to stop being fancy. Remember – this was the guy that sounded like the version of the Backstreet Boys!
Malkin tried his short side shot – but Rollie was having NOTHING with that again!
JT!!!!! 3-2 Isles! Great effort – finding the rebound off of a Freddy Meyer shot. Moulson created traffic in front of the goalie as the puck got over to Tavares! That was JT’s 10th of the season… Okie also got an assist on the play, as he got the puck over to Meyer.
Now – keep the energy level, and not play ‘down’ and protect the lead. Keep the tempo going.
As Herbie would say,
PLAY YOUR GAME!
Hey – Bruno got a shot on goal! And I always worry about the first two minutes after we score a goal. The Ises have answered the test.
Sim just had two chances to put the game away and were stopped by a sprawling Johnson. The htting is strong right now – and the team is responding to all of the work. Bergie just had a great chance on net as well. Love the aggressiveness.
Big win!!!! Way to hold on!!!
Posted under Blog Box, Islanders 09-10
This post was written by Gary Harding on November 27, 2009
