Pregame
—————————–
The last home game of 2009 – will the Isles snag two points from the visitors from Ohio?
Rollie the Goalie!
Roloson in net tonight – Steve Mason in nets for the visitors. The Jackets come in with the ame record as the Isles – and are fresh off a 1-0 win against the Red Wings in OT.
Jeff Tambellini is in - Thompson is out.
————————————-
Period 1
Lineup – Roloson – Streit -MacDonald - Sim – Jackma – Park
Goals for the Isles – YES – get them. There isnot a lot of offense other than Huselius, Umberger (an Islander killer) and Nash. Keep them down – and there are opportunities.
Sim had a chance off a deflected shot in front of Mason – 4th line needs to establish the energy, and bring it all around.
Sutton starting the physical play an early, but missed a check on Voracek.
First few minutes – Bailey a little sloppy. Tavares - beginning to show some signs of a little tentativeness in his play.
Looks more like a feeling out process – rather than any swing of the pendulum.
Player to watch…. Mark Streit – needs to get involved in the scoring and less mistakes.
Can you believe that Andrew MacDonald is a +7?
“Trade Jon Sim” chants going up in Loudville right now.
7:30 – great save by Roloson on Vermette. Isles come right back with some pressure by Moulson and JT.
WJC Note – Kirill Petrov scored for the Russians today. Get the “We want Petrov” calls going.
Ice girls back to their blue skirts. Much better than the Xmas outfits.
10 minutes in – shots 6-4 —> not a lot of fluid play – about equal in puck battle
1-0 Isles – Bailey put the puck in of an Okposo blast that went over Mason’s head and trickled behind him. Mike (Islesblogger.net) claimed that Bailes stole the goal from Okie, which would have mke Ken from Okposo.net very upset.
This is just was the Isles needed. This team needs to crash the net more. Park with Moulson an Comeau had a good shift afterwards. The opportunity is there – now time to capitalize.
The goal was credited to Okposo – we thought that Bailey tapped it in – and I guess that the video folks upstairs have a better view of it than I do.
Congratulations to Sgt. Jason Edwards who ws Celino and Barnes military salute of the game – who just engaged during the break to his girlfriend- who is a former ice girl. Sgt. Edwards is off to the middle east in a few days – best of luck to 
you both!
14:00 – Sutton saved a goal – as he cleared out a Blue Jacket opportunity.
Game is starting to get a little chippy, as Nash blind sided Hunter – who appropriately gave him a whallop as they got to the bench.
Isles winning face offs at abot a 65% clip - that makes a big difference in they way that they can dictate the play.
Gordie How is at the game today! Just thought you would like to know.
1st penalty of the game goes to Sutton for interference. The PK has improved of late – Thompson, although, not in the lineup. Comeau takes his place on the first unit. Okie and Nielsen on the second unit.
Looked well – only one shot – and were effective – and nearly had one great opportunity on net.
Despite being outshot 14-7 – the Isles had a decent period – just need to crash more, and make smart decisions.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
2nd Period
So far – first few minutes were pretty tame – more feeling out – like kissing your sister.
4:11 – Park – holding the stick. Columbus on their second PP of the game. Columbus is 4th on the road pp with a 24% efficiency – Isles 27th on the PK at 74%
Goal scored was changed to Okoposo – 7th of the season.
Good solid kill for the Isles – it seems that the extra practice has seemed to pay off.
JT gets boarded by Jan Hejda – and no call.
Park saved another chance on net – and gets dumped (with no call) for his troubles.
I would not say slow and mythotical is the word of this period… zzzzzzzzz.
Tambellini work up and had a breakway – but had the puck stripped from him by Vermette.
Bailey with the tap-in
Observation: Too many times, the forwards looking for a streaking winger to take a 40 foot shot, rather than try to penetrate between the circles, and get a deke in front of the net.
Observation2: will Columbus ever get a penalty tonight? They are getting into a great of extra-curricular activities, but nothing to show for it.
Huselius – got a nice snap shot off – Roloson right pad save. We were supposed to have tried to get him – I think he would have been a great acquisition for us.
Comeau has been real physical for us. He has been a good fit with JT and Moulson – JT – is just not in sync. That is normal for any 18 year old. However, so many people are looking at him. That makes it kind of tough. He has to rise above, and for sure – he will. This is a chance to prove his perseverence.
__________________________________________________________________
Period 3
After 2 periods – 26-15 shots in favor of the visitors.
Comeau leading the forwards in ice time with almost 14 minutes. Andy Sutton with just over 16 leading the defense. Andy MacDonald with almost 15 minutes, along with Hillen. Gervais and Witt (with a combined -32) with just over 10 minutes taking the rear. Coach Gordon is keeping the lineup shuffled, with fowards between 8 and 11 minutes, with the exception of Comeau.
Goal for the third period – keep the smart defensive position, but they need to improve the offensive mentality. The decision making process needs to be smart and decisive.
Finally – a penalty against Columbus. Umberger gets the sin bin for the trip. Time for the anemic power play to get on track.
NYI 28th on PP at home – 13.8% – Col 15th on P – 79.4%
Columbus gets 2 for dlay of game – 47 seconds 5 on 3 – need to cam thenet and get shots on – well not yet…
Great chance by Okie on a cross ice pass from Streit. A couple of bangs in front of Mason to no avail.
1st penalty over – with no shots. Crowd getting on JT – he just needs to realx. Best shot on PP was by the visitors. This man advantage should have hd the chance to decline the penalty.
Isles almost resembling Ali...
Best chance – when the penalty ended. Nielsen chunked a pass from Moulson, but Sutton got a blast on net.
Columbus dictating the play over the past few minutes; Isles not playing rope-a-dope, but it is a close facsimilie.
Too many of the forwards are on ther heels. Columbus may not be the Washington Capitals, but theyhave forwards that can get the puck in – if you are not discipined enough. Something to watch for over the last 10 minutes of the game.
Umberger made the Isles pay – the Islander killer does it again – stuffs a backhander throught the five hole of Roloson – Tied at 1.
OK – no more rope-a-dope.
And another Ranger fan happy that the opponent scored a the Coliseum.
Roloson makes a fine glove save on former Islander Raffi Torres, as Mike (Islesblogger) said, a great move my Milbury – letting him get away.
Gordon calles a time out with 9:31 left. Smart move. This team needs to get their collective heads together, and fight through this.
Half way though the period – shots are 9-3 Columbus.
Interesting stat of the game – Isles have blocked 27 shots as opposed to 11 for the Jackets.
Nash was denied on a quick opportunity on Rolle. Witt gives Torres a face wash as another chance is given to Columbus.
Hi to Jiggs McDonald – covering the team for the week fo the vacationing Howie Rose.
Moulson missed a great chance on a tic-tac-toe effort.
Sutton plastered Umberger to he glass, and Matthieu Roy gets two for roughing for going after #25. A great, clean hit, and did not retalliate. Power play – Isles.
Now is the time to take advantage and get the goal – with the crowd pumped up. Streit – blasted it ff the post!
Another good chance for Okposo – not there. With a couple of great chances, Schremp gets two for goalie interference. Momentum lost!
Now – Isles on the kill. Smart and keep the box. Sacrificing the body – an a LOUD chant of DEFENSE going on. With 3:12 left – shots now 40-19 Jackets. Time out Columbus.
Penalty killed – 150 seconds to go. Crowd urging the team on.
Columbus gets another delay of game penalty (Modin) - with 1:42 left in regultion. PLEASE, score!
Confusion between JT and Schremp loses another 20 seconds of time – and then an offside play. 28.8 to go.
____________________________________________________________
Overtime is coming….
Shots 12-5 in the 3rd. 40-20 for 3 periods. Isles still on power play for 18 seconds.
Moulson and Nielsen out with Okposo and Streit.
Moulson just missed high glove – Okposo snapped one off in Maso’s jersey crest.
Comeau blasted one that just missed. Sutton was pulled down with no call.
Isles did come out aggressive. Nash can be quite scarywhen he makes his moves. Rollie makes his 40th save of the night.
Okposo and Park now the front men.
Two minutes left. 3- shots in OT – Hunter with a one-time – just missed the right post. Gets another chance – that Mason gloves. Where was this effort in the thid period?
Columbus with a 3 on 2 just had a stupid offside play.
1 minute to go.
Bailey hits the post. That is two in OT.
Moulson with a dynmite chance to put one in with 4 ticks left – not enough wood (or synthetic).
SHOOTOUT!
Tambellini – NO
Huselius – NO
Nielsen – Missed an open net…. Ugh!
Nash – Rollie denies him the post!
Schremp – Great move to beat Nash! GOAL!
Tyutin – A Defenseman? Missed!
ISLES WIN 2-1! YES!
Great finish to a blah game – but they will take the two points!
Posted under Blog Box, Islanders 09-10
This post was written by Gary Harding on December 29, 2009
