Before the game, Butch Goring was commenting how sometimes a goalie has to steal a game for a team. Kevin Poulin must have heard him because that's exactly what he did. Poulin stole an easy two points from the Sharks making some fantastic, almost cartoon like saves.
The Zamboni driver must have had it easy after the first period, because it was only the Islanders side of the ice that had any damage. Almost ALL the action in the first was in front of Poulin's net. He'd stop them with his glove, with is blocker, with his right pad, with the toe of his skate. It was ballet. It was brilliant. It was surprising.
It earned him first star of the night.
There were three power plays for the Sharks in the first as Boulton and Hamonic were called for one of those terrible "over the glass" penalties and then Hamonic was also called for hooking. The Isles managed only three shots throughout the entire first frame while the Sharks had 18 on Poulin.
To be honest, I was shocked. I thought for sure the Sharks would score within the first five minutes of the game and set the tone. But I was wrong. They went to the room thinking they had a shot at this one.
Islanders equipment guy and resident comedian, Shakey Krause, had a little camera time as Evgeni Nabokov was given his own little "Welcome Back" present on the big board. He looked truly touched and honored as he waved and said thank you. He wanted to play in that game, but just wasn't ready. The crowd gave him a standing ovation. It was very special.
It also energized the Sharks as they netted two goals in the second period as the Islanders matched the Sharks in shots at 11, but not in goals.
Would it be another devastating loss? The first line had a different idea and came out in the third period ready to put the team on their backs -- again.
Only 51 seconds into the third, Vanek scored his tenth of the season to put hte Isles on the board. It took almost the entire period before Kyle Okposo evened up the game at two with his ninth of the season. The Sharks must have been stunned.
I say stunned because I nodded off. I woke up to a celebration by the Isles on the ice as Okposo had to win the game for the Isles in the shoot out. Somehow, Okposo didn't make the second star of the game though, Tavares did. now, it was a two assist point game for JT, but still. Without Okposo's goals the Sharks would have been the ones celebrating and in regulation.
So the free fall has a brief stop. We can't be sure if it's a FULL stop or just a slowing down. We'll know more Thursday when the Isles are in Phoenix and Strome is set to play along with the possibility of Nabokov. That would be a good thing since it is said that Poulin may have hurt himself a bit during the shoot out.
And in other NON News, there is STILL NO NEWS ON Visnovsky! Has he gone home? I still say that is the one player that just MAY be able to spark some life into this team. JT and Vanek can't do this alone. That is obvious. But they are sure as hell trying.
New York Islanders Blogger • 
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