Well, it goes to seven. Seven losses in a row. Fourteen points squandered. The Islanders remain at 10 points after their 14th game of the season. The good thing, according to a few in the press box lounge, no one left the ice on a stretcher. Little consolation, but a bonus for Scott Gordon. Although Radek Martinek did take a high stick to the face in the second period that kept him down on the ice long enough for me to wonder who had game 14 in the “When Will Radek Martinek be Injured” pool. Luckily he got up and continued to play. How about a visor Radek?
Martinek did everything he possibly could to help the Isles win that one, but no one managed to tip in any rebounds on Bobrovsky. During the final 6 on 4, I heard the puck bang off his pads.
Well, the passes that did connect seemed to be pretty soft and the shots on goal in the first period heavily favored the Flyers. Grabner put the Isles down a man early in the first and the Isles PK went to work. They only had to do it again midway through the second when Zenon Konopka was called for goaltender interference. The Flyers PK unit had a few more opportunities (six) and only gave up one power play goal to Matt Moulson at 7:31 of the second period. It was his sixth goal of the season and another donation to the Islanders Children’s charity.
Moulson was robbed a few times and not just by Bobrovsky but also by Carle when he knocked down a puck with a high stick when the Flyer net was empty with 7:38 left of the first. At that point, the shots on goal were even at 7.
My “Oh My Gawd!” moment came at the with less than four minutes left of the first as the puck was sitting behind Bobrovsky just begging to be pushed into the net and yet instead it was swept away by an orange sweater. With only 1:08 left, Chris Pronger slapped one with that big shot of his that was tipped by Richards but the play was reviewed to see if it was a high stick. The play was reviewed but the goal stood.
The Flyers iced the puck with only 1:04 left of the first and Carter and Konopka have a little hug fest just as the horn blows to end the period. There were no punches thrown, but I do wonder what was being said.
Things became a little nerve wracking at the start of the second period when Scott Harnell ran over Dwayne Roloson in the net and he laid in the crease. A penalty was called and Rick was about to get ready to step in. There was no need. Roloson continued the game.
There was a guide dog in training up in the press box. One of the men in an NHL jacket was walking him around. The dog even had a paper tag around its neck saying he was allowed to be there. There have been a lot of changes in the press room as the season began. Super Stat guy Stu Honig, (whose name I am spelling wrong at this late hour) who was working for Flyers TV tonight, quipped that the dog was there to approve the food in the press lounge. He said I’d never write that. Ha ha Stu. I just did.
At the start of the third period, the SOG were 23 - 15. The Islanders were ahead of the game but still tied at one. They put three more shots on net during a power play when Pronger was in the box. But then the period seemed to turn into a Flyers shooting gallery on Dwayne Roloson. By the time the clock ticked down to 5:40 remaining the Flyers had put nine more shots on Roloson.
Then the worst seemed to happen. A puck hit Roloson’s mask and dropped to his feet in the crease and Andreas Nodl just smacks it into the net. There was really nothing he could do other than be frustrated.
With only a few minutes left, another blogger left the table saying he’d see me for overtime. “They’ll get a power play and tie it up.” I thought maybe he was clairvoyant.
The Islanders net was empty as Eric Wellwood skated toward an open net. Blake Comeau chased after him forcing him to shoot wide. The play returns to the Flyers’ end and Bobrovsky came out to play the puck and shot it over the glass. Oooopppsss! Delay of game penalty with only 1:06 left of the third. With an Islanders power play and an empty net the Islanders had themselves a 6 on 4 situation. Could they tie it up just as had been predicted?
Nope.
All the chances, all the missed opportunities all the face-offs won couldn’t get the Islanders the two points in their own building. It couldn’t even get them one.
Well, that’s seven. Maybe it will be lucky and the streak will stop here.
Also, here's a video blog by Johnny Z from Islanderstopshelf.com that was taken before the end of the game. Quick thoughts from Blog Box members and Brad Kurtzberg from Inside Hockey. Yeah, and me too.
New York Islanders Blogger • 
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