9:26 pm: The Islanders have now been shut out eight times this season.
Peter asked Jack if his team was tentative. "Some of our guys were hesitant." Well, hesitant and tentative are about the same unless you want to use the words "playing scared."
" You gotta pay the price and get to the areas when you want to score the goals. You gotta be more physical and have a little more intensity."
Jack wasn't happy with his team's effort. Perhaps they will call someone up from Bridgeport tomorrow to replace someone.
Rom Wilson was ready. Jack Capuano may not have been. He doesn't have much time to change that before tomorrow.
I don't imagine he will.
9:16 pm: Lombardi gets his second of the game and puts te Leafs up 3 - 0.
John Tavares did everything he could to try to get on the board, but it just didn't happen. The look on Jack Capuano's face after the third goal was just about the same as the one on mine.
9:01 pm: For 8 minutes and ten second the Islanders pressured the Leafs. There were chances and rushes, hits and blocks. But just as Pat Flatley said "this is dangerous" as Lupul skated down the wing, the shot went through the crease and Phil Kessel was there to poke it behind Nabokov for a two goal lead.
Hamonic was in the crease at the same time. Bad luck or bad positioning or great move by Kessel doesn't matter. It's still a goal against the Isles.
8:46 pm: "The hesitancy has cost us." that is what Scott Allen said about his team. They have been hesitant to shoot and hesitant to pressure. It's a 20 minute hockey game now and they have to put a lot of pressure on a goalie that hasn't seen much action.
8:33 pm: The Isles managed a whopping 3 shots on net during the period, but at least they seemed as if they woke up a little. Mark Streit had the Isles best chance and Gustavsson made the save.
Of course, it was straight into his chest, but that's another story.
While a one goal deficit is hardly something you can't come back from, the Isles have to find a way to make the Leafs make a mistake. Pressure would be key.
8:20 pm: Ummmm... When even Butch Goring, the guy who can find the good in just about everything is complaining about the Isles play, there's a problem. They've been called tentative as if not wanting to make any mistakes. In doing so, they've managed only 8 shots on net mid way through the game.
Nino was taken down center ice by Phaneuf but that didn't manage to spur the Isles into action. Michael Grabner had a chance but kept losing the puck. Eaton was there to get it back in the zone. When Grabs could finally shoot, two guesses, he shot wide.
With less than five minutes of the second left, Kyle Okposo finally puts some pressure on the Leafs in their own zone. By 3:51 left, the play goes off-side and they get a whistle. Still no Isles goal.
7:54 pm: Once again the Isles came out onto the ice flat as a pancake. They should have known better. The Leafs would be flying and they are. The goal that Nabby gave up was a heart breaker and took three tries to award it to a Leaf. It seems it actually went off Streits stick. But my problem is that Nabby was so far out of the net I thought he was playing forward.
Truth is, they are very lucky to be down only by one. JT had and excellent chance on a breakaway but was denied. The Leafs have 16 shots on goal to the Isles 5.
Sixteen to FIVE. What the heck is that???? However the Isles lead in hits 16 - 8. Ofcoure they lead in hits, that's the stat they do best in.
However hits don't get you points unless you're a website.
Find a way Islanders! Find a Way!
12:23 pm: Nabokov named third star of the week in the NHL and of course, that means he's starting. Leafs playing the monster if Ron Wilson isn't "lying." ;o)
7 am: I’ve always liked NHL.com’s
Brian Compton and the way he covers the Isles. So when I went to check today’s Isles @ Maple Leafs preview, I had to smile a little at Brian’s Isles Math Lesson.
While the Leafs won the last battle in Uniondale in late December and currently have 51 points to the Isles 44, Brian reminds us that:
The Isles are just two points off the pace they were on at this stage in 2007 -- the last time they qualified for the postseason.
UGH! Okay, let’s get my hopes up again Brian. Also noted is that the Washington Capitals are currently in 8th place in the East, the team I expected to win the cup in September. However, the Isles are nine points behind them. Ah… competitive balance in the NHL. One day you’re in eighth, one win later you’re in third. Yep.
The Isles had the day off as they relaxed in JT’s home town. Hopefully he treated some of his closest friends to a little home cookin’ at Mom’s. The team tweeted about the football games and how they were rooting. Don’t be surprised if you see Matt Martin sporting a G-Men jersey tomorrow.
But the game the Isles have to play is TONIGHT and they will be back on the ice at 11:30 am for a morning skate. Considering Jack doesn’t always call for game day skates, after a day off, this is good.
While the Isles have a three game winning streak, Brian Compton tells us:
The Leafs have lost four of their last five games and have scored only 9 goals along the way. Four of those tallies came in one game -- a 4-1 victory against Minnesota last Thursday.
And… that means they’ll be looking for a win against the team they beat last time.
The Isles biggest challenge will be coming to play when the puck drops. And that means the first second of the first period on the first shift and not somewhere during the second period.
Does Jack ride the hot hand and put Evgeni Nabokov back in net or is Al Montoya finally ready for game action? Um…. No. I can’t imagine that the Big Cubano is ready for game action after having so much time off. But… I’ve been wrong before.
While John Tavares has been the Isles hottest point producer, the Leafs have Joffrey Lupul who has a goal and 3 assists in his last three games. Okay, he’s got a way to go before he catches JT, but he’s one to watch for.
While the Isles PK is an astounding 12 for 12 in it’s last five games, that doesn’t mean they should play undisciplined and end up in the box. It’s discipline that can keep them winning games.
Whatever the outcome tonight, neither team will have much time to think about it as they get right on a plane and fly to NY and do it all over again tomorrow.
But let’s get this one tonight.
New York Islanders Blogger • 
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