9:54 pm: Let's try this again. Seems I had a server problem when I tried posting it the first time.

For those of you who are not on Twitter or do not follow @JessedEisenberg the author of the Isles Skates on a Plane blog, he had a Tweet post game that was very telling.

"Guy in the locker room hallway: who scored the #isles last goal? Hamomic: Who do you think?"

And there is the problem. The only consistent Isles player seems to be John Tavares. Now Matt Martin did ring off the post and could have had another goal, but John is the guy carrying the load. Meanwhile, ESPN seems to think he is only a "marginal" hockey player. Nice.

9:31 pm: John Tavares is the first star of the game once again as he socres the game winner in Overtime to give Nabokov his 4th consecutive win.

For a chunk of the overtime frame, it looked as if every line was just eating up time before the first line was back on the ice. Isles with two points tonight now only 8 points out of a play off spot. But again, that's fuzzy math. We never know what will happen as things progress.

Again, every time I get completely disgusted with this team, they manage to pull out a win and make me begin to believe in them again.

9:23 pm: The Isles didn't manage many shots on goal in the third nor could they get a second before the game ended.

Teams go to overtime and the Isles get a point.

8:59 pm: When Scott Allen did his usual on-camera explanation he talked about Ward being able to steal a game. Cam Ward has always been able to steal games at the Coliseum. He may do it once again tonight.

8:56 pm: Another successful PK by the Isles leaves the score at 1 - 1 with only 15:35 left of the third. The refs once again are blinded by the WHITE as in the Canes sweaters. No calls made on their infractions, however the dark sweaters attract their attention. Please get their eyes checked.

8:34 pm: While the Isles go to the dressing room tied at one, they will be down a man to start the third with a clean sheet of ice. Jay Pandolfo is called for tripping -- or getting his stick stuck in an opponents skate, as Staal hits the ice ans spins around. Pandolfo wasn't checking Staal, but that doesn't really matter. What will matter is the Isles PK has to be on their game as they start the third.

8:27 pm: The Isles back on the power pla with less than six to go of the second period. Good shots on net, but Ward doesn't have any problem with rebound control.

The Isles have put 20 shots on Ward in the 2nd alone.

No score on the power play.


8:14 pm: Matt Martin draws a penalty and the Isles go on the power play with a chance to get the go-ahead goal. Moulson misses a "golden opportunity" as Butchie called it as Ward makes a great save and then the Isles are off-side.

With Nino in front of the net, a few bumps are exchanged and then Nino proves he may be young, but he's not taking any guff in front of the net. No call, no penalty but the teams back at full strength.


8:12 pm: Well, I said that Kyle Okposo would score tonight, but it's John Tavares that starts the Isles scoring at 7:46 of the 2nd. With this goal, John Tavares has the longest point streak in the NHL. (Brian Burke is still trying to figure out a way to get him on the Leafs)

8:09 pm: While the Isles seem to have found their legs to start the second period, they still haven't found the back of the net. Nabby makes a great save on LaRose. No softy there. And no additional score as of yet.

7:41 pm: The Isles retreat to the dressing room after a pretty lack-luster performance the first 20 minutes leaving the Canes with a 1 - 0 leads. The Canes, who played last night, seem to have the energy in this game. The Isles can't allow that. While the shots on goal are not THAT lopsided, they have to get more pucks to the net. It's that simple.

7:32 pm: Matt Martin has a chance to tie it up with a short-handed rush up the middle but the puck rings off the post with a loud clank. What you don't hear on the TV is probably the huge "eff" Matt may have yelled as he had to retreat to his own end.

7:30 pm: Isles down a man a second time at with 7:24 left of the first as Mark Eaton is called for interferrence.

7:24 pm: A huge rebound, a quick 5-hole goal and Jeff Skinner gets the Canes on the board with one even strength goal.

7:15 pm: The refs have found Travis Hamonic once again as he is called for tripping because they don't have a call for pushing a guy over and he falls. Isles PK out early in the first .

6:54 pm: Wait, did Peter just say the Isles LOST in that shoot out??? Now I'm double checking. I hate when THAT happens!

4:30 pm: Okay, if you want to talk about "competitive balance" in the NHL, here are two teams that are "balanced" in points at 42 and both trying to claw up the standings.

Carolina is riding a high having beat the Capitals, but ... oh... wait... So did the Isles. Moot point. However, the Islanders have to be feeling pretty damn lucky about now having broken the Flyers curse on them. Isles beat the Canes last meeting, but it took a shoot out to do it. With Nabokov back in net and "feeling good" as he told MSG's Peter whats-his-name, I'm not worried.

Or should I be?

The lines are the same and both teams are looking for the win. If the Canes were smart, they'd look to bump Nabby around a little. While Montoya is on the bench backing him up, the quote that Art Staple from Newsday received from Jack Capuano about him has me concerned. "He's almost ready." UGGGHHH ALMOST?

If you are going to the game, please look through your closet for a warm coat to donate and receive a ticket voucher. What you're NOT using can help someone else.

See you at 7.

Join the Discussion: » 80 Comments » Post New Comment

» Boychuk for Seven

» Good Ain't Good Enough NYR 2 - NYI 1

» The Return of Isles' Capt. America

» The JT Show in TO in OT

» Kennedy's Debut