Wed 8:12 am:
Who is the Islanders new part-time equipment roadie?
Click here to be redirected to find out. Post game quotes from Captain Jack and the Big Cubano about last night's impressive win over the playoff bound Bolts.
I may (repeat MAY) try to get to practice today. If I do, I will try to bring back something worthwhile. And was told at 11 am that practice is cancelled for today. Oh well.
Tues 10 pm: I've had to deal with this all day on Twitter. Both Katie Strang of Newsday and Rob Carlin from MSG had glowing accolades for ex-Islanders Nate Thompson and Dwayne Roloson until it became somewhat annoying.
What are you trying to say? That Nate Thompson should still be an Islander? That they were wrong to get rid of him? Look everyone sometimes needs a change of scenery to fulfill their potential. Can you just focus on the game at hand? Thanks
Well, the game at hand is currently at 1 - 0 Tampa with a goal by -- Nate Thompson. Damn it!!!
Well, I called it. And I'm pretty sure Sean Bergenheim will get one passed Al Montoya as well. The trick is finding those Islander players who will get one by Roloson.
The Islanders didn't do much on their first power play and Andy MacDonald sits in the box at 12:00 of the first for tripping giving the Bolts their first power play. This game may either be 2-0 or 1-1 by the time I go get dinner out of the oven.
St. Louis trips Michael Grabner and ends up in the box himself. Four on Four for 1:26.
*Damn, a chunk of the entry disappeared! ugh...
Okay, Josh Bailey scored on Roloson during a mini power play to tie the game at one. Al Montoya was giving up too many chances which was dangerous considering who he is playing against. Matt Martin made a huge save for him and Frans Nielsen was physical in the corners.
Kyle Okposo was all smiles after making it 2 - 1 and giving Milan Jurcina his second assist of teh game. But it was the Matt Martin goal off a brilliant Jack Hillen pass that really set the tone of the game.
My friend, Dr. David Lubin, from Tampa bay sent me a text message that just said "I cud puke." A 3 - 1 deficit will do that to any fan.
When Matt Martin talked to Rob Carlin in between periods he gave him his crooked smile and told him he didn't want to "just be a hitter." Every player wants to move up the ranks and Martin has been moved to the third line and is making the most of it.
Michael Grabner should have been awarded a penalty shot when he was taken down by Tampa's #2, but it was only deemed an interference penalty. Probably because Grabner and his amazing speed was taken down, got back to his feet and got a shot off that Roli had to save. He is pretty special that Micheal Grabner!
And speaking of "special" how about Frans Nielsen and his breakaway with Blake Comeau in the box for high sticking Marty St. Louis. Frans loses the handle on the puck and had just enough time to go back and get it before the Bolts caught up to him and Roloson must have relaxed a little because Frans lifted the puck over his right shoulder for Frans' sixth short handed goal.
The Bolts became frustrated as there was a scrum in front of Montoya and Radek Martinek seemed to take offense to the proximity to his netminder. Trouble is he ended up with a double minor in the box giving the Bolts a 5 on 3 power play for a few seconds and then more than a three minute one man advantage. Of all people, Radek? Very unusual. I wonder what was said?
During that power play, with 9:29 remaining, Dominick Moore cut the lead in half to 4 - 2 off a Sean Bergenheim pass.
Bergie seems to be on the ice a lot for this game.
With 6:35 of the third left I almost had heartfailure as the puck sat dangerously in the paint in front of Montoya with nothing but a sea of black jerseys in front of him. The Isles managed to clear it from the crease but not out of the zone as Montoya scrambled in the net.
In the mess, John Tavares took a high sticking penalty leaving the Isles down a man once again. Who is out htere in front of Montoya for the power play? Sean Bergenheim. He is on a mission.
Travis Hamonic cross checked St. Louis in the corner and Sean Bergenhiem lost it on Travis. St. Louis was slow to get up and Bergenhiem ended up with a penalty along with Hamonic. It was actually in the Isles best interest that Bergie went nuts or the Isles would have been on a five on three again.
Grabner and Nielsen were stopped by Roloson again on a break-away during the power play. If Michael Grabner scored on 80% of his break-aways, he'd probably be a 50 goal scorer.
Jack Hillen had a perfect opportunity to put the Isles back on the power play when Vinny gave him a little hook. But he held onto the stick for just a moment and both Vinny and jack ended up in the box. Vinny wasn't happy. Once back on the ice, he seemed to have a few words with Montoya who barked at him as he left his crease.
Jurcina put the Isles down again with only 1:36 left of the third when he sat for hooking. Dwayne Roloson leaves his net and the Bolts have the extra man. While Montoya considering shooting at the empty net, it was michael Grabner who scored his 31st of the season with the empty netter giving the Isles a 5 - 2 lead and Grabner's 5th shorty.
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