9:33 pm: Well, that was interesting. With the Islanders poised to work hard enough to take this game to overtime, the referees took the game out of their hands. It was bad enough the Isles played poorly, but then to be victimized by bad calls was just the icing on the cake. Tavares said he recieved no explaination for the diving call he received after being crosschecked by Lupul.

Doug Weight almost had a stroke on the bench as he screamed at the refs repeatedly how "effed" up that was, especially after the replay was shown.

To add insult to injury, Lupul scored the empty net goal after being sprung from the box.

Travis Hamonic was not happy with the way the game went and took it out on Connolly who was only more than happy to trade cross checks with him. Oddly, Connolly wasn't giving a diving penalty after laying at Nabokov's feet waiting for the ref's call.

9:08 pm: At the 10:30 mark, John Tavares adds to his goal totals with a beauty of a goal that cut the lead to 4 - 3. Nabokov had just made a great save on Phil Kessel and the play went back towards Reimer. JT was behind the net and somehow managed to get in front of the net and Matt Mouslon was in front of the net waiting for a rebound. He didn't need it. PA Parenteau and Travis Hamonic received the assists on the goal.

9:01 pm: Start of the third and good to see Matt Martin back on the bench for the Isles, although he looks like he is either out of it or wants to kill something. I can't be 100 % sure.

8:40 pm: Mark Streit is giving my daughter heart failure every time he makes a blind pass behind him. They're allowing Toronto to rush the puck too much. But right now, the injury bug is bothering me more than mistakes and bad puck management.

8:22 pm: The same way the Isles lost David Ullstrom maybe be how they lose Matt Martin. Martin goes in to hit Aulie and Aulie protects himself with his elbow up with his stick. Martin got mostly elbow to the head, crumbled to the ice and stayed there while play continued on the other end. When there was finally a whistle Timms ran out to assist him.

Wallace returned to the bench, but Martin was helped off by Moulson.

8:15 pm: At 8:59 of the second period the Leafs scored their 4th short handed goal of the season as Bozack feeds Crabb. (Yes, Crabb. I had my daughter read it to me off his jersey.) So much for the power play helping the Isles out in order to even up the score.

8:12 pm: And Wallace took an elbow to the face. How many chairs do they have in that "quiet room"?

Grabner doubles over in pain and leaves the ice after the puck hit him in the cheek along with a high stick. The Isles go on the power play as Grabner tries to catch his breath while being tended to.

8 pm: Just as last night started, the Isles let up the first goal but this time less than 2 minutes into the first period. As Kyle Okposo, who scored the Isles only goal in the first period, they just weren't ready. Their minds must be on the holiday break or something.

Evgeni Nabokov gave up three goals before they headed to the dressing room. Anders Nilsson was not asked to take his place. Nabokov is a professional and he needs to settle himself down and pay attention.

The conversation in the locker room during the 1st intermission must have been something quite loud as Frans Nielsen cut the Leafs lead to 3 - 2 early in the second period due to some very hard work by John Tavares. Okay, it helped that they were on the power play.

Mike Mottau is once again having a good game. Yes, I know. They are few but when they happen, it's good to hear.

1 pm: With both the Leafs and the Isles having played on Thursday night, neither had mandatory morning skates. It's been a grueling schedule so far for everyone.

Tonight Phil Kessel and his 40 points will visit the Coliseum looking to pull ahead of the pack of other 20 goal scorers in the league. My guess is he will do it. However, my other guess is that Matt Moulson will also add to his totals, although he is only at 27 points and leads the Islanders in Goals.

The roster remains the same as last night with Nabokov in goal and Nilsson on the bench. The Isles lost to the Rangers last night while the Leafs broke their losing streak by beating Buffalo.

I wonder what the coaching staff has shown the boys about the Leafs. Better yet -- I wonder if they listened.

Puck drop at 7 pm for this Christmas Eve Eve tilt.

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