**Updates at bottom of entry each time:
Okay, if you want to know about this photo, you have to check out my www.7thwoman.blogspot.com site. And if you don't, and I can tell if you don't, I'll post it here tomorrow.
I see you guys got a little carried away while my back was turned, so rather than continuing the morning post, let's start fresh.
Matt Moulson started the scoring early, but the game was tied it up 31 seconds later. Still, nice moves by JT and Frans.
So, as you can see, Dylan Reese has been called up on emergency service which should make a few Isles fans very happy. Mike Mottau was not a healthy scratch but has flown back to Long Island to check on an "upper body injury." While Rick diPietro made the trip, he too has been sent back home to check on a "lower body injury." Meaning -- cut them in half and they make one healthy hockey player that doesn't know what positon to play. (Insert joke here.)
Why didn't anyone tell me that Jiggs McDonald was calling these games?? I should have known.
What I do know is that after the game I'll be writing about something completely different regarding Jack Capuano. Something that NO ONE would EVER in a million years think I'd write about, but Jack is guest starring on the season premier of a show which will air on the NEW NBC sports network tomorrow night at 9 pm. I will guarantee you will find it interesting.
Okay, back to this game. Delayed penalty at 3:02 as Marty Reasoner gets called for hooking. Carolina on the power play
2nd Period: It didn't take long for the Isles to let the Canes take the lead as Sutter capitalizes on a Nabokov mistake behind the net. See? That's what happens when I praise him for playing well. Then all of a sudden he has a brain fart and decides to play the puck behind the net instead of in front of it.
Matt Moulson has another chance to add to his numbers but with a red uniform laying down in front of him on the ice, mostly he had to make sure he didn't trip on the stick between his skates.
With 5:06 left of the second period, Nino Niederreiter has the best chance for a goal than he has in a long time. He stayed with the play, but Cam Ward made the save look easy as he plucked it from the air and stood tall. Nino had a had time stopping while he watched.
1:54 left of the second and Nabokov makes a save about five feet outside of his net. I don't think he knows where the puck is. Michael Grabner has been all but invisible. I would hope they have him checked out. Butch and Jiggs were commenting on the Bailey line all the while Grabner was on the ice.
John Tavares does some fancy stickhandling right in front of Ward's net getting around #4's stick but couldn't tee it up to finish. It was a shame. That would have been a highlight reel goal. And that would be Carolina's McBain.
End of 2nd Nino speaking with Peter. "If we try to play as fast as possible and have attention to details, and we're sure to win it." On his attempt; "It was a good try but it has to be better." On how he feels his progression as an NHLer is going; "It's getting there. I see a little progression. I hope I'm going to do better next time."
And on what the team needs to do to "get back into this game?" (really Peter? It's only 2-1 not 5 - 1) "Our whole team -- we have to play harder. We have to come with more heart out there and push hard."
Can someone please tell Nino to slow down. I type fast, but not that fast!!!
Scott Allen called what was happening in the face-off circle "very average." But not only are the Isles not winning the face-offs, they're also being badly outshot. Scotty said they're being jammed up against the boards and there are too many turnovers.
My question to him is -- Who is saying this to them in the locker room between periods?
3rd Period: Josh Bailey battles with Staal and at first it looked as if he was hurt, instead he's just pissed.
Jurcina without a stick can still be effective. He looked a little rediculous flopping around trying to move the puck around without getting a penalty while the Canes looked to take advantage of the opportunity.
Staal sat on the bench spitting out blood and thinking who he was going to hit for making him bleed. You could almost see the wheels turning behind his eyes.
Lines were switched and the Isles were even more sloppy than before. Whatever momentum they had in the first period was left there and evaporated.
Frans Nielsen scores a power play goal to even the score at two. It is only his 6th goal of the season, but it was a beauty. And just as they were talking about the lack of face-off wins, Butchie said five times that goal would not have happened without John Tavares winning the face off.
Okposo can't handle a pass, the turn overs are killing them, the Isles are being badly outshot and then Grabner has an opportunity and breaks his stick.
Who are these guys?
Chad LaRose scores Carolina's third goal of the evening while Jurcina is on one knee in Nabokov's crease. For some reason, the Isles seem to believe they're all on the same team. They are literally passing to anyone in a red sweater.
Travis Hamonic and John Tavares worked their butts off and refused to give up. That hard work paid off for Kyle Okposo as he scored the tying goal from a JT pass. I think no one was more surprised and excited than he was.
With one point assured, the Isles head into overtime.
Overtime: Grabner breaks the second stick of the night. The Isles had 6 shots on net during the OT frame and Travis Hamonic and John Tavares ruled the ice. No one scored and the teams head to the shootout.
Parenteau goes first: Skating in like a rocket it hits the back of the net. NICE!
Jokinen: Nabby made the save but as he fell, it slid over the line. boo hiss!!!
Nielsen: Backhander worked again. Just call him Mr. Shoot out. high and in.
Staal: Denied by the toe of Nabokov.
Okposo: At 2 for 12, why? And he hit the pad of Ward. Slow as molasses.
La Rose: NO! you are denied!
Two points in Carolina for the Isles. But that doesn't mean this game wasn't sloppy as hell!
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