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Isles @ Rangers: The Aftermath 4 - 3 Rangers in OT |
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Time line runs down today. Just keeping you on your toes.The announcement of scratches and goalie won't be made until 5 pm. I checked. So we're not sure if Matty Martin will be available to play or if Casey Cizikas is still ill. After yesterday, I think we're all ill.
The players told Art Staple they felt getting to MSG tonight was good for them to get over the pain of losing to the Devils the way they did. Too bad the fans don't feel the same way.
As good as Nilsson played yesterday, I would imagine it will be Nabokov facing Biron -- again.
There are only 14 games remaining and only six home games. Then -- the Islanders season will be over and we once again -- wait.
5:02 pm: Nabokov in net (as I figured) but now Mark Eaton and his shot blocking skills are out tonight with a back strain. Martin and Cizikas are still out so Jurcina back in who will pair with Staios.
7:12 pm: Well, that didn't take long. Haley & Bickell toe to toe after a big clean hit on David Ullstrom knocked him on his butt in front of his bench. Bloody faces but neither gives up.
7:28 pm: Johnny on the Spot with the Isles first goal of the night. Thank you JT!
7:48 pm: UGH! with JT in the box on what I would call a very bogus call, the Rangers tie it at one. Lucky suit or not, Jack has to win this game.
8:14 pm: PA Parenteau is hit with a high stick across the bottom of the chin. He travels 20 feet across the ice on his knees doubled over. He's dazed and confused. There seems to be blood, but he's also spitting out something while he tries to remember where he is.
On the bench, Tortorella is blowing a gasket as Stepan is called for four minutes. It took the Isles almost all of it before Matt Moulson scored with only 14 seconds left while the big angry man yelled at every play or lack-thereof.
Moulson's power play goal put the isles at 2-1, but PA Parenteau had to head to the quiet room.
8:26 pm: Johnny on the Spot almost made it 3 - 1 with Matt Moulson's shot being deflected by a sprawling Lundqvist. JT draws a boarding penalty and the Isles are back on the power play.
Come one Dougie, make it work!.
Nope. And for some reason, Nabokov gets a penalty for high sticking or as
Eric Bordin said on my FB account "Bending down and putting your face in the stick area, does not entitle your team to a PP." But the Rangers do and they capitalize as Richards gets the goal to tie it at two.
No sooner do they start play again as the Rangers get yet another freakin' power play. What's going on here? MacDonald to the box for holding and Nabokov is being overworked. The Isles are already being outshot without having to play most of this game down a man.
As MacDonald is sprung from the box, he gets a feed from JT and he scores on a breakaway. yes, that's ANDY MACDONALD with his fifth goal of the season with only 35 seconds left of the second.
Before the end of the 2nd, Prust skated up to Nabby behind his net as he was retrieving the puck and Nabby didn't want to take any chances and started whacking at him. Smart enough to skate away from trouble, he leaves Hamonic and MacDonald to clean up the mess.
Isles lead after two.
Announced in the arena that Nabokov gets a roughing penalty and Prust a slashing penalty. Nabby may have more penalty minutes tonight than Haley if he keeps this up.
"Our confidence is shattered right now. They're a fragile bunch. And they shouldn't be." So sayeth Scotty Allen in that heavy Boston accent of his.
9:02 pm: PA Parenteau sits for Nabokov as the teams skate four on four for two minutes. No goal on the four on four, but the play looks sloppy with no communication and a little confusion.
Haley takes the faceoff after Reasoner is thrown out. Nabby has been tested. The Rangers tie it 3 - 3 by McDonagh fires from theline and Boyle tips it in.
All tied again.
Butchie talks about Jack calling a time-out but Jack doesn't. Typical
9:20 pm: Frans Nielsen is called for hooking at 11:22 of the third. Rangers are 2 for 4 on the PP so this is very dangerous.
9:23 pm: A very, VERY angry John Tortorella cannot believe that his team was called for too many men penalty as there were six Rangers on the ice. As Nielsen's penalty ends, the Ranger's penalty begins.
No score on the power play. Fragile I tell you. Fragile.
9:33 pm: Isles end in regulation tied at three after being outhot 34 - 18. Each team gets a point and Nabokov can relax just a little bit.
Overtime: Parenteau to Tavares but the only thing that ends up in Lundqvist's net is Parenteau. The Okposo to Streit Play is stopped. Face-off in Rangers zone and they're back in the Isles end.
Grabner takes off and passes to Nielsen who shoots at Lundqvists .. uh... chest. (sort of.)
Ugh... Hamonic is called for tripping Richards with only 2:02 left of OT. They'll play 4 on 3 for the balance of the overtime.
Frans Nielsen is the only forward on for the Isles. The Islanders D are sliding and blocking and swimming and Nabokov makes the save on Richards and MacDonald goes after Zucarella.
Marion Gaborik scores the winning goal with 5.8 seconds left of overtime as Frans Nielsen dives to make a block but the puck was already high in the air. It grazed Nabokov's right elbow and went behind him. I don't even think he knew for a second. He thought it was over the crossbar.
As Butch said it. "Another heartbreaking loss for the NY Islanders."
New York Islanders Blogger • 
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