Newflash: The New York Islanders are in 1st Place of the Atlantic Division. Here is a recap of tonights game which featured the return of John Tavares. Oh yeah, he also put the biscuit in the basket:
1st period- What's up with Scottie Gordon letting the Blue White and Orange drop the gloves this week? As if we weren't treated to some Trevor Gillies rumbles this week, 5 seconds into the game, Zenon Konopka went to work with Chris Stewart. It's been awhile since I've seen a fight that had this much space and little ref action. Perfect way to start the night for the Isles but a dull period overall.
2nd period- Milan Jurcina is one big defenseman. Last night he took a horrible penalty in Overtime which led to the Penguins winning the game. On quick win from the draw during a Doug Weight penalty, Jurchina launched one that some how slipped passed Anderson high and the Isles took the lead. It was Jurcinas first goal as an Islander and his 2nd one didn't come much later. With 2 minutes left in the game, another fluke goal came from the right corner as Milan somehow, someway, snuck one passed the goalies pad from a very narrow angle. The crowd of 10,000+ was rocking to Opus and the Isles led 2-0. A minute later Kyle Quincy took his first of back to back penalties. The Islanders powerplay looked amazing as Wisniewski fed Parrenteau who slid a pass to Bailey. Bailey streaking in from behind the defense, toe dragged the puck and roofed it over Anderson. It was a beautiful goal, perhaps the best of Bailey's NHL career. The Islanders would head into the locker room up 3-0.
3rd period- You could really sense an different Av's team at the start of the 3rd as Stewart finally got a shot past Roloson. One of the worst traps to fall into that every team has been apart of in their history is the dreadful 3 goal lead that turns into an Overtime Loss. When Stewart scored, the Coliseum fans had that dreadful feeling boil up. Only lasted for a minute plus because the newly acquired Michael Gabner, whose speed I haven't seen since Pat Lafontaine, worked a 2 on 1 with Parrentau and the Isles scored to take the lead 4-1. TJ Gallardi scored his scored his second goal of the season to cut the lead to two at the ten minute mark but that's all she wrote for the Lanche.
John Tavares, playing in his first game since his concussion opening night got his first goal of the season with the empty netter which was assisted by Milan Jurcina. It was Jurcinas first 3 point night in his career. You can tell Scott Gordon was cautious with Tavares as he limited the #1 Overall Draft pick in 2009 to under 20 minutes of ice time. Wasn't a bad move but for a team that played the night before, they could have used alittle more from him.
The power-play with Wiz and Bailey got an A+ tonight. Bailey is really turning in an All-star game season this year. Yeah, I said that! Roloson, turned in a solid effort getting and deserves an A. He's definitely making a case that he should be the number #1 goalie. Maybe having a goalie controversy on Long Island could be great for this squad while in other cases thru-out the organizations history have led to turmoil. A Healthy Dipietro-Roloson competition could be the Isles best tandem since Smith-Resch rocked the Blue, White and Orange. Definately better then that Salo-Soderstrom-Eric Fichaud combo this writer was tortured with. Jurchina, goat the night before, hero tonight gets an A.
Isles get some much needed rest and return to action Monday against the Red-Hot Mapleleafs. It might have just been a way to get alittle extra shower time, but Blake Comeau did leave the ice before the end of the third period. Hopefully its something minor and not major. At the end of the night the standings read the New York Islanders were tied in first place with the Penguins with a game at hand. Enjoy the fight.
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