New York Islanders @ Montreal Canadiens GameThread, Nov 24, 2008 7:30 PM EST

Islanders at Montreal [Game Thread]

by Dominik on Nov 24, 2008 6:30 PM EST in Game Threads Comment 36 comments

New York Islanders @ Montreal Canadiens

New York Islanders (8-10-2) at Montreal Canadiens (11-5-3)

7:30 EST | [beer- or phone-like substance] Centre | MSG+

"Montreal has won six straight and eight of the last 10 meetings in the series."

The last season-plus-one of games between these two have been so all over the place, that streak doesn't really bother me. But if the Habs do continue to do us in, history says it will be in part due to the work of a Long Island native or two.

If you haven't heard, there was actually a notable, non-deadline, non-draft trade in the NHL today! Man, I miss those like childhood's random gifts of candy. Interesting, too: Leafs trade two unrealized potentials for a Blues slightly-more-realized sniper.

Random links: NHL.com has a nice feature on Isles' backup-of-the-moment Peter Mannino. Speaking of men in pads, here's an update on pad regulation changes to come.

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Read More: Isles close 3-game trip in Montreal(Lighthouse Hockey)

Comments

Wow, close opportunity for the Habs – and Trent Hunter dove and nearly put his face in front of a shot from the left side.

SBN now has a NY Islanders blog at LighthouseHockey.com.

by Dominik on Nov 24, 2008 7:47 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Be still, my heart

Patrice Brisebois just lined up Jeff Tambellini for a hit in the corner — and Brisebois’s the one who got the worst of it, with a shoulder or wind-knocked-out deal. This is Jeff Tambellini he ran into!

SBN now has a NY Islanders blog at LighthouseHockey.com.

by Dominik on Nov 24, 2008 7:50 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Park scores!

Great pile-on pressure on the PP.

SBN now has a NY Islanders blog at LighthouseHockey.com.

by Dominik on Nov 24, 2008 7:51 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Great setup by Weight, too — I wanted him to shoot on the backhand, but he saw a better shot for Park’s forehand coming down the slot.

SBN now has a NY Islanders blog at LighthouseHockey.com.

by Dominik on Nov 24, 2008 7:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

And drat, we're tied

Hamrlik shot, looked tipped.

SBN now has a NY Islanders blog at LighthouseHockey.com.

by Dominik on Nov 24, 2008 7:52 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Great save, MacDonald

On a looong cross-ice pass to one-timer by Higgins.

SBN now has a NY Islanders blog at LighthouseHockey.com.

by Dominik on Nov 24, 2008 7:58 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Jinx. Canadiens up, 2-1

Gorges, shot from the point.

SBN now has a NY Islanders blog at LighthouseHockey.com.

by Dominik on Nov 24, 2008 7:59 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Gorges’ first NHL goal. Two games in a row, for Islanders’ opponents.

SBN now has a NY Islanders blog at LighthouseHockey.com.

by Dominik on Nov 24, 2008 8:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

VIAGRA

Just noticed there’s a big VIAGRA ad behind the Canadiens’ goal. I know um, “booster” ads are everywhere, but it’s still a jolt to see it on the hockey rink, in capital letters.

VIAGRA. S A M S U N G. Tim Horton’s.

SBN now has a NY Islanders blog at LighthouseHockey.com.

by Dominik on Nov 24, 2008 8:06 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

End of 1st: 2-1 Montreal

Isles had the lead ever so briefly, promptly waking the Habs’ comeback gods. This game looks like a fun one so far.

SBN now has a NY Islanders blog at LighthouseHockey.com.

by Dominik on Nov 24, 2008 8:17 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Good PK by Isles to open the first

But for a bouncing puck, Sutton would have sprung Park on a breakaway there.

SBN now has a NY Islanders blog at LighthouseHockey.com.

by Dominik on Nov 24, 2008 8:40 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

And 3-1 Montreal

I’m going to stop recording positive notes, because every time I do, the Canadiens score. Lapiere from Higgins. Motivated by the Viagra ad, no doubt.

SBN now has a NY Islanders blog at LighthouseHockey.com.

by Dominik on Nov 24, 2008 8:41 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Sim go to da box and feel shame.

“Canadiens are winning the battles,” says Billy Jaffe. Indeed.

SBN now has a NY Islanders blog at LighthouseHockey.com.

by Dominik on Nov 24, 2008 8:41 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

This PK, not so good

Isles look tired, a little overwhelmed. Having trouble clearing it out even. This game could get away from them in a hurry.

[whew] Canadiens PP over, though.

SBN now has a NY Islanders blog at LighthouseHockey.com.

by Dominik on Nov 24, 2008 8:43 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Isles PP goal! 3-2

Sweet. Great shot by Bailey off the post from the top of the circle. Scrappy Trent Hunter slams the rebound off the post, which bounces off Price’s glove and in. New game!

SBN now has a NY Islanders blog at LighthouseHockey.com.

by Dominik on Nov 24, 2008 8:48 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Wow, weird play

Shot saved by MacDonald — quick whistle, as it looked like he had it smothered. But it was loose — I mean loose — and Kostitsyn had it and took it around the net to put in an empty net. Bergenheim takes exception and charges him in the corner — although you almost can’t blame Kostitsyn, the puck was so loose and on a platter for him. So then a broader scrum happens, and hopefully no penalties came from it.

SBN now has a NY Islanders blog at LighthouseHockey.com.

by Dominik on Nov 24, 2008 8:53 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

An example of Bailey's budding excellence

So the Islanders inadvertently ice it at the end of a long shift (it was a diagonal pass that went too far). Hunter even dives for the pass in hopes of touching it beyond the red line — just to prevent the icing and let them change.

So what does Bailey do on the faceoff? He wins it forward in a biiig chip, up into the air, down the ice, so the Isles are able to change while the Habs retrieve the puck. Not only can this kid pass, he seems to make little smart plays like this all the time. I think this kid is staying.

SBN now has a NY Islanders blog at LighthouseHockey.com.

by Dominik on Nov 24, 2008 8:58 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Canadiens PP

Woo, Hilbert and Park almost convert a shorthanded 2-on-1, but Park’s stick breaks before the shot gets off.

Jaffe: “How about that $125 stick right there, huh?” Amen. Death to crappy designer one-pieces.

SBN now has a NY Islanders blog at LighthouseHockey.com.

by Dominik on Nov 24, 2008 9:02 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Weight saves a goal

…bats it out of the air with his stick. Man, this game has been a great show so far.

SBN now has a NY Islanders blog at LighthouseHockey.com.

by Dominik on Nov 24, 2008 9:05 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

End of 2nd: 3-2, Montreal

Montreal will begin the third with a continuing PP. Isles looked better as the period went on. Time return the comeback favor to the Habs. I mean, they’re in a longer dynasty drought than we are!

SBN now has a NY Islanders blog at LighthouseHockey.com.

by Dominik on Nov 24, 2008 9:10 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Isles start off the third by killing the PP, followed by an icing that keeps the penalty killers on the ice. That’s twice these icings have kept an exhausted Trent Hunter on the ice. You see his face and can just feel the burn in his lungs right now.

SBN now has a NY Islanders blog at LighthouseHockey.com.

by Dominik on Nov 24, 2008 9:31 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Come on, Streit, give us a PP blast to ding your old team… pretty please.

SBN now has a NY Islanders blog at LighthouseHockey.com.

by Dominik on Nov 24, 2008 9:35 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

ID-ing the Kostitsyns

I just realized the Kostitsyns don’t have their first initials on their jerseys. I don’t know if that’s a name-length thing, or a Canadiens thing, or a RBK UNIFORM SYSTEM thing, but it’s a bummer. Not only does it help, it’s a cool tradition for brothers.

SBN now has a NY Islanders blog at LighthouseHockey.com.

by Dominik on Nov 24, 2008 9:37 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Canadiens dominating now

12 minutes into the third, the Habs are just controlling play, hemming the Isles in their own zone. Brendan Witt, who has looked slow and hunched to me tonight, looking particularly tired right now.

…but here comes an Islanders powerplay.

SBN now has a NY Islanders blog at LighthouseHockey.com.

by Dominik on Nov 24, 2008 9:42 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Awful offside (call?) on 3-on-2

Weight made moves at the line, but it still looked like Sim was clear, even though they ruled him offside. That hurts.

SBN now has a NY Islanders blog at LighthouseHockey.com.

by Dominik on Nov 24, 2008 9:46 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

OWN GOAL!!!!

Tied 3-3! Habs pulled Price because of a (dubious) delayed penalty, and with Weight pressuring, O’Bryne sent it back from the half boards in his own zone … and into the empty net! Insane! I haven’t seen that years, and never as it happened.

SBN now has a NY Islanders blog at LighthouseHockey.com.

by Dominik on Nov 24, 2008 9:49 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Not sure who got “credit” for the goal yet. But the Isles have to kill this PP now.
I like how soccer credits no one — it just gives the goat an official “Own Goal.”

SBN now has a NY Islanders blog at LighthouseHockey.com.

by Dominik on Nov 24, 2008 9:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Credit on the own goal

Officially goes to Bergenheim — who also took the penalty. This game has had quite the mix.

SBN now has a NY Islanders blog at LighthouseHockey.com.

by Dominik on Nov 24, 2008 9:51 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Another Habs PP

Drat…Sim put it over the glass while trying to rush out. 1:26 left to go.

And the replay on Bergenheim’s penalty — awful call.

Meanwhile “own-goaler” O’Byrne has not returned to the ice.

SBN now has a NY Islanders blog at LighthouseHockey.com.

by Dominik on Nov 24, 2008 9:54 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

OVERTIME!

The Isle finally got a couple great bounces in this one.

Poor Ryan O’Byrne. At first I thought Weight’s check forced his stick to hit the puck, but a replay shows he pretty much passed it in on his own. The replay of the fans’ facial expressions was priceless. Apparently O’Byrne has been getting booed by fans for other reasons lately, too.

SBN now has a NY Islanders blog at LighthouseHockey.com.

by Dominik on Nov 24, 2008 9:57 PM EST reply actions 0 recs