Islanders 3, Rangers 1: That rather rocked.
by Dominik on Oct 28, 2009 10:32 PM EDT
in New York Islanders Game Recaps
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PrintPardon me while I do a little dance. {hip swivel} This is a quick instant-recap of the Islanders' first regulation win, with more to come tomorrow.
Symbolically speaking, the first Islanders-Rangers battle of the season could not have gone better: Future Isles stars Kyle Okposo and John Tavares keyed a 3-1 win, while the Rangers offense managed just one goal without their $7.5-million/year injury-prone superstar. In the parlance of our times, "the optics don't look good" for the Rangers, because healthy or not, Playoff Gaborik doesn't always resemble October Gaborik. He'll need some support.
Game Summary | Event Summary | nhl.com Recap | Isles Recap
The Islanders benefited from an unshakable performance by Dwayne Roloson (and his posts), a much stronger game from Mark Streit -- whose minutes were far more humane -- the now-typically tireless hustle of Kyle Okposo, and a tone-setting opening goal when Matt Moulson pokechecked Matt Gilroy, allowing Jack Hillen to spring Moulson for a sweet breakaway shot past Henrik Lundqvist's stick side.
The Islanders' opening forecheck was the best we've seen from them all season. Fortunately, it also resulted in the Moulson goal as the Isles poked a hole in John Tortorella's aggressive system. (Isn't it nice to turn the table on someone else's pinch for a change?)
Ironically Gaborik's replacement, some kid named Public Address Parenteau, scored the Rangers goal on a nifty backhand to tie it. Actually, despite their control of play, a fortunate post saved the Islanders from going to the first intermission down a goal. The Rangers then came out in the 2nd hitting everything in sight.
What I liked about that? The Islanders didn't wilt from that big physical push, leveled the play in the 2nd, and withstood some Rangers powerplays. And then: They scored a powerplay goal themselves (sweet passing among Tavares, Weight and company throughout the PP, which was thanks to a Sean Avery penalty) to take a 2-1 lead into the third. Second-period shots were 12-12.
They still didn't assert themselves for much of the third -- they were outshot 15-7. But it was a better performance with the lead than they've shown thus far, and it's fair to say they were due some of the luck that came with it. A strong Tavares forecheck led to him banking a cross-crease pass to Weight off of Lundqvist and in. Game sealed, baby.
Otherwise, it was another tense, nail-biting, fights-in-the-stands Isles-Rangers game, just as nature intended.
I'll have more tomorrow -- incorporating more of your thoughts, too -- but now I gotta run to play some late-night hockey myself.
In the meantime, sleep well (or wake happily) on that one. 'Cause it rocked.
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They should probably trade the whole first line. Is Linden still available?
Lighthouse Hockey: Side effects may include Weight gain and frequent game loss.
Great game
-Goaltending – last two games is what I expected from R&B. Great to see.
-The forecheck and breakouts were best all year. Isles came to skate, and this really helped the breakouts. Takes a lot of pressure off our non physical D
-Thought Bergenheim and 4th line esp Nate played well
-Moulsons goal was impressive, hesitation leaned like going far side but didnt
-Tavares is extremely impressive in tight space down low
-KO is the man
-Josh Bailey – can’t put him in the pack n play, so let him play, covers in the defensive zone well, not nearly aggressive enough on the puck offensively. Developing more slowly than I would like this year
-Witt played ok, big step up, good for him.
Feel pretty good after the last 2 efforts.
Moulsons goal was impressive, hesitation leaned like going far side but didnt
It really was. Beating Lundqvist on the fly, accelerating after the turnover, placing that shot just inside the post. Man, Moulson is one of those bonus “accidental” finds you need for your rebuild to work.
Lighthouse Hockey: Side effects may include Weight gain and frequent game loss.
Weight
Maybe its too much credit and looking at some of the other 3rd perido collapses this year, I`m sure he was present for a few. But, I `d love to say that his vet presence had to help in holding the 2-1 lead and he was on the ice and down low with JT for the insurance goal.
Anyway, even if that is too much credit, I`ve read some responses to these blogs that list Weight as a tradeabel asset. I don`t agree with that. Every team needs leadership and the Isles are no different. We can`t keep trading captains either. Trading Biron, Witt, etc won`t hurt the team, while trading Weight might. I don`t see why having him on a third on fourth line (he played 3rd line in Carolina for the Cup) is such a detriment. I would advocate for keeping him around beyond this year. Same goes for Roloson. Unlike Biron he is on a 2 yr deal and no one can say for sure how DiPietro is going to turn out.
As for the game, great intensity. Need to find a way to play every game like it is an Isles-Rangers game.
I’m not really worried about Goaltending. Not only do we have the two goalies we drafted in rounds 2 and 3 this year, but Lawson has been impressive last year and this year for Bridgeport. I still think he should get a chance to start sometime during the year.
Plus Weight is a UFA after the season. I’m sure the kids aren’t going to be shocked when he is traded. Streit and Okposo can probably do a good job as captain next year.
I think the bigger thing was that Streit was only at 14 minutes of ice time by the 2nd intermission. They can’t expect him to get nearly 29 minutes a night and play perfectly the whole game.
I’m sure Weight had an effect — he’s well respected by teammates and management alike. And his passing gave the powerplay a boost, freeing up Mark Streit.
As for trading him: I actually argued last year for keeping him around for just this role. But this year, we’ll have to see how things develop between now and March. If you’re rebuilding and you have a UFA in good form who someone’s willing to pay for, you have to pursue it. Whether he’ll be in good form, whether anyone offers even a 2nd, we’ll just have to see. History says his body gets banged up from time to time, so that may make the decision for them.
Keeping him as a skilled third-liner and powerplay specialist (and leader)? It wouldn’t kill me. But we also have to realize (and expect) his inevitable decline to continue, and there may be upgrade options in the summer.
Lighthouse Hockey: Side effects may include Weight gain and frequent game loss.
I think that...
Roly, Dougie, and Andy will have an ENORMOUS value for the Hawks in particular. A trade sending them to the Hawks could net some pretty valuable assets. Hawks have Calgary’s second round pick in addition to their own. Those three for Chicago’s first and second rounders and their Calgary pick might be possible if those three have great seasons.
What do you mean we won in regulation time? Where was the shootout or extra 5 minutes. My fiance walked away around the time the Isles took a 2-1 lead and when she came back out the game was over. I told her that the Isles won and she laughed at me until I did not laugh back. Then she asked,“really?” I had to convince her that I was not kidding.
That opening goal from Moulson was a thing of beauty. You just knew Gordon was smiling for that one.
The second period was a little scary until they took Rollie’s mask off.
My fiance walked away around the time the Isles took a 2-1 lead and when she came back out the game was over. I told her that the Isles won and she laughed at me until I did not laugh back. Then she asked,"really?"
Oh man, I swear you just scripted the events at my house.
My better half came home half-way through the 3rd period, was giving me the “daily download” — when she just needs to share … stuff … about the day — and finally looked over at the screen to see what was up with about two minutes left: “Oh! They’re up 3-1 this late? So they might actually win this one for real. Wow!”
Lighthouse Hockey: Side effects may include Weight gain and frequent game loss.
I’s funny how that becomes a conditioned response after 10 games.
by metalcoconut on Oct 29, 2009 12:27 PM EDT up reply actions
Why did Rollie leave his mask on during the interview? The only things that made sense were that he suspected that something might get thrown at him or he was trying to stay with the team principle by displaying the logo on the mask rather than take it off for the camera.
Perhaps it was a little of both.
Either way, it is good to see Rollie find his stride. Especially when he baseball slapped the puck into the stands. That is twice now that I have seen him do that and I have a feeling it is never going to get old. LOL! Perhaps they will leave him in to gain some momentum in D.C. As much as I would like to see Biron get hot so that we can possibly trade him for higher level prospects, it would be nice to see the team gain some momentum. Especially with a Ranger hangover looming.
He was cracking me up with that. His mask has come off multiple times during games, and now suddenly he’s the goalie who’s gonnao sleep in his mask or something. Felt like an old Bud Light commercial.
Lighthouse Hockey: Side effects may include Weight gain and frequent game loss.
Caught a video on youtube this morning of some fan getting beat down in the upper row. Vid said he was a Rags fan, but it looked like he was gripping a Tavares jersey, dunno. Don’t get me wrong, I’m as passionate as they come with all the teams I support, but that’s a lot of unnecessary right there. Especially given the fact that it was inside the building, and there are children and whatnot about. Overshadows a great game in some ways, one that should be celebrated by the Isles fans and maybe give a pat on the back and say good effort to the Rags guys. I’m probably in the minority on this one, but sometimes exercising a little common sense and decency can go a long way for everyone involved.
Beyond that, It was excellent to get the win that not only the players wanted, but ALL of the Isles fans wanted. Saw a lot of good play out there again (seems like it has been so since the first loss to MTL). Not only chipping in the goals either, but some nice clean passes and some hard work on the PK. Can’t recall which penalty it was in the second, but we spent over half the PK in the Rangers zone, with Park gunning up the boards and beating the defenders, that’s what is nice to see. When the team begins to see and trust each other and their effort, they’ll relax and we’ll start seeing some more points put up, and less of any one player trying to do “too much”. We’re getting there guys, we’re getting there :)
I’m probably in the minority on this one, but sometimes exercising a little common sense and decency can go a long way for everyone involved.
Damn, I hope you’re not in the minority. It really is insane, just ridiculous.
I don’t know if it’s people who can’t hold their alcohol or people who simply have no perspective, but come on: It’s a fucking hockey game. You’re rooting for your preferred selection of millionaires. Does it seriously have to come to blows? I guess part is, with the above factors, some people can’t hear lip without getting violent; a “save face” thing that, really, doesn’t have any purpose at a spectator event.
Lighthouse Hockey: Side effects may include Weight gain and frequent game loss.
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1979-80
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May 24, 1980: Tonelli to Nystrom. At long last, the steady build of the New York Islanders from expansion doormat to surprise semifinalist to annual contender reaches the promised land: Buoyed by a late season trade for Butch Goring that gave the team the depth up the middle GM Bill Torrey had been seeking, the Islanders knock off the Philadelphia Flyers in six games.
The victory justified the faith in coach Al Arbour who guided them from their second season to their first Stanley Cup seven seasons later. The Islanders would not be the first expansion team to win the Stanley Cup, but they would be the only one capable of a dynasty.
1980-81
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May 21, 1981: This time it was much easier. After falling to "only" 91 points in the 1979-80 season, the Islanders returned to their division title tradition, piling up 110 points -- a whole 13 points over second-place Philadelphia.
Between the quarterfinals (where they beat the upstart Oilers in six games) and the finals, the Islanders reeled off eight consecutive wins -- with a four-game sweep of archrival Rangers in between. As they defeated the Minnesota North Stars in five games for their second Cup, their goal difference in the final was a combined +10.
1981-82
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May 16, 1982: Another year, another landslide title. The Islanders won the Patrick Division by a whopping 26 points over the second-place Rangers, and were seven points clear of their nearest competition for the President's Trophy, the still-not-quite-ripe Edmonton Oilers.
A first-round scare against the Pittsburgh Penguins turned in the Isles' favor thanks to John Tonelli's heroics, and a true dynasty was on its way: Past the Rangers in six games, then an eight-game sweep of the Quebec Nordiques and Vancouver Canucks to run away with the Stanley Cup.
1982-83
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May 17, 1983: Not so fast, whipper-snappers. The Edmonton Oilers' steadily rising challenge for league supremacy took them all the way to the finals for the first time, where the New York Islanders summarily dispatched them in a four-game sweep. For the Islanders, the Dynasty was secured. For the Oilers, it was a powerful lesson in where talent ends and the demands of playoff hockey begin.
Four years, four Cups, 16 consecutive playoff series wins (a record that would grow to 19 until the rematch with the Oilers the following year). Mike Bossy scored 60 goals yet again, and Wayne Gretzky became acquainted with Billy Smith's crease.
