Jack Capuano returned to the well again hoping for another game-saver from Evgeni Nabokov, but this time the Islanders' luck ran out.

At best only one of the four goals Nabokov conceded in two periods was really his fault, as screens, deflections and great passing were the rule on the Panthers' goals.

The Islanders actually opened the game with quality breakouts and promising horizontal passing plays -- perhaps too much passing even -- but more often than not the execution wasn't there, the connections frequently missed.

GS | ES | H2H | Shifts | Corsi | Zones | Recaps: NHL | Isles | SBN

On that note, during his customary second intermission interview Scott Allen the Islanders weren't so much losing the possession battle (shots were 17-16 through two) as they weren't executing the offensive situations they did create: Shooting wide from inside the blueline, shooting into the chest from inside the circles, misfiring on passes down low. According to the official sheet, the Islanders put 19 shots on that missed the net entirely.

The most heartbreaking moment, when it could've taken a different trajectory, was when Josh Bailey made a nifty play down low and his backhand hit the post instead of giving the Islanders a 2-0 lead.

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Next Game

Islanders (23-23-8, 13th/E) vs. Panthers (26-17-11, 7th/E)
3 p.m. EST | MSG+ | Audio: NHL - WRHU
Nassau [gloriously unsponsored] Veterans Mem. Coliseum
The Cats' Meow: Litter Box Cats

Islanders vs. Panthers Gameday: Double-Matinee Weekend

FIG Picks: Islanders vs. Panthers, Feb. 12, 3 p.m.

Time to Sell on Evgeni Nabokov

posted by garik16 about 12 hours ago

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Riding Evgeni Nabokov once again. Ride and roll, or pump and dump?

At what point do we read Bridgeport's surprising post-New Year surge as a bright sign for the future? While the Islanders squeezed out an OT win yesterday, the Sound Tigers cruised to an 8-1 victory, with Ty Wishart picking up two goals and Micheal Haley picking up three. [Note: With two matinees this weekend, our weekly prospect update is deferred till tomorrow.]

Islanders (23-23-8, 13th/E) vs. Panthers (26-17-11, 7th/E)
3 p.m. EST | MSG+ | Audio: NHL - WRHU
Nassau [gloriously unsponsored] Veterans Mem. Coliseum
The Cats' Meow: Litter Box Cats

After a demoralizing loss to Southeast title rival Washington, the Panthers have reeled off two good wins in a row. Yesterday New Jersey was the victim, leaving the Panthers two points ahead of the now-9th place Caps.

On the Island, the Islanders' search for an answer to their bottom six puzzle continues, with Brian Rolston returning from hiatus yesterday and Rhett Rakhshani taking the healthy scratch. Today is another day, a day that comes all too quickly after yesterday's physically demanding contest.

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Editor's Note: FanPost front-paged for this hot topic of the next two weeks.

Evgeni Nabakov has been amazing for the Isles over the past few weeks, and he's certainly been responsible for the wins against LA and Philly in the last week. If he could continue to play like this, the Isles MIGHT have a shot at the playoffs.

And yet the Islanders need to trade Nabokov for a prospect/draft pick. Preferably soon.

There are two reasons for this. The first is less important, but is easier to understand so I'll start with that:

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The Islanders were outplayed by the Kings in this one, particularly in a scary second period. But ultimately it came down to a goaltending battle between two of the lowest scoring teams in the league -- a tough slog made possible by NHL officials who sleepwalked through the afternoon as two teams engaged in an increasingly dirty war.

While Evgeni Nabokov made at least one standings point possible with his 34 saves, Mark Streit grabbed the second point with a delightful 1-on-3 rush into the Kings zone, slipping a backhand through Jonathan Quick's legs for the OT winner.

GS | ES | H2H | Shifts | Corsi | Zones | Recaps: NHL | Isles | SBN

We'll have to check the medical tent before tomorrow's matinee against the Panthers, as several players took knocks in this one: Mark Eaton collided noggins with Anze Kopitar (but took his next shift), Matt Martin smashed his chin on the dasher boards after checking Trevor Lewis (but returned), and Matt Moulson left briefly as well but would log 21:29 and assist on the winner.

With the officials calling nothing except for a random trip and obstruction per side, it could have been worse.

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Morning notes from Isles and Newsday: Evgeni Nabokov starts. Brian Rolston is in for Rhett Rakhshani. Aaron Ness is to be paired with Andrew MacDonald. Kyle Okposo is to stay on the JT line.

Sounds like Trent Hunter is in for the Isles. And some brother-in-law of Matt Moulson.

This Los Angeles Kings visit comes at the perfect time: It's been way too long since our last on-air Matt Moulson brother-in-law reference.

Islanders (22-23-8, 14th/E) vs. Kings (26-19-10, 7th/W)
1 p.m. EST | MSG+ | Audio: NHL - WRHU
Nassau [gloriously unsponsored] Veterans Mem. Coliseum
Purplish Places: Jewels from the Crown | BOC

There are a few longer-running connections for today's game though, the first being the return of Trent Hunter, who spent a decade in the Islanders organization. Acquired in 2000 for a 4th-round pick, Hunter debuted -- with hair on his head, not on his face -- wearing #43 in the 2002 playoffs. He notched a goal and an assist in his four appearances during that seven-game series. If you have the Islanders Greatest Games DVD, he's in the Bates Penalty Shot game.

Hunter's 2011-12 has been just what you'd fear after the season-ending knee surgery that was likely one reason the Islanders swapped the final two years of his contract for the final one year of Brian Rolston's:

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As opiners and fans we often declare value on players and picks with an authority we do not actually possess. Because despite history and assumed (sometimes falsely) sanity among NHL GMs, the changing variables of any open market also exist in the NHL: Supply, demand, consumer behavior.

Recent "rental" history and NHL GM behavior suggests it would be wiser for New York Islanders GM Garth Snow to hang on to pending free agent P.A. Parenteau, assuming a reasonable contract extension is reachable. 'Tis better to keep a good player than to assume you can replace him through free agency (when salary and term demand goes up) or promotion, where prospects develop at a pace well behind their hype.

Parenteau has told Montreal French-language media he would like to remain an Islander, and term is more important than money/salary. He also said he's not in a rush, as this is the first time in his career he's had leverage. He indeed has leverage, and desires security the Isles have mostly given to younger players. But smart money is on both player and team coming to an agreement before the Feb. 27 trade deadline.

What could defy that smart money? A suddenly desperate market.

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