Yeah, that's right: Islanders 6, Red Wings 0. What a wonderful fan-Jonsson-back-at-the-Coliseum-tastic night to watch Islanders 6, Red Wings 0. Such a perfectly executed gameplan to result in Islanders 6, Red Wings 0. A little bit of beating Jimmy Howard, a little bit of beating Chris Osgood, and a whole lot of Islanders 6, Red Wings 0.
Game Sum. | Event Sum. | Corsi (Wow.) | Recaps: nhl.com | Isles
The Islanders haven't allowed a goal to the Wings in about 35 months, or exactly 120 minutes of playing time (the last one was an OT winner in January 2007). The Islanders just took 6 of 8 points from Western opponents, the only loss (in Dallas) coming in Rick DiPietro's first start in a year.
There was excuse-making talk of the Wings coming to Long Island after a Western road swing, but ... so did the Isles. Plainly, this was a perfectly executed game -- a Scott Gordon dream: They came out tactically smart, forced turnovers, converted those turnovers, earned their lead, and didn't let up. A period-by-period score of 2-0, 2-0, 2-0 has a nice symmetry to it, but it's also an indication that the Islanders finally got an early lead where they didn't lay off the gas afterward. Not once.
You had your Rob Schremp Hockey here (twice!), your Kyle Okposo olympic effort there, some sweet passing from Josh Bailey and -- brace yourself -- goals from the defense. Mark Streit's was a great, patient powerplay shot that put the game out of reach; Bruno Gervais' was a nice slapshot f-bomb moments after helping get a Wing off Freddy Meyer's back behind the play. Matt Moulson got things started early with a Moulson Golden crash-the-net play, assisted by Streit's pinch and Brad Stuart's curious decision to meditate at the Wings goal crease.
Oh, and Dwayne Roloson earned his first 2009-10 shutout -- not so much for his effort tonight (shots: 31-16) but for time served bailing this team out when they sat on a lead so many other times this season.
In short, a perfect day.
Such a Perfect Day...
Wait, those aren't the highlights. These are the highlights:
And that early three-way passing play between Bailey, Okposo and John Tavares that didn't go in: Just a hint of things to come.
Rather sweet, innit?