Post-Game Battle Level: New York Islanders 7 (EN), Dallas Stars 5 - Frans Nielsen hat trick at the buzzer

It was noted in the preview that New York Islanders games with the Dallas Stars have been quite eventful of late. It was also teased that a hat trick highlighted last season's meeting at Nassau Coliseum.

Saturday night was true to form.

Back and forth, back and forth, all night long until a third-period hat trick from Frans Nielsen made the difference. Nielsen's empty net goal at the buzzer finished the 7-5 final score. It was all sorts of haywire before that.

Full report to come later; below you'll find the basic game data links, our immediate reactions "battle level" style, and highlights. As always, chime in with your own.

[ Box | Game Sum | Event Sum | Fancy: Natural Stat Trick - HockeyStats.ca | Recaps: | Isles | NHL]

Battle Level Report

HAHD: Lubomir Visnovsky with that hip check on Antoine Roussel.

SMAHT: Not the officiating, that's for sure. Or rather: If this is how the NHL rulebook is interpreted, then Thursday's game against Boston was officiated by Martians. But Frans Nielsen's forehand placements? Yes.

WARRIORS: Frans Nielsen, Nikolay Kulemin and Mikhail Grabovski. Those guys turned the game.

PASSENGERS: The refs. They know who they ahh. Also the goalies. Granted, this was pond hockey, but each coughed up ugly rebounds. The Stars rarely use Anders Lindback, and tonight can't have changed their minds.

OVERALL BATTLE LEVEL: Battle level high, defense leaky. Fransie brings it up to four out of five Cappys.

The Victims

Condolences if your fantasy teams has Johnson or Lindback starting tonight

— Kevin Schultz (@Schultz88) October 26, 2014

Post-Game Re-Cat

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Game Highlights