Dwayne Roloson had let up an early goal at the 3 minute mark, so the Yotes were up by one. It wasn't until 17:22 of the first when Blake Comeau evened it up. But then something went wrong on the lower portion of our big screen. We couldn't see who went down by the boards like a sack of potatoes, but while we were trying to find out, John Tavares took an elbow to the nose that just leveled him. Play continued as the there was a delayed penalty. While no one really paid any attention to JT writhing in pain on the ice, Kyle Okposo scored at 19:43.
Finally play was stopped and the penalty was called. It was deemed a 5 minute major, and the Islanders went to the room up by one and on almost a five minute power play. As bad as their power play is, you would think they could at least do something with that.
The third period started and the Coyotes managed to kill off the entire five minutes. But a funny thing happened. When it was time for the penalty to expire, there was no one in the box to spring. What? how does that happen?
Well, that's called a huge coaching mistake. The Islanders then capitalized on it. The Islanders Power Play lasted for 9:58 consecutive seconds as the Coyotes couldn't manage to get a whistle and every time the puck was iced, Dwayne Roloson made the play to negate the icing. Nice job Rolie.
At 7:35, while the Isles were still one man up, Hanzal took a slashing penalty to at least get a whistle. But then at 9:02, ex-islander Adrian Aucoin took a crosschecking penalty on John Tavares as he slammed against the cross bar and ended up in Bryzgalov's net. Oh look! The Islanders were STILL on the power play!
Mark Streit scored at 9:06 of the second and Josh Bailey scored at 9:41 to put the Isles up 4 - 1.
Could that have been the longest power play time in NHL history? it was certainly insane! What an error by their coaching staff.
Perhaps in order to give one back, there was a bad call on Jack Hillen to put Phoenix on the power play late in the second. The Coyotes did not capitalize on it which was fitting.
Bryzgalov was replaced by Laberbera to end the 2nd period.
This was a game I was worried about considering the Coyotes surprising win record. Then the warranted, but difficult benching of veteran Brendan Witt and the insertion of Freddy Meyer. Yes, I was nervous about this game.
Richard Park was hit in the face and nothing is called on the ice. So here we go again. islanders get hit in the face and no whistle. But Nate Thompson gets called for cross checking a few seconds later. Seriously, what is happening with officiating.
And off to the third. Can I say the Coyotes seemed to be playing a little less than ... clean? It just seemed that way. At 5:30 of the 3rd, a Yote 4th liner got a lucky goal on Dwayne Roloson. I'm not even sure what it bounced off of to get behind Roloson, but Bissonnette skated to the bench as if he just scored the game winner for a Stanley Cup.
A Gervais high stick earned him a double minor and the islanders were in trouble. Taylor Pyatt scored in the first two minutes making it 4 - 3 and they still had another 2 minute power play. Sure enough, Mueller scored the tying goal with a pass through the legs of MacDonald with Roloson struggling in the net.
Once again, the Isles gave up a 3 goal lead in the third. We've seen this movie before. It's feeling like deja vu all over again.
Gordon finally called a time out to settle down the Isles with only a little more than 9 minutes left in the third. All the action was in the Islanders end. This can't end well for sure. John Tavares' attempt to clear hits his teammate. And every time I hear them say Hanzal, I wonder, where's Gretel. (Okay, not exactly funny, but now I'm getting a little annoyed at this whole game.
With less than 3 minutes left, Scott Gordon looks incredibly frustrated behind the bench. I can't blame him.
final minute and passes don't connect for the Isles. With only 24.6 seconds left, Roloson grabs a puck out of the air and got a very quick whistle to put the face off in his own end. No score as each team earns a point in regulation.
Just what I needed when all I wanted to do was sleep -- a game out west that goes into overtime. Oh thanks so much boys!
The strength of Kyle Okposo was tested as he lost the puck and had to defend, but Roloson decided to take things into his own hands and did his best Rick DiPietro impression and came out to play the puck.
jack Hillen tired out Winnek behind the Isles net with less than two minutes remaining, and I couldn't figure out what the hell he was doing.
with 18 seconds left Shane Doan took the puck into the Isles end and I figured this was it. But no. Oh My God NO! Not another shoot out! @dani3boyz tweeted that the Islanders have played the most overtime games in the NHL. Is this something they really want to be known for?
Shoot out! Nielsen, score. Schremp, failed, Bailey, Goal! Okposo, oh! Bad Luck! John Tavares, not today. Is the sixth shooter lucky? Yes, yes, he is. Matt Moulson gets the win for the Islanders against his ex-teammate Jason Laberbera.
On the other end of the ice, Roloson faced six shooters as well, including Coyotes Captain Shane Doan. Besides some excellent saves, the post was his friend.
Okay, two points to go home with from Phoenix. But seriously? Do they have to make this so hard on themselves... and me???
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2 comments:
Tavares was not elbowed near the boards. He was making a nice move to the front of the net when that cheapshot came from Jovocop.
No, I didn't say he was elbowed near the boards. I said SOMEONE WENT DOWN by the boards, but we didnt' see who it was, and while we were trying to figure it out, THEN JT got elbowed and went down like a sack... and Kyle scored... and no one beat the crap out of JT's attacker. Damn it.
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