SABRES 4 ISLANDERS 3 (SO)
A sloppy night was had by all
Updated: 11:00pm
Brian Compton
@BComptonNHL
Hamonic was taken to the hospital to be checked out, according to Capuano. He’s hoping to have an update later tonight.#Isles
The Islanders looked every bit the team on the tail end of back to backs tonight…which is really unfortunate because the Devils, Maple Leafs, Capitals and Lightning all won. (In regulation at least so there weren’t any “extra points” doled out to others in the chase.) In what can only be described as the favor of the hockey gods, the Isles found themselves with a 3-1 lead after a first period in which they were dominated by Buffalo and outshot 17-9.
Things would only get worse really as Travis Hamonic (of “best Islanders shutdown defenseman” fame) took a deflected slapshot to the face in the third and did not return. No updates have been given at the time of this writing, but you can rest assured that if Hamonic misses any time, the Islanders will struggle significantly unless they catch lightning in a bottle via a Bridgeport call-up. The puck looked to have gone upward underneath his visor and hit him on the nose. There was an awful lot of blood, but he was able to skate off with assistance.
The first goal was a misplay by the Sabres defense who reversed the puck behind the net to a waiting Michael Grabner who quickly found Frans Neilsen alone in front for a one timer past Ryan Miller.
The Sabres would answer just under four minutes later when Nathan Gerbe put a shot through (up and over) Al Montoya (similar to the goal he gave up in his last start). There is plenty of fault to go around on that goal because the Isles failed repeatedly to clear the defensive zone and once they established possession with some room, they didn’t skate out quickly and Nielsen fired a blind pass to a changing Travis Hamonic who had to adjust quickly and stay on the ice. He couldn’t recover, some fire-drill defense commenced and boom, Gerbe.
Later in the period, Josh Bailey scored his 6th as a penalty to Nino Niederreiter expired. This one was a very lazy backcheck by the Sabres as Frans Nielsen was able to gain the zone easily, pull up and patiently wait for Bailey to get open. Bailey banged home his own rebound off a wrist shot.
Frans Nielsen would add to the Isles lead just over a minute later when Mark Streit found him for a second one timer and his 3rd point of the frame.
The second period saw both teams clamp down defensively and the shots were tied at nine with Buffalo chipping away at a very fragile lead. Not only were the Sabres dominating the shots on goal, they were dominating possession. On the night, the Islanders blocked an additional 24 shots, some quite painfully (both Matts will have a few bruises and dings to be sure)…and that’s not mentioning the missed shots.
The period opened with Sabres’ uber-suspendable, slightly over the edge Patrick Kaleta challenging Matt Martin to a “momentum-changing” fight (*not verified). As Martin declined (as he should with a 3-1 lead), Kaleta followed him around the ice hacking at him and eventually getting him to drop the gloves nine seconds later. You were almost convinced that Kaleta would’ve gotten an instigator since he clearly made it so Martin could do nothing else. I guess the referees also expect certain guys to have to answer this imaginary bell, but if Kaleta had followed just about anyone else around the ice like that, I’m almost certain there would have been a penalty called. In the end, it was a spirited bout that Martin probably came out on the short end of (he was cut a little) and matching fighting majors. I guess if Martin didn’t want to fight Kaleta, he could’ve gone down and run Miller first…probably didn’t think of it.
Derek Roy would get the Sabres second goal off an easy Buffalo zone entry and drop pass from Ville Leino back to Roy (where no Islander picked him up as the trailer) and he fired a screened slap shot through the Montoya five-hole.
Paul Gaustad knotted the game at three at 11:46 of the third on a full defensive breakdown by all five Islanders skaters. John Tavares lost the faceoff, three Isles went to Boyes and successfully managed to knock it away from him, however, it went right to Tyler Myers and after they did that, there was no urgency by anybody to find a man. Myers fed it to Gaustad who walked the entirety of the area between the circles and fired a wrist shot past Montoya.
In overtime the Islanders were the fortunate recipients of a “too many men” bench minor by Buffalo and absolutely controlled the entirety of the power play. They did everything but score and ended up outshooting the Sabres 9-1 in the extra frame.
Unfortunately the great Dane and PA Parenteau couldn’t continue their recent shootout mastery and Al Montoya looked overmatched there tonight, barely moving on either of the two Sabres shots allowing goals on both.
In the end, Montoya made 34 saves and was third star of the game, but he looked a bit shaky and was giving up some pretty tremendous rebounds. This is to be expected since he’s only had one start since the beginning of December, but The Big Cubano will need to get his timing back quickly if he hopes to unseat Evgeni Nabokov who has been stellar as of late.
There was far too little skating tonight, a lot of reaching for pucks and that is not a formula for success for this incarnation of the Islanders. Generally, they’ve been good on the tail end of back to back games. This one may have been different because of the travel from Ottawa the night before, but unfortunately, that is part of every team’s schedule. You can’t be too upset at a run of 5-1-2 over their last eight, but they need to get right back at it.
On a bright note, the Islanders scored three even strength goals tonight from outside of the first line. That’s five straight non first line goals…which is good. Maybe it is the start of getting the team firing on all cylinders.
Next up, @Philadelphia on Tuesday 7pm.
109 Responses to SABRES 4 ISLANDERS 3 (SO)
A sloppy night was had by all
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ITSUKSBEINGAISLESFAN says:
please dont talk about playoffs for a team that doesnt show up when its neccessary to show up
this team is like jekyl and hyde , shows up one nite as a good all around team , then sucks another nite
this game should have been won
and cappy try calling a timeout , when you see the momentum slipping into other teams favor cause you sucked as coach tonite-
IslesFan says:
I have to agree. If you cannot play two games in two nights, you don’t deserve to be in the playoffs. In fact, you don’t deserve to be in the NHL. No excuse for the way they played tonight.
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Brian G says:
I was shocked when I went to game and saw MONTOYA in net….If anyone is going to get us in the playoff hunt its Nabokov, NOT MONTOYA. Why not ride Nabokov til the trading deadline, what is their to lose, play the hot hand. Very questionable move by Capuano. Who cares about back to back games, Nabokov has been a workhorse his whole career! Montoya could use a conditioning stint (I know that would not happen). He looks very rusty….bad loss, also shocked that he was the 3rd star
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Mike says:
First Buffalo goal looked off side to me .Not making excuses, just sayin’
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Bean322 says:
i agree, pucked didnt cross blue line-was just sitting on line….but no excuses
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jisles says:
The first two goals and the two in the shootout were weak. The overtime powerplay was very exciting, but it would have been nice to see JT making more of the decisions out there than Streit or PA. Tough to watch Moulson block shots like that and then turn around and make a terrible–and very soft–play on their third goal. I say we ride Nabby as far as he’ll go.
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They looked sloppy most of the night. Very frustrating. With a chance to go to .500 they layer the proverbial egg. UGH!
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Chris says:
I don’t know whats going on with Montoya, he might still be battling concussion symptoms, or could just be rusty, I’m willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, but this is the second time he’s given up multi-goal leads. Still though, you can’t sit on a 2-goal lead for 40 minutes and play like they did. They had zero urgency the whole game, especially on that 4 on 3 in ot, where tavares was just lurking around the point for some reason. Whats the point of that? He’s much more of a threat in front of the net. 3 out of 4 points is nice, but teams that have to lose for us, aren’t losing, but I just want them to be competitive down the stretch. I know you’re 10 points out, but don’t go into shell now. And Grabner really is just having an awful stretch here, he’s looking more and more like a one-trick pony; he’s got speed, but he’s not very responsible defensively, doesn’t quite have the hands to finish, and can’t pass well. I really, really hope he breaks out at some point, but he’s fast becoming a liability, the sheen of last year for him is wearing off. And wtf is with Monty not moving at all during that first attempt? That was kinda scary there. To be honest, I don’t quite think he’s ready, he really got drilled by Kane. And Dave Maloney is such a douche… first thing he says is: “They were lucky to have a 3-1 lead, they’re not a very good team, and not a playoff team, its a nice story, but they’re not good”. F**k this guy, I don’t care if he’s kind of right, he’s a straight d-bag.
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Jerome says:
Chris,
What Dave Maloney said was what a lot of Rangers fans say. They don’t believe we’re good and a playoff team. That’s the way they view us.-
Juniorjunior says:
Dude , he’s right – the isles suck.
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Bobby T says:
I think it is time to make a decision on who my number 1 goalie is. Al Montoya was great last year from the trade with Phoneix Thankyou Don Maloney. I really think they would had a better shot to win if Naby played. You play the hot goaltender.To much passing back and forth in powerplay in ot. put the puck on net and get rebound.
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Steven says:
Nabby should have played tonight. Al has not been sharp this year. Bad loss. Playoffs are not happening with this team.
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Anthony says:
They are lucky to get a pt out of this game. Horribly played game. Although its only 3 games Rahkshani does not look like he belongs here. Would rather see Ullstrom or even better Haley. We need more toughness on this team besides Martin. Now please ride Nabokov, Montoya looked like a stiff during shoot out.
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Jim Clark says: Playoffs weren’t happening with this team. Too deep of a hole back in November. Play Montoya and Poulin, trade Nabby for a picture of Anna Kournikova.
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lou z says:
Montoya, i feel, takes the brunt of the blame tonight for allowing extremely soft goals.
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Ray says:
Its clear that Montoya can not be a franchise goaltender, he is not reliable season to season. Nabokov has been solid, and so has his career. Montoya will be a backup at best. If Nabokov leaves either Poulin will have to be the starter or they will need to acquire another goaltender.
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Let’s not forget earlier in the year Al played pretty well for us. He has cooled off a bit and Nabby got hot. I agree we should ride Nabby right now though.
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The New Isles GM says:
I actually disagree. Nabby is older, he’s going to be more tired. If you think I’m lying, just look at the way we looked tonight. Chasing pucks, losing one on one battles, no clean breakouts. The team looked tired, every team goes through it. Montoya looked rusty but the Isles looked awful in their own zone. Too much poke checking and not enough hitting. Take the point and don’t look back, move on.
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Grandma's Boy says:
Nice to see a level headed post. I totally agree.
Hopefully the Rangers tire the Flyers out, and the Islanders can get back to their winning ways on Tuesday.
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drive for five says:
Right about Nabby.All am saying is that Montoya should have started Tuesday.
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no excuse for nabby not to play tonight. it was a must win. cappy blew it. you play the hot hand not the rusty hand. just another reason the isles will not make the playoffs. by the way that so called interview by bettman unterviewing snow was a joke. the funniest part of the interview was how smart wang was and what a great owner he is. thats why this franchise is doomed. a clown owner pulling the strings of his so called gm.
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Dk says:
They played the night before and a flight in between. Nabby isn’t a kid not many goalies play back back unless both are at home.
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With all the goalies this year we played , why not put Garth snow in goal?He used to play the best against the Flyers with his illegal goalie pads. This goalie situation is a joke.
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Jon in Chicago says: Actually happy to get a point in this game considering how terrible they played during stretches of the first period. That injury to Hamonic really hurt because this defense is so thin, especially without Jurcina. Wish the Isles could do what the Devils do (Foster, Ponikarovsky), acquire players during the season when a need arises.
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nightbite21 says:
Chasing them most of the night. Deserve to lose. At least Frans and Bailey were on the sheet. Hamonic better be good to go on Tuesday. Philly’s gonna be pissed. Montoya looked like his order was up at the snackbar during s/o. F#ckin clueless.
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Al did actually play well before the injury, maybe he’s got post-concussion symptoms who knows? But its obvious the guy is playing badly right now, but the team sat on a 2-goal lead, thinking they could just ride it out for two whole periods. It made sense playing him tonight, I’m willing to give him a few more starts, but he’s been letting in some real fluke goals. And I’ll say it again: Grabner has been brutal.
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Tedge77 says:
Montoya hasnt played in a while give him a break. They had plenty of chances to put the game away and didnt.
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I’m sorry Montoya looked horrible, the first goal he let in was brutal. Too many big rebounds. He also looked lost in the shootout.
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Montoya has played well for us.He has not seen action for little bit,that’s why I would have started Nabby.
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Who do they bring up from Bridgeport to replace a guy that plays 20+ minutes a night and is our rock on defense? Wishart?? or do they dare bring up Donovan?
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winning84 says:
Im very suprised the Islanders lost considering that they are a last place team.
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Isles316 says:
Dead on.
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Dead on for post below
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dave says:
ride nabby plain and simple.if we trade nabokov we need another nhl goaltender.poulin can be our starter.Montoya is at best a last resort back-up.hamonic better be in the lineup we are pencil thin on defense as it is
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Don says:
Sorry guys but there are no excuses for Montoya other than this is closer to who he really is. Last year was a nice story and everyone loves the underdog. But there is a reason he has only played 40+ games since being drafted #6 in 04. He can be sharp at times, but really cant be a reliable #1. Hate DP all you want, but Cubano is not the guy either.
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agreed 100%
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Don, who are you really, D.P.’s wife? D.P should retire. Period. End of story!
Montoya is a decent goalie, that was playing well for us until they decided to showcase Nabby and let D.P. use the N.H.L to rehab. yes, he was rusty, but guess what, a rusty Montoya is still better than D.P at any stage of his rehab! 3 goalies does not work in the N.H.L. Name me one cup contender..EVER, that had 3 goalies in their rotation.
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Piper (in DC) says:
Frans 3 points & and grabs speed was the reason frans scored the 1st goal. Bails had a nice goal. There were some positives here and sometimes you have to find the silver lining.
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Mike says:
Poulin & Nabby if he wants to come back for next year!!!!!
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RICH L says:
These are the points that always seem to elude this team in order to make the playoffs, now will all you pollyannas stop with the playoff talk, yeah they have played better as of late, but this team was out of the playoffs back in October with Wang as owner,and Snow as GM, and Cappy scungilli as coach. Why play Montoya when Nabby has beeen playing good goal, i’ve scratched my head so much the last 2 years, due to the idiotic decisions, i’m getting bald.
Next person who mentions playoffs after a 2 game winning streak, should be banned from this blog.-
Agreed. All playoff talk should have stopped weeks ago. It wasn’t making up 10 points that was the problem, it was also having to leap 6 teams.
Take the remainder for the season for what it is, hopefully better play from here on it. Maybe a couple of guys besides JT and Moulson step up. Hopefully even Bridge has a run in it and let the kids feel playoff pressure, even if it is AHL pressure.
This is string is largely what I have come to expect though, we win a few and we are the cusp of something big, we have abad loss and the world is falling apart. And again this team resides somewhere between those 2 extremes.
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They can’t sit on a 2 goal lead for 40 minutes. They’re not Nashville, St.Louis, or the Rags. They don’t have the talent on the back end to play that kind of game, they’re not structured that way. They need to go for the jugular, another goal in the 2nd would have iced it, they’re soft, mentally speaking. Ya gotta dig deep and get that last goal.
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Doug F. says:
Tough loss..esepecialy if Harmonic is out for a while…hope he is ok…if not do they bring up Donovan?
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Claude says:
What happen to all that man love for “big cubano”?
Is and always has been AHLer.
Send him to the bridge and bring up Poulin .
It’s effing showtime!!!!!!-
Nah, leave Poulin in Bridge, they’re tearing it up down there, better to let him stay down and develop more and have a chance at success, don’t bring him up to this ship, its already sunk. Ride Nabby, hope to God Monty gets out of this funk.
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It went to the same place as the love for Frans went. Beginning of the year he was the “Dane with no holes” and a Selke nominee. Now he sucks and should be dumped. But wait, he had 3 points last night, so keep him. He goes -1 next game and he becomes Reasoner again.
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Still think if there is any chance at all isles make it it will be Ottawa they have to catch. 4 games in hand and play them 3 more times. Team was bad tonight, but Montoya has to stop the first 2 goals he gave up. Both went right through him. Can’t do that in NHL.
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I feel sorry for all the fans that spent money to go see the game. To spend your hard earned money to see a team not even show up for 40 min. has to stink.
The Islanders had a 3-1 lead in a game they needed and they just let it go. Sorry, but they really do not deserve to make the playoffs. The heart is just not there.
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Guy says:
They were not good tonight but you also knew, as I posted before the game, that a rusty Montoya is not the answer. Way too many soft goals. Of all the problems we have goaltending is at the top of the list- a good goalie by himself gives us 2 -3 more wins. MOntoya is barely an NHL caliber goalie-mediocre back up at best.
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TJ Bova says:
It woulda been nice had Montoya…I dunno…maybe moved on that first shootout goal. I mean really…to not even react? That’s weak
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Isles4cups says:
I agree…it wasn’t long ago that several people on this blog thought Montoya was the man. He clearly isn’t and that was evident tonight. If Nabokov wasn’t tired, I’m not sure why he didn’t get the nod? I can’t see the Isles making the playoffs this year, it will be interesting to see what the organization does this off-season.
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BobbyNy23 says:
Martin shouldn’t have to be the guy,let him develop and let someone else worry about being the sparring partner for the goon trying to spark his team. Wake up snow job !
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Nick M says:
Should have won this game. Coaching and goaltending were an issue.
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Bob E says:
lets be happy we got a point tonight. We were outplayed but but still managed early lead.
Montoya was off in shootout and miller knee exactly what nielsen was going to do.
Give Miller some credit for taken that onslaught of shots on PP during OT.
If Hamonic misses time, isles are done. He is our best dman.
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Numbers65 in Ohio says:
How did we blow it? Definately should have played Nabby because he has been playing well and Montoya is just getting back. Too crucial of a game to play that wild card.
Not done yet…
Let’s Go ISLANDERS!!!!-
Oh yea, too much passing to Streit to shoot in the OT PP. That loss hurts.
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since'72 says:
They’re going to have to re sign Nabakov or get a number 1 goalie for next year or it will be more of the same. Montoya is a back up but give him a break. He’s missed a lot of time with that concession.
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Its definitely set him back quite a bit, that hit was nasty. Hopefully they can sign Nabakov, but I fear he’ll be gone, maybe not in a trade, but at the end of the season he’ll pack up and go. I love the guy, he’s been great for us, I just wish he was like 6 or 7 years younger, I don’t think he’s the long-term solution. They need him for next season, though, a Montoya/Poulin tandem really would worry me.
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okpososcores21 says:
Stop bashing cubano guy was injured hadnt played in a while it was evident he was slow tog get to the butterfly tonight not his normal quick self. The guy can play. I also agree that the islanders arent going to shut down teams by playing the trap and waiting out a game up 2 goals its just not going to happen. They need to continue to forcheck and play a full 60. They did have a pretty good shutdown 2nd besides the goal at the end. They came out tired in the third lucky to get the point and send it to overtime. I wasnt particularly happy with the ot power play team kinda just played it tot eh parmiter instead of making a couple quick passes get it on net and crash for rebounds. Miller wasnt forced to move laterally on most of the shots and was pretty set when they did come. I still like how the team has been playing of late they look good and some of the skill is showing through. Rest up boys next is philly have to continue this push islanders are already in playoff mode.
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Vato Kakes says:
second goal on alley cat looked like it was deflected somewhat for what it’s worth…team was lifeless and seemed to be skating in sand for the most part…always seems like the tavares line needs a freakin hook to pull ‘em off the ice..awfully long shifts for those guys captain jack…loss kind of puts on damper on for super sunday…can sure use some tuff-ness garthee-pooh…GO G-MEN
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sm says:
um,
back to back games, so a little leg weary vs a sabres team thats been sitting in NYC for 48 hours. save the “professional athlete” nonsense, desire to win, and such. monday morning everybody here will be a little gassed at 7 am, from sitting down watching TV, not playing NHL level hockey and then taking the red eye home, before playing more NHl level hockey vs the small, quick sabres. then add losing one of your top 3 defenders, and it makes a bad situation, a disaster.
still, we had a shot in overtime, and Ryan Miller discovered he was in fact, Ryan Miller the insanely good NHL goalie, and saved the day in OT.
a loss wasn’t good news, but we nabbed a point. 31 games to gain 42 points, reaching 92 which should make spot #8. the team must get to 500 first. if your shooting for tougher but more realistic yardstick, get the number of points to reach 92 equal to the number of games remaining. they get to that number, and they have a decent chance.
its tough math, but not impossible math. it starts with a healthy travis the hammer, and points vs the flyers next game. we got 3 with the ottawa(AND 4 GAMES IN HAND), 2 with the panthers and jets and 4 vs the devils. a third of our games with guys just ahead of us.
nabby is the #1, just look at the starts. he can’t play every game. we have moved to middle of pack in goals allowed, our scoring is still awful. but with our PP and PK in the top 10, we do have shot. keep getting points, keep hanging around. whats nice is that the older forwards are playing less, and the younger guys are playing more, even the BPORT call ups. all very promising. -
NYISLES001 says:
This has been a prblem and the extremley frustrating part of why this team is not elite or a playoff team now for years.
1) Inconsitancy from game to game with the defenses inability to clear the puck and make clean breakouts. Islander team always friggin cough up the puck or get clean break out pass pas the blue line.
2) Still a lack of depth with natural goal scorers/finishers.
3) I knew as soon as they wen to the shootout they would lose, diue to lack of goal scoring talent.
4) While the crater face GM and Cheap bastard Owner do anything?
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Montoya sucks. There was a reason he was in the ECHL.
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So can we scratch this off of Snows win column? The list is small enough as it is.
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Orange&Blue says:
As for Islander goalies, there is only one Islander goalie who sucks and his name is DiPietro. How can anyone blast Montoya? He carried this team towards respectability last year and has put up decent and respectable numbers this year. Also, before anyone starts ripping Islander goalies, keep in mind who is playing in front of the goalies. We have a pretty bad def corp compared to other teams. Our best dman is a 20 year old kid in his 2nd season.
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And the sucky goalie will be sabotaging us for another decade!
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Jerky says:
Nielsen and Bailey’s trade value went up a bit … I wish Snow would use it before it disappears in a week. I’ve been saying recently that Nielsen is a little tulip. Bailey is the same and lacks heart, passion and intensity.
The team struggled all night but as soon as they lost Hamonic, you could tell on the very next shift that it was all over for the Isles. If he is out for an extended period of time, the team will suffer big time.
Montoya did not play well but they need to give him a couple more starts to get back to normal. It was obvious he wasn’t comfortable out there.
This team is boring to watch. Other than Martin’s bout with Kaleta and a few checks he threw, there was zero physical contact. What the heck happened to the entertainment value? All skill and no passion makes hockey a fourth rate sport.
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Wallace and Pandawful are, well, awful. I’d rather see Rusty Wallace and Casey Czickas on the fourth line. Nino looking better. Thought he’d score tonight.
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Islebether4u says:
Granted, I give you that the game was sloppy.I also give you that this was a team on the back end of a b ack to back. No excuses wanted or needed. Yet what was more upsetting was that rag Maloney completely dismissing the Isles as “not a playoff team” as if the past month were an aberition. Well captain obvious, we know that at this time, we aren’t in the playoff picture, but we’re coming. I think Brooklyn has a nice ring to it too.
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Scott says:
Team lacked intensity tonight…wonder if a little more fire on the fourth line woulda created a spark….how many times did howie say the name…zenon konopka last night….don’t know….but lost count….stupid garth!!!
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NOOOO SLEEP TILL………BROOKLYN
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And really, all you bozos calling fo Montoya to sent down. Really? Montoya was a rock until he was run over (unpenalized I might add) and got a concussion. I thought he played well most of the game with some very big saves. Just how sharp do you expect him to be after such a long layoff? Sorry, but Al gets a much bigger break for now. It seems lately that non Islander fans keep stirring the pot by jumping in here and demanding trades and demotions after someone has a bad game or trades when someone plays well and ups his so called “trade value.”
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justin says:
Marty is a warrior, Martin takes no shat from anyone. And hands down filled Kaleta. A 22 YR. OLD TAKING ON ALL COMERS. You win with Matt Martins
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BIGSAVE77 says:
Give Montoya a break he has been good for us for the last two years. I am seeing lots of positives out of this team we just need to upgrade our defense and get a an upgrade out on our second line. Niederreiter will be playing there shortly and hopefully Strome we just need someone to fill in until they are ready. Upgrade Eaton, Staios and Mottau and I think we our well on our way to respectability.
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Vance says:
I’ve seen enough of Montoya, it’s obvious why nobody else wanted the guy. he didn’t even move on those shootout goals, just a terrible effort. JT looks like he’s ready for his usual 20 game scoreless drought, right on schedule! These guys are in complete denial if they think they have a chance at the post season.
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moonshine says:
i walked out after the first one.
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MarioCT says:
We’re you watching the same game? Tavares looks like he’s going to a 20 game drought? Pay attention and stop smoking!
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no response says:
Lmao at this:
“JT looks like he’s ready for his usual 20 game scoreless drought,”
Some people.
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Fickle fans says:
I don’t even know how to respond to this.
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Danfromouteast says: Because a guy doesn’t score a few games doesn’t necessarily mean he’s going g on a twenty game drought. I don’t want to arthur with fellow fans but ti bail on a guy that plays his ass off game in and game out doesn’t represent being a fan. As if you were drafted in the NHL first. What about his defensive play and play without the puck, what about other teams knowing he’s a major threat so they shadow him with the top def-men. There’s alot more aspects to hockey then one man doing figure eights and getting points every game. I love the way he’s playing lately and there’s alit more problems then JT mot s prong in a few games. For that matter then are the isles ready to take eating off defense and make him the #1 center because of one spinarama goal. Let’s nit go to extremes if it does happen it happens and the rest of the team needs to step up. I know it’s hard because of years of losing we as fans become pessimist. I just hope you were being sarcastic.
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The Haley Hammer says:
Vance, don’t get hurt jumping off the wagon.
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Yeah, I’m losing sleep at the informed commentary and banter provided by Maloney. What’s he doing, working MSG sports night? Dude, sell pencils or apples on the corner, it’s more dignified work.
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terry b says:
martin has heart but that shouldnt be where the toughness begins and ends,,
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snowang must go says:
If you ever wanted an example of skating in mud, last night was it. Did you ever see a goalie in a shootout not move on two shots? I think Al was in the middle of a very unpleasant dream!
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Wow, one game back and everyone is ready to dismiss the Big Cubano. Cappy should have rode Nabby, not Al’s fault. Most players take a some games to get back to the level after a tough injury. Terrible about Hamonic, this guy is great, especially that attitude of his. If he is out we will miss him.
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The Pork Chop Express says:
The team looked very tired. They were very lucky to be up 3-1 after the first. I have no problems with back to back games but the the league should make it that the home team plays back to back. This way they get a couple of more hours to rest.
My thoughts of the game:
+ frans actually skating in between the offensive faceoff circles. You can score many goals there!!
+Nino played better
- awful puck control. Buffalo shot the puck over 60 times (20 something blocked) which is a crazy amount. Of course more then one will make there way to the back of the net. The isles didnt show up. They were lucky that they stood in the passing lanes otherwise it could have been a worse story.
- hamonic getting hit in the face. will hurt if he is out of the line up
- OT powerplay was brutal. Why is JT at the top. They isles need to move in order to get buffalo pk off balanced.
-let in another goal with approx. 1 minute left to play in the period. not going to win many games if you do that.
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Danfromouteast says:
Hockey night live I like jaffe and danyeko man man is maloney a douche. He is so pro rangers and pisses on the isles every chance he gets. It’s hockey night nit rangers night. It was nice to see jaffe stick up for the isle and in return maloney had to agree to the facts. Ugh maloney and dogay (yeah I spelled it My way) make it unwatchable with toogay (yup again) and his holding on to his no longer there youth. YOU AREN’T NON JOVI!
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TimQ says:
You knew things weren’t going to be good when Hammer sprung a leak and left a map of Canada on the ice. Pretty tough to lay a lot of blame on a rusty Cubano, when they couldn’t keep the puck out of their own end. Overall an unacceptable, poor team effort lead to the loss.
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Tavs a good player and can score, but thats crazy to keep putting them out when they have nothing left . Team loses, no points for Tav, makes no sense he’s a 19-20 min player
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D in Big D says:
Frans is STILL Frans & I for one believe he is not part of the immediate future & should be moved.Garth has to improve the roster talent even if he has to overpay & Frans should be part of the package.3pt night(and taking out Hamonic by deflecting puck in front of own net,thats a no no) does not change the way this guy plays the game.The call to start Monty was a brutal one.Goalie cannot blow 3-1 lead period.Rust or no rust.Positive is we did get loser point & 2cndary scoring.I guess Frans feels he’s worth every penny of new contract w/ his 8th & 9th goals of year!!
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yeah, montoya was brutal. and it’s not the rust.
and yeah, jt was tired. by the end he was really sucking wind. need to reconsider the minutes on back-to-backs. -
Rob - savetheisles says:
Just stop all of you. Last season monty was great, this yr in the beg. He was good. He got hurt and has sat on the bench recently. Its called rust. Back to back games, you know he was starting. Now everyone hates him. I wonder sometimes…
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more than rust it looked like cement.
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all you franz bashers and not one of ya’s blames him for deflecting the shot that nailed hammy in the grill…maybe he is killing us softly..
on a side note- just a different feel to watching the rags-flyers game…a nice intense rivalry game feel..will we ever get that feeling again..mr wang-chung tonight…
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Agree about the Ranger-Flyer game … now that’s real hockey. Hate them as much as you want, but both teams have a strong mix of skill and toughness and play with passion and guts. Isles can learn a thing or two from them.
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jdun89 says:
Some of you guys are terrible fans. There’s plenty wrong with the Islanders. But a lot of the things you guys complain about and say are totally irrational.
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Fire Snow says:
This team needs TOUGHNESS, Way to go Matty Martin declining and i dont care what the score is a fight against a smaller player who is BEGGING you to fight him. Awful, NHL stinks!!!!
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DaGiants says:
WE ARE NEVER REACHING .500 I’ve come to grips with that fact. Our next crack at it is against Philly and our chances of beating them two consecutive times are so miniscule its scary.
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If you dont like crowds that are going crazy and all the fans out of their seats with real toughness and hitting being displayed than keep the Flyers/Rags game off. Maybe its not the NHL and its just the Islanders. Man their games look boring on TV compared to this game!!
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AMEN!!
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Adam says:
Not sure if this was mentioned, but I hope we don’t have another Jack Hillen situation on our hand. Hillen had been arguably our best defensman for a good month before he got hit in the face with that shot. A few months later he gets shipped out of town because his play slipped (although some fans like myself would have wanted him to stay). Hopefully Hamonic can get back soon and return to be the player he was and more.
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There was no room for Hillen with studs like Mottau and eaton around …. Lol.
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Jerf37 says:
Team site says Hamonic out 2 weeks with a broken nose. Hope he has a fast healing honker!
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Too many marys needing protection, how about getting some balls and protecting yourself like any hockey player would. Too many so called skill players with no will. And stop overplaying the 1st line, its costing you games
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Honnold says:
Get well, Travis. This is about as controversial as a Larry King quote, but I hope they sign Hamonic to a long ass deal and throw a ton of cash at the guy. Heart and Soul player all the way.
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Hey Jerky, you say Montoya wasn’t comfortable out there, so why not put a recliner, with anice widdle bankie for him, right next to his net so he can rest, and get comfortable.
They looked tired in the 3rd, and with Nabby in goal, might have been a different story. Tough injury on Hamonic, hope he’s ok.