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ISLES INFO |
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ISLES INFO |
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IslesInfo Comments: Both teams came into this game at 0-2. The Islanders had yet another slow start coming out of the gate against Nashville, who work hard for every point they can get. Dave Scatchard took a penalty a little over two minutes into the game. At 3:01 of the first a former Islander would put Nashville up 1-0. Andreas "I will play for every team in the league before my career is done" Johansson scored on the powerplay when received the puck at the right circle. Just as he was being checked by an Islander defender Johansson shoveled the puck by Osgood who was a bit shaky once again tonight. Three minutes later Johansson would score yet again making it 2-0 when he found a dead puck alone in front of Osgood. One of his teammates went to pass the puck across the goal mouth when the puck hit an Islander leg and stopped on Johansson's stick surprising everyone. He netted it before Osgood could react. The Predators controlled the game for the first twelve minutes. Then the Islanders began to take over the game. They started to control the play in the Predator's zone and throw the body more. The line to get it going was Scatchard, Jason Blake and Arron Asham. At just about the 13 minute mark Blake would forecheck relentlessly behind the net until Asham ended up with the puck. He tried to wrap the puck around on Nashville goaltender Tomas Vokoun. Instead the puck traveled through Vokoun's and to the opposite end of the net where Scatchard was waiting to fire it in. That made it 2-1 and it was good to see Asham contribute since he has struggled a bit through the first two games. The two newcomers, Raffi Torres and Justin Mapletoft skated regular shifts from the start and both looked right at home, as they injected some life into the team. Mapletoft was extremely effective. He almost got an assist when he passed the puck in front of the net to Adrian Aucoin who was all alone. But Aucoin missed the net. - The Islanders entered the second period with a 5 on 3 powerplay advantage thanks to penalties late in the first period against former Islander Vladimir Orszagh, who took three penalties in the game, and Tomas Vokoun who punched Oleg Kvasha in the face. But all the momentum the Isles had gained went away just 21 seconds in. Roman Hamrlik handled the puck at Nashville's blueline but was surprised by an aggressive forecheck of Nashville defenseman Karlis Skrastins. He skated to the Isles blueline and fired a shot that deflected off the stick of Kenny Jonsson. The long shot still managed to find it's way over a confused Osgood to put Nashville up 3-1. At that point the Islanders were a bit deflated but yet again they slowly built up their attack. Mark Parrish would score his first of the season on the powerplay seven miuntes into the second when he tipped in a shot in the front of the net that was taken at the point by Mattias Timander.It was a nice one timer by Timander and the Islanders now trailed 3-2. The Islanders continued to come at the Predators and after two periods of play were outshooting them 21-11. - Mapletoft was excellent in this game and could find himself not returning to Bridgeport anytime soon. He drew four penalties in this game against Nashville. Closing in on the six minute mark of the third period Torres broke down the left boards and fired the puck to the goal crease where Alexei Yashin was en route. The puck somehow managed to bounce in either off of Yashin's stick or leg and into the net. Yashin pounded his chest to let everyone know he had scored. Something he did once last season. Alexei has been the best Islander forward so far this season. The Islanders did everything they could to win it in the rest of the third period. By the end of regulation the Islanders were leading in shots 28-13 and held Nashville to just 2 third period shots. Aucoin, who was missing the net all game, missed yet again when he received the puck all alone in front of Vokoun. - The first minute of overtime went by without either team getting a scoring chance. At 1:37 of the extra session Brad Isbister broke into the Nashville zone with two Nashville players back checking. Just like he did earlier in the game Isbister pulled his patented power move to the net. As he bore down on Vokoun, Isbister was pulled down. Falling into the net Isbister managed to smack at the pack against Vokoun's pads and the puck trickled over the goal line. The referee waved his hands calling it no goal even though it seemed to be good. It was announced that the goal had been checked by the video judge and confirmed a no goal. But following the referees initial call he pointed to center ice giving Isbister a penalty shot attempt. Isbister would have a second chance to end the game. This was Isbister's astounding fifth career penalty shot attempt as an Islander, which is more than twice as much as any other Islander in franchise history. Izzy, after receiving much advice from his bench, skated in on Vokoun and made a slight move in front. He tried to shoot the puck through Vokoun's five goals but the goaltender stopped the puck in his feet. Isbister didn't score but he did make a good move. He skated to the bench a bit quiet obviously steeming that he couldn't win the game for the team. Thankfully on the ensuing faceoff, Shawn Bates would draw the puck back to Aucoin who would not miss the net this time. He slapped the puck by Vokoun to win it for the Isles just three seconds after Isbister's missed penalty shot. The Isles win it 4-3 in overtime on Aucoin's first of the season. Aucoin played 32 plus minutes tonight. Fight Card: None Commentary: Great win by the Isles. You had to be impressed with the play of the rookies Justin Mapletoft and Raffi Torres. Both banged bodies. Torres had a beautiful chance to score a goal in fron of the net once but couldn't backhand the puck over Vokoun's pads. But personally for me, Mapletoft showed a great amount of confidence and smarts that could keep him here for a long time. Nice to see the Isles battle back from a 3-1 deficit. Though Chris Osgood was once again very shaky and has not found his game yet. Over the last seven periods the Isles have only allowed 28 shots on net. That's an average of 4 shots a period. Report Card: Brad Isbister: Has his best game so far playing on the top line. Took a bad penalty in the first period as he crosschecked a player in the head while forechecking. He used his power to go to the net a couple of times including the play which gave him a penalty shot attempt in OT. Isbister is only 1-5 all-time on his penalty shots. Oleg Kvasha: Had five shots on goal against Washington playing on the third line. Played well again on the top line with Yashin. Controlled the puck well and created offensive chances. Alexei Yashin: Has been the best Islander forward thus far this season. But that's what the Islanders are paying him to do. Killed penalties well tonight and scored the tying goal. Shawn Bates: Has been quiet so far this season. Hurt his arm in the second period on a hit into the boards but later came back alright. Mark Parrish: Got the Islanders back to within 3-2 on a beautiful deflection in front of the net off a Timander one timer. Great hand-eye coordination. Raffi Torres: Banged bodied and was hungry to contribute offensively. Couldn't raise the puck on the backhand when he was all alone in front of the net. Assisted on Yashin's game tying goal. Dave Scatchard: Took an early bad penalty which Nashville took advantage of going up 1-0, but came back and scored his team leading 2nd goal of the season to get the Isles on the board at 2-1. Scatchard's goal gave him his 100th point as a New York Islander. Arron Asham: Played much better than the first two games. Still a bit shaky at times. Nice goal mouth pass to set up Scatchard's goal. Jason Wiemer: Has been very unimpressive thus far. Looks a bit slow and hasn't done much at all offensively. Jason Blake: Used his speed and had a great game forchecking wise, which generated the Isles first goal. Claude Lapointe: Had a good game defensively as usual. Justin Mapletoft: not flashy, but good in all areas. Drew four of the Isles 7 powerplay opportunities. Defense: Roman Hamrlik: Made a bad play when he was surprised by Skrastins in the shorthanded goal allowed. How could they allow a 5 on 3 shorthander? Hammer made it up later on when he assisted on Parrish's tip in. Adrian Aucoin: Missed the net all night. But hit it when it really counted. This guy is really a horse. Can he ever be considered for the Norris Trophy? Eric Cairns: Crunched Scott Walker early on in the game. Sometimes seems to be skating in sand. Kenny Jonsson: Has not really gotten things going yet. Played ok defensively. We have not seen the best of Kenny yet. Played in his 450th game as a New York Islander. Ray Schultz: Played ok in spot duty. Though he did get beat on one play. Mattias Timander: Was brought to the Islanders to relieve the use of Aucoin, Jonsson & Hamrlik, yet with the injury to Martinek, Aucoin is still getting his icetime. Timander has not seen as much icetime as you would expect. He did take a fantastic one timer that Parrish tipped in to make it 3-2. Goal: Chris Osgood: Shaky. Mr. October of one year ago has started off a bit slow so far this year. He was strong in the latter part of training camp. What happened? Needs to find his game fast! Coach: Lavvy was strong behind the bench as usual. He stated after the game that he laughed a bit when Isbister missed the penalty shot because he figured nothing could ever be easy so far this season and go the Islanders way. Luckily it did three second later.
Islanders Edge Predators 4-3 in OT
Lineups: ISLANDERS DEFENSE GOALTENDERS NASHVILLE DEFENSE GOALTENDERS
Missed penalty shots: Brad
Isbister, Nyi, 1:47 overtime.
IslesInfo Pregame Preview Preview In an effort by the Islanders coaching staff to find ways to generate some offense they practiced today with Brad Isbister and Oleg Kvasha up on the first line wings with center Alexei Yashin. The Isles need the wingers to score if they are going to win games. Oct 15: Shawn Bates and Mark Parrish practiced on the second line with Bates playing center. Trent Hunter skated on the second line but was told of his demotion to Bridgeport after the practice. It is believed Justin Mapletoft could center Bates and Parrish on the second line against Nashville tonight. The third line in practice yesterday was made up of Dave Scatchard, Jason Blake and the struggling Arron Asham. On the fourth line was Jason Wiemer, Claude Lapointe and Steve Webb before he left with a sore back. It is believed he will miss the game tonight against Nashville. Raffi Torres should find himself somewhere on the left side during the game on any of the top three lines. Game Preview: The Isles face the Nashville Predators for only the seventh time all-time since Nashville entered the NHL in 1998-99. The series is tied at three wins a piece with the Islanders winning the last two match ups including one late last season. It was the only meeting of 2001-02. Look for the Islanders to come out a bit desperate. Both teams are 0-2. The Islanders have never started a season 0-3 in franchise history. There's no reason to panic yet but losing this game would definitely raise the red flags. The Islanders need a win as it is important to at least keep up with the pack and play .500 hockey until they can get the captain, Michael Peca, back. Nashville has promised their season ticket holders that if they don't make the playoffs this season, their fifth in the NHL, they will refund there money. Old Faces: Nashville has two former Islanders on their roster playing on the top two lines. Vladimir Orszagh found a home with Nashville last season. Andreas Johansson signed with the Predators this summer. Players to watch for Nashville are all young former high draft picks. David Legwand is slowly starting to realize his potential as he has scored in both of Nashville's games. Scott Hartnell, who suffered a pretty bad concussion late last season, is back and is a very good defensive player with offensive ability. Scottie Upshall is a recent 2002 draft pick that may be in the lineup as well. Their defense is so so. Andy Delmore is a good offensive defenseman. In goal will probably be Mike Dunham who can be very strong when he is on his game. But certainly not unbeatable and not as good as the two goaltenders the Islanders have already faced so far in Martin Biron and Olaf Kolzig.
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1998-2003 Tom Mascioli
