New Jersey's Patrick Ellas celebrates the game winning goal of teammate David Clarkson as it beats NY Islanders goalkeeper Evgeni Nabokov. Photo by Andy Marlin/Getty Images. |
New York Islanders 1 vs. New Jersey Devils 2
I wonder if
the first game is an omen for the season. New York Islanders head coach Jack
Capuano was unavailable for medical reasons and I immediately thought of the
Houston Rockets’ Kevin McHale. Can the Isles, fragile as they are, play well
without their coach? Can they start off well to get into a groove?
It’s only
the first game of the season but the Islanders labored to get a shot in. On the
few times they did, they made it count as they leveled the match 1-1 with the
tough New Jersey Devils. Unfortunately, about a minute later, they conceded a
goal when David Clarkson rifled a shot past Evgeni Nabokov who stopped 26 of 28
shots fired at him.
The Nassau,
in its last year as the home ice for the Islanders was packed but as much as
the crowd tried to will the Isles to score first, it was the visitors who drew
first blood.
How
frightening is that when Ilya Kovalchuk darts towards a goaltender with Travis
Zajac also scooting in? The result was an early second quarter goal.
The Isles
need to generate more scoring opportunities and wear down the opposition in the neutral zone. The Devils looked plenty confident coming into their attacking zone. It’s a tough
loss for the Isles in their season opener. Hope it’s not another downer of a season.
New York
Islanders
vs. New Jersey Devils
Forwards:
26 Matt Moulson - 91 John
Tavares - 21 Kyle Okposo -
40 Michael Grabner - 51 Frans Nielsen - 24 Brad
Boyes -
41 David Ullstrom - 10 Keith Aucoin - 13 Colin McDonald -
17 Matt Martin -
16 Marty Reasoner - 36 Eric Boulton
Defensemen:
2 Mark Streit - 37 Brian
Strait
- 47 Andrew MacDonald - 3 Travis Hamonic -
52 Joe Finley - 7 Matt Carkner
52 Joe Finley - 7 Matt Carkner
Goaltenders:
20 Evgeni Nabokov
(starter)
- 39 Rick DiPietro
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It's hard being a New York Islanders fan. But a fan I remain as I have been for three decades now.
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It's hard being a New York Islanders fan. But a fan I remain as I have been for three decades now.
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