Boxscore:
(G, A)
1st Period:
WAS: 1, NYI: 0 - Joel Ward (4); John Carlson (4), Jeff Halpern (4)
WAS: 2, NYI: 0 - Alexander Ovechkin (6); Nick Backstrom (12), Jeff Schultz (4)
2nd Period:
WAS: 2, NYI: 1 - Frans Nielsen (3); P.A. Parenteau (8)
WAS: 2, NYI: 2 - Brian Rolston (1); Frans Nielsen (2), P.A. Parenteau (9)
3rd Period:
WAS: 2, NYI: 3 - Matt Martin (2); Steve Staios (2), Josh Bailey (1)
WAS: 3, NYI: 3 - Brooks Laich (PP - 2); Dennis Wideman (8), Nick Backstrom (13)
WAS: 3, NYI: 4 - P.A. Parenteau (2); Milan Jurcina (1), Frans Nielsen (3)
WAS: 3, NYI: 5 - John Tavares (EN - 8); Rick DiPietro (1)
Goaltending:
Tomas Vokoun - 30 saves on 34 shots, .882 SV PCT
Rick DiPietro - 25 saves on 28 shots, .893 SV PCT
Final Score: 5-3 NYI
Attendance: 14,812
Notables:
- The biggest storyline going into tonight's game was the radical line changes that Jack Capuano finally decided to enact following several games of lackluster offense. The lines were as follows:
Moulson-Tavares-Grabner
Rolston-Nielsen-Parenteau
Comeau-Reasoner-Okposo
Martin-Bailey-Pandolfo
- The first line was really solid tonight, and had several great chances in front. John Tavares was strong on the puck again and creating chances all night for himself and his linemates, Michael Grabner had his chances and Matt Moulson had a better game compared to his invisible past few. 9 shots on goal came from this line in general and there were many spots where a goal looked like it was impending. The offense will almost certainly come from this line in time.
- The second line entered beast mode the minute the puck dropped. Brian Rolston looked like a changed man, Frans Nielsen's playmaking skills returned right back to full form, and P.A. Parenteau was playing like a man possessed. The first goal came when Parenteau fed Nielsen in front, to which he got his own rebound and sent it past Vokoun. The 2nd came when Nielsen had a beautiful pass to Rolston from the point from which he fired home his beautiful slapshot. The game winning goal came off of pure persistence from P.A. Parenteau to keep hammering at the puck until it was frozen. A Jurcina shot slid slightly past Vokoun, and PAP was there to knock it home.
- The third line seems to be the abyss of the team right now. While Comeau, Reasoner and Okposo all had their shots and chances, nothing seems to be generated on this line from anyone. Comeau had a few nice shots in by himself and Okposo was finally hitting the net, but in general this line wasn't contributing much and was the Isles' weakest.
- The 4th line was also solid once again, though mostly due to the continuously hard play of Matt Martin. Josh Bailey probably had his best game of the season, finally registering his first point on a nice feed to Staios that he sent towards the net. Martin was there to stay persistent and got the garbage goal in front to put the Isles ahead 3-2. Martin is playing at a phenomenal level right now and should be a staple on the 3rd line.
- Travis Hamonic had a really good game tonight. Had a near goal when he hit the post, defended well against Ovechkin and played really well rounded defense.
- Rick DiPietro had an OK game. Not good, not bad. The first goal was deflected off of Reasoner's stick, so that can't be placed on him. The 2nd was a one timer from the greatest player in the world, so it's hard to blame him for that either, although it could have been had. The 3rd goal probably should have been had, even though it was a beautiful snap shot from Laich at the point. He was making the saves he should've and continues to look healthy, and I suppose that's all we can hope for right now.
- Whatever Jack Capuano said to the team between the first and the second clearly worked. Credit to him for finally realizing the lines weren't working as is and for putting some fire into the team's soul. After getting some well deserved criticism, he's showing potential of being a great coach once again.
- A burst water pipe in the ceiling led to the entire section 306 and parts of 305 being shut down entirely. If you needed any more proof the Coliseum is in a very lackluster state (though if you did, you need a vision test as well), here it is. I'm not even sure if a complete renovation would solve the problems that this building has.
Thoughts:
AT: Great rebound game from the Isles to beat one of the best teams in the league. This was a must win game from my point of view. The Isles could not afford to slip into a major losing streak like last year. They looked like they were heading that way after the first, but this was a really great game that gives the Isles a lot of momentum and confidence heading to Boston on Monday.
Next game: The Islanders will face off against the Boston Bruins at the TD Banknorth Garden in Boston, Massachusetts on Monday, November 7th, 2011. Game time is 7PM on Versus.
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