Islanders 4: Blackhawks 5 (SO)
Now, this game wasn't very easy for me to deal with... eh, who am I kidding, I rooted for the Islanders all the way through. It's true that I enjoy watching the Blackhawks, and I have ever since discovering James Wisniewski (who has since been with at least four different teams) shortly after becoming a hockey fan. For that, I've gotten a fair bit of flak, and I certainly don't care. The fact remains that I root for the Islanders all the time- even when it comes to a match between them and the 'Hawks. And root I did for the orange and blue, tonight.
Kyle Okposo, Matt Moulson, PA Parenteau, and Nino Niederreiter were the goalscorers for the Islanders at the United Center, and the latter two were tying goals after falling behind twice. This was a very uneven game for the Isles- they started out strong and took a 2-1 lead in the first period, then proceeded to flop and slop all over the place in the second (outshot 15-2), and finally picked up in the third, outshooting Chicago 23-7 and pushing the match to an overtime, and then the skills competition. For the Blackhawks, Andrew Brunette, Ben Smith, Jonathan Toews, and Patrick Sharp scored in regulation, and then Toews scored the lone shootout goal to win it. Though the Islanders fan in me wants to dislike him tonight, I have to give Tazer credit where credit is due- he's certainly a leader on the ice, and as far as performance goes, he's a safe bet to make something happen for his team. Props to both teams also for keeping this game entertaining, as well as keeping their poise when things got choppy.
As for the goaltending, well, considering the score, it was pretty much a free-for-all, but both Al Montoya and Corey Crawford had some impressive saves. Montoya, a Chicago native, was performing in front of a large group of family and friends tonight, and reportedly shelled out around $3,875 to get them to the United Center (more proof that hockey tix in Chitown are hard to get). His best save was in the first period, on Marcus Kruger with- get this- the unpadded part of his blocker, having dropped his stick in the scramble to get to the eventual rebound. Incredible stuff from a guy who was probably only supposed to be a temporary fix while Rick DiPietro worked to get back into health and form.
However, Montoya has proven to many people that he belongs in the NHL. His stats right now are incredible, and his name is among Tim Thomas's, Pekka Rinne's, and other elite NHL goalies in terms of save percentage and goals-against average. Yet in his post-game interview, head coach Jack Capuano said, "I wouldn't say that" when asked if Montoya is his clear-cut #1 goalie.
Sorry, Jack, but methinks you're out of your mind.
I just don't know what else Al can do to prove he's a solid starter. He's kept his team in games they'd otherwise have been losing by wider margins, he gives them chances to rally and force games (like he did tonight) and all of this with a defense that is too often unreliable. And yet with all of this, Cappy, you're basically saying he's still fighting with Rick DiPietro for a starting position? How so? It just blows my mind. I know Ricky's got his contract, and I know him sitting for a while is probably not his idea of earning that paycheck, nor is it the organization's. But facts have to be faced: Al Montoya has earned the #1 spot on the Island. He took his opportunity when it was given to him, and he's provided more than just a bit of "healthy competition" for DiPietro. He works hard and he's kept a positive attitude throughout the season, and even injury couldn't stop him for very long. I have nothing against Ricky, but the guy is not the same player he was before his knees and his hips began to hinder his play. He may never be.
All I'm worried about is that once Montoya's contract expires, he's going to want a new opportunity with another team. And considering the extreme amount of slack the team's willing to give DiPietro, I wouldn't blame Monty for going somewhere else that will clearly name him the starting guy. I don't want him to, though, either...
We shall see.
Until next time.
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