Nothing is more frustrating than knowing you have a decent core of offensive producers and seeing every single member of that core fail to produce, particularly against a division rival.
That's how I feel right now, to be honest. In between dealing with a fuzzy Gamecenter Live, having to explain that no, I'm not watching MSG Plus 2 because I live in Buffalo ("WHAT?!"), and trying to ignore people snarking about my favorite player, I was watching the Islanders short-circuit against the Rangers at MSG for the second time in four nights. Not one Islander recorded a point or even came close to it, save for a couple of rushes early on- and forget about the anemic power play, which failed to record a single shot in its first two attempts.
Some highlights:
- Micheal Haley was given an instigator penalty and a misconduct for beating on Stu Bickel early in the game (and, in true Islander fashion, would not return for the rest of the night due to a hand injury. Sigh.)
- Dan Girardi was given a kneeing penalty after colliding with John Tavares, and thankfully this one was not called a "dive" by JT like it was against the Leafs on Saturday.
- I yelled at a lot of different Rangers.
- Evgeni Nabokov got another start, and he did everything he possibly could in net tonight, making 28 saves, including some beauties in the first period. His counterpart for the Rangers, Henrik Lundqvist, however, was perfect, and to add to his own 28 saves, the defensive play of the skaters in front of him was superb.
- Save for the fight early on, this was not a very nasty game. It started out much like a game of chess, to be honest, with the two teams feeling each other out and figuring out how best to play defense against each other. Perhaps that was what hurt the Islanders' chances of winning- though, admittedly, the defense had its usual issues.
- Travis Hamonic led the team in TOI with 24:57, while Matt Moulson led the forwards with 20:36- and Michael Grabner was benched for the last 8:30 of the second period, a definite message being sent to him from the coaching staff. Indeed, he hasn't been sparkling (15 points and a -11 on the season to date), but I can think of a few guys who deserve to benched ahead of him (starting with Marty Reasoner... just saying).
- Jack Capuano pulled Nabokov with over three minutes remaining in the third, which lead to the game-sealer empty net goal by Marian Gaborik- and once again, I wonder what he's thinking. Clearly, pulling the goalie is not working, and neither are any of the other tactics he has employed this season to try and galvanize his team. Time to get tougher and/or change something around, Cappy, because this team is like Internet Explorer: not responding. If need be, bench someone, even your captain (whose fault this game was not, by the way- just making an example). You're not here to be a friend. Be a coach. Get these guys to start winning again.
- On the Rangers' side, Michael Del Zotto and Carl Hagelin were the wonder duo tonight, scoring the Rangers' first two goals (Del Zotto with the start, Hagelin with the finish). Del Zotto was a +3 to finish the night, while Hagelin was a +2.
Not much more to be said, except.... WAKE IT UP, BOYS.
Until next time.
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