Snap Shots: Dallas Stars @ New York Islanders — 1/6/14

Jan 6, 2014; Uniondale, NY, USA; New York Islanders center Ryan Strome (18) celebrates his first career NHL goal against the Dallas Stars during the second period at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Welcome to Snap Shots, our condensed post-game recap of the New York Islanders latest NHL matchup

Dallas Stars (20-14-7, 47pts) @ New York Islanders (14-22-7, 35pts)

Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum

7:05pm EST    

Stars (3) – Islanders (7)

SOG: 23-43 Islanders

Starting Lineup

26 Thomas Vanek – 91 John Tavares – 29 Brock Nelson
16 Peter Regin– 51 Frans Nielsen – 12 Josh Bailey
40 Michael Grabner– 18 Ryan Strome — 15 Cal Clutterbuck
13 Colin McDonald– 53 Casey Cizikas– 17 Matt Martin

44 Calvin de Haan – 3 Travis Hamonic
47 Andrew MacDonald – 37 Brian Strait
14 Thomas Hickey – 46 Matt Donovan

20 Evgeni Nabokov
60 Kevin Poulin

Notable Scratches: Kyle Okposo (busy becoming a father–Congrats, sir!)

Game Summary

First Period:  The Islanders 4th line started tonight’s matchup, as Capuano was interested in setting a physical tone to tonight’s matchup. Quick pace, as both teams with plenty of back-and-forth play through the first 5 minutes. Few shots on net. But a Matt Donovan with a costly turnover inside his own zone costs the Isles, and gives Dallas the first lead of the game. The Isles with the better of the play after the Stars first notch, and the clip to the period is marked by lots of quick transitions from Dallas, and some better shooting opportunities for the Isles. Overall, Dallas owns the momentum through the first 10:00. At the 10:20 mark Thomas Vanek is called for Hooking and the Isles go to the PK first this evening.  An apparent injury to Evgeni Nabokov during the Isles’s PK, forces Kevin Poulin between the pipes.  Not too long after the goalie change, Erik Cole scores from the point on a wrister with eyes. Pace continues to favor Dallas, and the Isles look haggard and disorganized. Matt Donovan with some hesitation this period. Most definitely in need of some NHL ice time to work out the kinks. SOG 10-14 Islanders

Point(s) of Interest: New York with 11 FO wins to Dallas’ 8. Islanders played poorly through the first 20:00, and the Isles defense with some rust early on. Evgeni Nabokov leaves with an injury.

Second Period: Islanders start the period with a power play opportunity, and Ryan Strome sees first minutes on it. After some give and take from Dallas, Tavares is in behind Dallas’ net, and a feed to Vanek and the rebound thereafter, finds a wide-open Strome who buries it for his first NHL goal and first NHL PPG. So after 11 games, Ryan Strome breaks through. Much better play from the Isles through the first half of the 2nd period, skating and passing with more purpose and precision. Isles continued pressure forces a Dallas turnover and an absolutely spectacular backpass from Vanek to an open Tavares inside the paint and left of Lehtonen. Isles have kept the Stars shot-less through the first 9:00 and own the entire momentum of the matchup thus far. Isles almost get the lead, as JT enters the Dallas zone, but fails to see Brock Nelson hanging around the crease area, decides to shoot instead. But not too long after, Josh Bailey sets up Peter Regin for the go ahead–a nice read/takeaway from Bailey, and through traffic, maneuvers deep inside enemy turf and feeds a lone Regin awaiting the tap-in right at the exact spot where Tavares scored his goal. Then later in the frame, a questionable penalty by Casey Cizikas sets up a Dallas Stars PP that would capitalize upon some sloppy crease protection, and the game is tied at 3 with 4:24 left, deflating the Isles momentum. But before the period ends, Brock Nelson weaves through the neutral zone and buries a wrist shot tops shelf stick side to give the Islanders their second lead of the night. The period goes to the Islanders as they show some fight. SOG 6-11 Islanders

Point of Interest: Ryan Strome with his first PPG and NHL goal of the season and his career. Isles outhitting Stars 24-10. Isles score 4 in a period

Third Period: 2:00 to the period, Tavares sets up Brian Strait for his second of the season (and career), as the lone D-man on the play walks in shoots a laser passed the Dallas goaltender. Peter Regin is showing some of his best and most opportunistic hockey since signing with the Islanders, as his play with fellow Dane is paying off in the best ways. Isles draw a hooking penalty to offset a Cizikas interference call, but overall, Isles dominating play. Poulin saved by the crossbar, and not too long afterwards, while on a truncated PP John Tavares waltzes in and scores his second of the evening–cuts in from the side of the net, skates hard to the crease, and buries a backhander for the Isles 6th of the evening. Give credit to the Isles 4th line, as their hustle and physical play helped set the tone in the later two frames, even if Cizikas would take a bad penalty. (His goalie interference was a result of being shoved into the crease.) Complete domination from both sides of the puck, as the Isles make it a statement game and that statement is: DON’T COUNT US OUT JUST YET.  Before the game ends, Isles get a 5-on-3 PP opportunity, and John Tavares scores his natural hat trick.  SOG 5-18 Islanders 

Point of Interest: Islanders with 40+ SOG for the evening. Completely dominated a game they seemed to be out of after the first period. 

Statistics

Goals

1st Period

• Jamie Benn (15). Unassisted. (5:01). 1-0 Stars
• Erik Cole (11). Assisted by Alex Chiasson, Rich Peverley. (13:48) 2-0 Stars

2nd Period

• Ryan Strome (1) PPG. Assisted by John Tavares and Thomas Vanek. (1:41) 2-1 Stars
• John Tavares (18). Assisted by Thomas Vanek. (7:29). 2-2 
   
• Peter Regin (2).  Assisted by Josh Bailey and Thomas Hickey (9:29) 2-3 Islanders
• Valeri Nichushkin (9) PPG. Assisted by Rich Peverley and Ray Whitney(15:28) 3-3 
• Brock Nelson (4). Assisted by Casey Cizikas and Calvin de Haan (19:32) 3-4 Islanders 
  

3rd Period

• Brian Strait (2). Assisted by John Tavares and Calvin de Haan.  (1:42) 3-5 Islanders 
• John Tavares (19) PPG.  Assisted by Frans Nielsen and Andrew MacDonald (6:19) 3-6 Islanders
• John Tavares (20) PPG. Assisted by Andrew MacDonald, Casey Cizikas (16:53) 3-7 Islanders 

Penalties

1st Period

• Thomas Vanek. Hooking (10:20)

2nd Period

• Antoine Roussel. Cross-Checking. (0:24)
• Casey Cizikas. Holding. (13:33)
• Ryan Garbutt. Holding.  (15:57)
• Thomas Vanek and Jamie Benn. Roughing. (19:55)/(19:56)

3rd Period

• Casey Cizikas. Goaltender Interference. (3:38)
• Ray Whitney. Hooking. (5:18)
• Alex Chiasson. Slashing. (15:13)
• Ryan Garbutt. High-Sticking. (15:29)

Turning Point

• The Brock Nelson go-ahead goal with minutes left to the second period.

What’s Ahead

The Islanders head Toronto to face Phil Kessel and his Maple Leafs.