Apr 20, 2013; Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada; New York Islanders players celebrate a goal by forward Matt Martin (17) during the second period against the Winnipeg Jets at the MTS Center. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Fedyck-USA TODAY Sports

WINNIPEG, MANITOBA– The New York Islanders (24-16-5) claim the extra point in the shootout, after a grueling, physical, sloppy, frenetic, and all-around mad dash of a matchup.

The Winnipeg Jets (23-19-3) proved relentless along the boards and within slot areas this afternoon, pummeling away at any loose pucks in front of Evgeni Nabokov in the process, and savvy on scooping up turnovers at the Isles’s blueline. The Islanders would outshoot the Jets for the first 20+ minutes, but the Jets certainly blocked more shots and hit more bodies at the onset.

The game maintained a level of chippiness throughout, and some bad and/or missed infractions, not to mention three failed offside calls favoring the Jets, set the stage for what turned out to be a game filled with tenacity, each team waiting to pounce on the other’s mistakes.

If these teams are to meet in the post-season, do not under any circumstances think the Isles can easily wrap up that series. Although in 9th place, one point behind the New York Rangers, the Jets played with a plentiful amount of heart. Like the Islanders, the Jets demonstrated very little fear, even some nastiness to boot.

I say, these two teams (I’ll even throw in the Washington Capitals, as well) will give anyone in the East a run for their money and then some.

What was once thought of as a Conference banner for the Bruins or Penguins to win, is sincerely anyone’s at this point. And at the risk of sounding biased, I say, of all the teams in the East, you do not want to face this New York Islander club.

Game Recap

Although the Jets were the much more aggressive team to begin this afternoon’s contest, Frans Nielsen‘s quick goal at the 4:21 mark, helped to quell the crowd’s energy and the Jets’s tempo. Truth be told, the direct connection to Islander success these past 10 games is the courageous and gritty work of Kyle Okposo, who has emerged as a definitive and superior playmaker, the likes of which was non-existent for the entire half of this truncated season. In fact, I cannot remember too many games in which Okposo demonstrated forechecking/backchecking at such a consistent level. All those who have criticized him, even considered trading him, must eat their words to the last syllable. (Yours truly will gladly share in the feast.)

But the Jets weren’t prepared to lay down this afternoon, as they too have had a recent surge of wins; Evander Kane, Bryan Little, and captain Andrew Ladd have played some of their best hockey as of late.

The pesky Zach Bogosian would knot it up 6 1/2 minutes later and recapture the momentum, taking full advantage of a defensive lapse that allowed the Jets defenseman to set up shop inside the right slot area and fired a shot that beat Nabokov stick side.

The Islanders quickly regrouped despite losing the edge in the first, as once again Frans Nielsen‘s line continue to prove indomitable this second of the season, as Josh Bailey, who is on a tear beyond compare, nets the go ahead at the time, coming 2 1/2 minutes after Bogosian’s notch; the goal seemed to truly take the wind out of both the team and the arena, for it would be all Islanders the remaining minutes of the first and through the early portion of the second periods.

Matt Martin would score the third notch for the Isles, and what seemed to be the coffin nail for the Jets at 9:47, but as has been the case with Winnipeg, home is where their heart is, and two quick goals by Kyle Wellwood erased all of the Islanders hard work and good fortune. The Jets are one of the better 2nd period teams in the East as of late, so it was key for the Isles to either maintain a tie game going into the third (a period New York relishes in as of late–remember the days when taking a 1 goal lead into the third pretty much meant a guaranteed loss for the Isles?) which they did, and for a road game, the tie going into the locker room was the most important factor to keep New York within striking distance of a win.

Apr 20, 2013; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; New York Islanders goalie Evgeni Nabokov (60) and Winnipeg Jets goalie Al Montoya (35) during pre game warm up at the MTS Center. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Fedyck-USA TODAY Sports

Before the period ended, however, Okposo and Bogosian exchanged heated words, almost coming to blows, as the chippiness and nastiness only increased as the 2nd period drew to a close. The linesmen prohibited the fight from occurring, perhaps a bad move by them, as the tension only mounted and the expectation of a grudge match come the 3rd was almost imminent.

Okposo and Bogosian each get 2 for Roughing when all said and done, and a bit afterwards, Martin and Blake Wheeler also get 2 for Roughing, and they would have to leave the ice so as to avoid the fight everyone else watching the game wanted to happen.

Michael Grabner would untie the game at 9:13 of the final 20, as a wonderful heads-up pass by Colin McDonald, (absorbing a check at the blueline), appeared to give the Isles the shot in the arm and go-ahead goal to seal the deal and secure a much-needed two points:

The Isles would carry the lead and the momentum, for the most part, until the referee called Interference on Lubomir Visnovsky at the 17:52 mark–a call that redefines ‘being literal’ when it comes to the rules. Lubo takes the skating lane away just a tad, as the Jets player neither fell nor was severely pushed out of the way. Nevertheless, the Jets found the ‘break’ they so desperately needed, and after a successful faceoff win inside the Islanders’s zone and coach Claude Nöel pulling his goaltender to set up a risky 6-on-4 beforehand, Bryan Little ties it up one last time in dramatic fashion:

The Jets and Isles played an equally physical and fast-paced OT period, but it the decision would rest in the Skills Competition, and John Tavares would bring the Isles home and that much closer to a playoff spot:

–RD

Quick Notes

• Brian Strait made his return debut, playing in only his 15th game this season, after having suffered a terrible ankle break back in February–a game in which saw the once relevant Flyers rout the Isles 7-0. He played 21 shifts, a total of 15:56, 13:57 of which was on even-strength. His return is crucial and will only make Mark Streit that much better come playoff time.
• Keeping this post, and especially this bullet, short and sweet: JOHN. TAVARES. HART. TROPHY. Good day to you, America.

Feb 24, 2013; Uniondale, NY, USA; New York Islanders left wing Matt Moulson (center) is congratulated by center John Tavares (91) and center Brad Boyes (24) after scoring a goal against the Carolina Hurricanes during the first period at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports

Winnipeg, Manitoba — The New York Islanders have been almost unstoppable on the road this season, going 13-5-2 in contests away from Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. In the NHL’s Eastern Conference, only the Pittsburgh Penguins have more road wins than the Isles.

And, at last check, the Penguins are having a decent season.

But Pittsburgh is as far from the Islanders’ players minds as possible today, as the team travels to MTS Centre to face the Winnipeg Jets (3:00PM ET) in a game that could possibly decide which team makes it to the postseason, and which team is left out in the cold.

The Jets are sporting a 23-19-2 record and have 48 points on the season, which places them 9th in the conference standings. A regulation win against the Islanders would go a long way towards helping them reach the playoffs.

The Isles, however, are looking to build on Thursday’s road win against the Toronto Maple Leafs put a damper on Winnipeg’s postseason aspirations this afternoon.

Since New York hasn’t earned a playoff berth since the 2006-07 season, it knows all too well what a team is capable of when it’s chasing the 8th seed in-conference. There’s no doubting that the Isles will come out strong against a dangerous Jets team.

The Islanders (23-16-5, 51 points) own the rights to the Eastern Conference’s 7th seed, although they only lead the rival New York Rangers by a single point in the standings.

The good news for the Isles is that they’ll be getting healthy at a critical juncture in their season.

Defenseman Brian Strait – a waiver-wire pickup by Isles GM Garth Snow before the season – will return for today’s game against Winnipeg, his first action since suffering a fractured ankle on Feb. 18 against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Strait’s return should bolster the defensive corps for the Isles; he’s likely to be paired with captain Mark Streit on the blue line.

The other projected lineup change for New York is winger – and Isles Nation cult icon – Jesse Joensuu making his return to the ice, replacing brawler Eric Boulton.

(The staff at EYES approves of the lineup change, although we’ll be the first to credit Boulton – and defenseman Matt Carkner, also replaced in today’s lineup – with their roles in Thursday night’s fights that ignited the Islanders against Toronto.)

Switching gears slightly: astute Islanders fans will note that John Tavares is scoring goals at a ridiculous personal pace, considering the lockout-shortened season.

As I re-tweeted earlier today, Tavares has 26 goals on the year; if he can record five more goals in the team’s final four games, he’ll match his career high of 31 goals.

That career-high number? That was set during LAST YEAR’S FULL 82-GAME SEASON. (H/T @NYIslanders for this statistical gem.)

The Isles centerman is carrying serious momentum from Thursday’s game against the Leafs, in which he tallied two goals and one assist in front of hometown family and friends.

Winnipeg will have to deal with a revitalized Islanders top line this afternoon, as both Matt Moulson and Brad Boyes also found the back of the net against Toronto; all three top-line players earned “Star of the Game” honors.

Isles Nation is feeling good about how its team has been performing recently, and there’s no sign of the Islanders letting up today. But, the Jets are a difficult opponent, meaning the Isles will have to play their best to come away with a win.

As Isles winger Matt Martin has noted, he and his teammates are road warriors; they’ll have another chance to prove it today.

Projected lineup:

26 Moulson – 91 Tavares – 24 Boyes

12 Bailey – 51 Nielsen – 21 Okposo

6 Joensuu – 53 Cizikas – 17 Martin

40 Grabner – 10 Aucoin – 13 McDonald

3 Hamonic – 47 MacDonald

14 Hickey – 11 Visnovsky

2 Streit – 37 Strait

20 Nabokov

(60 Poulin)

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