A little home cooking does the Isles good

It was, especially throughout the second and third periods, one of the most entertaining games I’ve caught this season. The Islanders and Bruins played a physical, up and down game that really reaffirmed just why I love the game of hockey. Anyone who says the game of hockey is not exciting or does not have enough action is simply brain dead, as sitting through that game was one fun ride.

First, congratulations to Rob Schremp for scoring his first NHL goal, a power play tally that he banked off of Tim Thomas’s skate after Kyle Okposo blasted a shot from the point that Matt Moulson deflected before Schremp finally put it in. Although Michael Ryder tied it for Boston later that first period, and then David Krejci gave Boston a 2-1 lead early in the second, Moulson, off of beautiful passes from a hard-working Okposo to Tavares, who then centered the puck from behind the Bruin net, tied the game at 2 a piece (the first even strength goal for the Isles in some 3 games).

What was a pretty evenly matched game turned into one of those situations Islanders fans have come to hate where the ice seems tilted towards our end. This seemed to be the case during the third period, and the Bruins completely dominated the play. I don’t recall exactly how long it took for the Isles to get their first shot on goal, but we were badly outshot something like 17 to 5 in that period. Dwayne Roloson, however, shut the door and helped to keep the game knotted at 2.

I hardly had time to get myself a drink of water between the third period and overtime. In fact, I just sat down back in the living-room when Blake Comeau fed Frans Nielsen a beautiful pass that sent Nielsen away in all alone on Thomas to backhand the game winner passed him some 24 ticks in to the OT. Howie and Billy described the play as basically being like a shootout situation with Frans having no one around him the entire way in on Thomas. Nielsen’s parents were in attendance, so it was quite fitting that he lit the lamp for the GWG. So, the Isles got 2 important points in the standings and, hopefully, have begun this long stretch of several home games on a positive note.

As one last comment, to me, Blake Comeau played one of the most inspired games I can recall him playing. The puck did bounce over his stick at the Isles blue line, which eventually led to Krejci’s goal, but it was not necessarily “his fault”. The guy seemed to be all over the ice, hitting everyone wearing a Bruins sweater and making several good passes and defensive plays. He even tangled with big Zdeno Chara and took his lumps as well. If he brings it every night like that, I would believe Scott Gordon will find it hard to scratch him from the lineup.