Top Shelf : Islanders Daily 10/13/13

Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

The chances of a very quiet flight home for the New York Islanders were most likely very high today, as the team dropped their second straight on the road, 3-2 in Nashville and picked up no points out of a possible four on the weekend.

That being said, when I awoke this morning, the sun was shining and the sky did not fall, as expected from many reactions on social media last evening.

In a long, competitive 82 game season, there are going to be plenty of ups and downs, peaks and valleys: And as staff writer Joe Pantorno pointed out yesterday, it’s how you react that will be the ultimate deciding factor in how future games play out.

The Islanders were undone last night by being too passive, the transition game not working at all and the general malaise that has come over the offense the past two contests.

For a brief period, head coach Jack Capuano instilled some life into his team by juggling lines midway through the second period, but once Evgeni Nabokov failed to handle a slap shot from the blue line early in the third period, the Predators put the game on lockdown, not allowing any flow through the neutral zone.

It’s back to work tomorrow as the team will prepare for their upcoming 4 game homestand which includes visits from the Buffalo Sabres, Edmonton Oilers, Carolina Hurricanes and Vancouver Canucks.

Let’s be honest and realistic here: is 2-2-1 really a bad spot to be after only 5 games? I didn’t think so either.

In Case You Missed It

• Our contest giveaway is still getting going. You cannot win if you do not participate. Check out details right here! (EOI)
• Rich Dias recaps last night’s game with our post-game feature, Snap Shots (EOI)
• Joe Pantorno urges fans to keep perspective (EOI)
• Speaking on the performance of Kevin Poulin Friday night (EOI)
• John Tavares is the new face of New York sports (NY Post)
• I guess now the Thomas Hertl talk can calm down for a bit? (SF Gate)
• Have to love Bobby Lu….(Pro Hockey Talk)

Two Minutes for Tweeting

• I just searched and did not see it yet Paul but I am sure it is only a matter of time. With the things I have seen on Ebay, it’s a forgone conclusion.

• Good point here by Friedman…my only counter would be it does not seem to be working for Kyle Okposo.

• One of my favorite twitter accounts, LHH’s own Chris McNally always puts a smile on my face with his analysis, whether it be after a win or a loss.

• This team definately deserves more than it got last week at home against Phoenix. With ticket prices so cheap, there really is no reason to not get out to the Coliseum and support our team.

• Ah, Sunday morning realism in the Islanders twitter universe. This just made my day. 

Around The NHL

• Bruins 3, Blue Jackets 1 – BOS (Erickson, Kelly Lucic), CLB (J Johnson)
• Maple Leafs 6, Oilers 5 (OT) – TOR (Bolland, Kadri, Lupul 2, Van Riemsdyk 2) EDM (Eberle, Gordon, Hopkins, Smyth 2)
• Red Wings 5, Flyers 2 – DET (Bertuzzi, Datsyuk, Kronwall, Zetterberg 2) PHI (Gustafsson, McGinn)
• Penguins 5, Lightning 4 – PIT (Crosby 3, Niskanen,Orpik) TB (Filppua, Stamkos,Killorn, Purcell)
• Avalanche 5, Capitals 1 – COL (Duchense, McKinnon, Tanguay 2, McGinn) WSH (Fehr)
• Blackhawks 2, Sabres 1 – CHI (Kane, Smith) BUF (Stafford)
• Blues 5, Rangers 3 – STL (Backes 2, Roy, Steen, Tarasenko) NYR (Callahan 2, Richards)
• Wild 5, Stars 1 – MIN (Cooke, Dumba, Fontaine, Niederreiter, Parise) DAL (Benn)
• Canadiens 4, Canucks 1 – MTL (Eller, Gorges, Pacioretty, Plekanec) VAN (Sedin)
• Sharks 3, Senators 2 – SJ (Burns, Hertl, Marleau) OTT (Ryan, Smith)

Across The Sound

The  Sound Tigers went an unbelivable 0 for 11 on the power play last night as they lost at home to the Manchester Monarchs 3-0. Despite outshooting Manchester 38-24, the team just could not buy a goal on this night, falling to 1-2-0 on the young season.

Anders Nilsson stopped 21 of 23 shots in a losing effort and John Persson fired a game high 6 shots on goal. Announced attendance at Webster Bank Arena was 2,553.

The team gets right back at it with a 3pm faceoff this afternoon versus Springfield.