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Snap Shots: New York Islanders @ Carolina Hurricanes – 11/7/13

By Rich Dias-Rodrigues

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November 7, 2013; Raleigh, NC, USA; New York Islanders forward Thomas Vanek (26) cannot get off the shot in front of the Carolina Hurricanes defensemen Justin Faulk (27) during the 1st period at PNC Center. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports

Welcome to ‘Snap Shots’, our condensed, quick-fix post-game follow up after every match.

Gives you, the reader, bulleted results/impressions/reactions of the game in a flash.

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New York Islanders (6-6-3, 15 pts) at Carolina Hurricanes (5-7-3, 13pts)

PNC Arena, November 7th, 2013

Game 16

Islanders (0) – Hurricanes (1) 

SOG: 21-24 Hurricanes

Pre-Game Quips & Questions (Stats courtesy of NYI Gameday Notes)

Aaron Ness recalled to help out this ailing and befuddled New York Islanders defense; Matt Donovan was a game-time decision that turned into an official start.

Through nine games at Bridgeport, Ness accumulated 4pts (1G, 3A) and is known for being something of an honest, solid, emerging talent, of the Thomas Hickey ilk.

Kyle Okposo and John Tavares improved upon their stats sheets in this past Tuesday’s debacle against the Washington Capitals, and expect them both continue to overdoing their efforts in hopes of jump-starting their team’s overall play–as lackluster and the Islanders are steadily becoming synonymous. And don’t be surprised if Okposo ends up in the Box for protecting his captain.

Although the Isles have scored at least two goals in each of their 15 games this season, their ability to safeguard leads is ruining all the effort and thereby exposing the many weaknesses apparent in their overall defensive core.

Enough talk and speculation for the moment.

For now, statistics and theories are irrelevant, as the Islanders need to concentrate on the game and issues at hand on a day-to-day basis.

Players to watch tonight:

Islanders

Hurricanes

Let’s see how the boys fared this evening.

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Lineups

  • O  Vanek-Tavares-Okposo; Bouchard-Nielsen-Bailey; Nelson-Regin-Nelson; Martin-Cizikas-McDonald
  • D: MacDonald-Hamonic; Hickey-Ness; Donovan-Martinek
  • G: Kevin Poulin

Scratches

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Goals

  • Period 2:  NO GOALS
  • Period 3: NO GOALS

Penalties

  • Period 1: (12:23) Peter Regin. Hooking. 
  • Period 1: (15:46) Radek Dvorak. Closing Hand on Puck.
  • Period 3: (4:35) Travis Hamonic. Fighting (Major)
  • Period 3: (4:35) Nathan Gerbe. Fighting (Major)
  • Period 3: (12:59) Ron Hainsey. Holding 

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+/

Period One

  • The Islanders are playing aggressively on the forecheck, even if their shots cannot make it cleanly to the Carolina net. They’re able to set up inside the offensive zone, but vast majority of shots are either blocked, or are completely off the mark.
  • The Islanders PK unit with a decent 2:00, with some help by a sloppy Hurricanes PP, and shortly thereafter Dvorak is called for literally throwing the puck out of his own zone.
  • Some energy from the top line, and most Islanders are skating at a decent clip, but SOG…another story altogther

Period Two

  • Matt Martin gets into a scrap with Brett Bellemore midway through the period, but nothing came of it afterwards for either club.
  • Kevin Poulin showing some good awareness on his saves, doing well on his rebound control. By far the best Islander on the ice this evening.

Period Three

  • Travis Hamonic shows some reserve and class as he foregoes throwing a punch to the smaller Nathan Gerbe. Isles are showing some more jump on the forecheck, but nothing doing as of yet.
  • Better pace to the game from both teams, and the Islanders being a bit more aggressive against the boards.
  • Kevin Poulin continues to play strong in net, staving off perimeter shots and doing a good job at control/trapping his rebounds. Spectacular save off a close-in shot by Bellemore. Looks to be in good form late the game.

/-

Period One

  • Lots of early offensive zone time for the Isles, but few shots on net (through 10:00, no SOG) even though most were taken from set positions, especially the point. And even though the Isles skating are well, and pushing Carolina back to their own zone on several occasion, a poor clear by Kevin Poulin and a simple shot from the point by Radek Dvorak and deflection by Ron Hainsey gives the ‘Canes the lead. 0-1 CAR.
  • Islanders Peter Regin called for Hooking, subjecting this poor PK unit to an early test, while the PP doesn’t capitalize on their first opportunity, either. Special teams anything but these past 5 games.
  • No noticeable improvements from their last outing this past Tuesday, as the Islanders cannot properly tee off shots in Justin Peters direction, and have done little to take full reins of the game as a whole. 

Period Two

  • The Islanders 2nd PP opportunity rendered next-to-nothing in quality scoring chances, as the inability to create set plays inside the offensive zone results in a powerless power play.
  • Islander defensemen are pinching once inside the offensive zone, which often traps them when missed shots careen off the boards and result in a quick odd man rush the other way.
  • The ‘Canes Harrison drops Tavares on the ice as the Isles captain attempted to deke past him for a scoring chance late in the period; Tavares lacked creativity on that opportunity, and slowed down enough for the ‘Canes defenseman to take him out of the play.
  • The Isles are scattered sticks in the wind at present, as their lack of identity is slowly becoming their new identity. No consistency in any of the zones. The only Islander playing remotely well at this juncture (14:00) is Kevin Poulin.

Period Three

  • Islanders still cannot setup inside those high percentage areas, and no trace of a transition game as of yet.
  • Islanders fail to covert on their 3rd PP opportunity, which showed more of the same concerted effort to establish presence inside the offensive zone.

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 Post-Game Responses & Reactions

  • Period 1 saw the Islanders begin the period with some speed and energy but not much accuracy on their shots; they wouldn’t record their first SOG until midway past the first. Carolina would capitalize on a simple point shot and deflect themselves onto the score sheet for the first notch of the evening. SOG 5-7 CAR. Aside from that one brief moment of relevant action, both squads are playing below average hockey at the moment.
  • Period 2 was uneventful as a whole, with some minor adjustments to the lackluster: a scrap, a Michael Grabner failed breakaway attempt, and some missed scoring opportunities by John Tavares. The Isles are being outshot by a less talented team. There’s nothing at present that demonstrates any lessons learned by from this past Tuesday’s loss to Washington. Work in progress, for sure.  But the setting is set for a potential shut out by the Hurricanes. SOG 12-18 CAR.
  • Period 3 could not raise their battle level and shot accuracy, falling to the Carolina Hurricanes 1-0. First shutout defeat of the season. Kevin Poulin played well.  Islanders fall one game under .500

–RD (@RDNHL)

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