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Top Shelf : Islanders Daily : 11/17/2013

By Andy Graziano |

Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Islanders knew what they needed to do. They know the style of play that makes them successful.

Off the heels of a four game road losing streak, they came home to Nassau Coliseum and were one blown third period lead away from a three game winning streak.

Instead of thinking of it in terms of losing five of their last seven, many fans should point to the fact they have won two of their last three. And last night was the most complete effort from start to finish we have seen all season.

Up against a very good Red Wings team, the Islanders lifted their level of play and more noticeably, their intensity; staying aggressive on the forecheck, maintaining good gap control in the neutral zone to force turnovers and protecting their goaltender in the defensive zone.

The four goals were just a function of some real solid experienced play by the Wings, crowding the net and making it impossible to see the puck or garnering deflections. New York ended up out-shooting the Wings 41-23 on this evening and outside of going 1-6 on the power play, including a four minute at the end of the second period, deserved these two points.

The story was not all bright however as Evgeni Nabokov suffered a groin strain in the first period on the very first shot against him. The Islanders quickly made the announcement following the first period and as we have seen, these types of injuries for netminders could last a bit. John Tavares, Matt Martin and Cal Clutterbuck also left the game for stretches at some point in the contest, but all returned and logged their usual ice-time.

So Kevin Poulin is now what Islanders fans might have wanted him to be all along and what he has always desired; starting goaltender for the New York Islanders NHL hockey club. It remains to be seen what Garth Snow decides to do in terms of a backup, but you can almost guarantee Anders Nilsson will be getting the call from Bridgeport.

A nice rebound by the Islanders coming off that disastrous road trip, as they have now claimed 4 of 6 points and head back on the road for games in Toronto, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia before earning their first three day break of the season.

In Case You Missed It

Around The NHL

Nov 16 ’13

EDMONTON

4

CALGARY

2

Nov 16 ’13

FLORIDA

4

COLORADO

1

Nov 16 ’13

CHICAGO

2

NASHVILLE

7

Nov 16 ’13

CAROLINA

2

ST LOUIS

4

Nov 16 ’13

DETROIT

4

NY ISLANDERS

5

SO

Nov 16 ’13

PITTSBURGH

1

NEW JERSEY

4

Nov 16 ’13

NY RANGERS

1

MONTREAL

0

Nov 16 ’13

BUFFALO

2

TORONTO

4

Nov 16 ’13

TAMPABAY

3

PHOENIX

6

METROPOLITAN

GP

W

L

OT

PTS

ROW

GF

GA

1

PITTSBURGH

20

12

8

0

24

11

56

47

2

WASHINGTON

20

11

8

1

23

6

65

58

3

NY RANGERS

19

10

9

0

20

10

42

49

4

CAROLINA

20

8

8

4

20

7

39

55

5

NEW JERSEY

20

7

8

5

19

7

42

49

6

NY ISLANDERS

21

8

10

3

19

5

61

68

7

PHILADELPHIA

19

7

10

2

16

7

35

48

8

COLUMBUS

19

6

10

3

15

5

48

56

Across The Sound

Another night, another loss for the baby Islanders, as they continue to battle injuries themselves and sputter along in the American Hockey League. You can read about their latest loss, 4-1 to the Wolf Pack, right here from the official site.

Rank Northeast Division GP W L OTL SL PTS GF GA

1

Springfield Falcons

14

10

3

0

1

21

38

32

2

Albany Devils

16

9

6

0

1

19

41

39

3

Hartford Wolf Pack

16

8

6

0

2

18

48

55

4

Adirondack Phantoms

15

7

6

0

2

16

36

38

5

Bridgeport Sound Tigers

14

4

8

1

1

10

36

51

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