Snap Shots: Islanders @ Wild: 12/29/13

Dec 29, 2013; Saint Paul, MN, USA; New York Islanders forward John Tavares (91) celebrates his goal with teammates during the second period against the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

Welcome to Snap Shots, our condensed post-game recap of the New York Islanders latest NHL matchup

New York Islanders (11-21-7, 29 points) @ Minnesota Wild (20-15-5, 45 points)

Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, Minnesota

8:00 PM EST

Islanders (5), Wild (4)

Starting Lineup

 26 Thomas Vanek – 91 John Tavares– 21 Kyle Okposo

16 Peter Regin – 51 Frans Nielsen – 15 Cal Clutterbuck 

29 Brock Nelson – 18 Ryan Strome – 13 Colin McDonald

17 Matt Martin – 53 Casey Cizikas – 36 Eric Boulton

47 Andrew MacDonald – 14 Thomas Hickey
44 Calvin de Haan – 3 Travis Hamonic
55 Aaron Ness – 37 Brian Strait

60 Kevin Poulin

20 Evgeni Nabokov

Scratches: 7 Matt Carkner

Game Summary

First Period: This opening period was a long one for Islanders fans. Although the team wasn’t being dominated from the scoreboard aspect, they looked very flat. The Islanders didn’t generate much on offense, and they failed to score at all in the opening period. Ryan Suter opened up the scoring early on in the first period with his first goal of the 2013-14 season with a nice wrist shot, and it proved to be the only goal scored in the period.

Second Period: The Wild took control of the second period early, as Jonas Brodin scored just 39 seconds into the second period to give Minnesota a 2 goal lead. Less than two minutes later, former Islander Nino Niederreiter scored on a wrist shot to seemingly bury the Islanders and giving the Wild a commanding 3-0 lead. However, the Islanders would respond, as John Tavares netted a goal 8:45 into the second period, and  former Wild Cal Clutterbuck tipped in his fifth goal of the season with just 1:02 remaining in the  second period. The Islanders were back in the game.

Period 3: The Islanders came out hard in the game’s final period, and scored rather early when Thomas Hickey scored the equalizer from Colin McDonald and Ryan Strome 6:30 into the period. The Islanders continued to dictate play, and Kyle Okposo gave the Islanders the lead off a wicked slap shot 12:13 seconds in. However, just a minute later, Minnesota tied the game via  a wrist shot by Justin Fontaine. It looked as if the game may have been heading to overtime, but Kyle Okposo scored yet again less than a minute after the Wild had tied the game. This proved to be the game winning goal, and the Islanders capped off a very impressive comeback.

Statistics

SCORING SUMMARY

PENALTY SUMMARY

Shots on Goal

Minnesota 37, Islanders 31

Turning Point

After the Wild had tied the game at 4, Kyle Okposo answered back within a minute to give the Islanders the lead again, and Minnesota couldn’t respond after that goal.

What’s Ahead

The Islanders take on the Boston Bruins on the road for a New Year’s Eve contest at the TD Garden. The Islanders defeated the Bruins last time they met this season by a score of 3-1.