Snap Shots: New York Islanders @ Florida Panthers – 1/14/14 — You-Snooze-You-Lose Edition

Jan 14, 2014; Sunrise, FL, USA; New York Islanders left wing

(12) collides with Florida Panthers defenseman

(7) in the first period at BB

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

New York Islanders (18-22-7, 43pts) @ Florida Panthers (17-21-7, 41pts)

BB&T Center

7:30 PM

Islanders (2) – Panthers (4) 

SOG: 32-26 Islanders

Starting Lineup

26 Thomas Vanek – 91 John Tavares –21 Kyle Okposo
29 Brock Nelson – 51 Frans Nielsen – 12 Josh Bailey 
40 Michael Grabner– 18 Ryan Strome — 15 Cal Clutterbuck
13 Colin McDonald – 53 Casey Cizikas– 17 Matt Martin

37 Brian Strait – 47 Andrew MacDonald
44 Calvin de Hann – 14 Thomas Hickey
46 Matt Donovan – 7 Matt Carkner

60 Kevin Poulin

Notable Scratches: Evgeni Nabokov (IR), Travis Hamonic (Upper Body)

Game Summary

First Period: The Islanders fall prey to an early goal, as a NZ turnover becomes a 2-on-1 with former Islanders Brad Boyes and Aleksander Barkov that beats Kevin Poulin at the :32 mark. Shortly thereafter, the Islanders find themselves on a PP, as Huberdeau is called for Holding. Islanders playing incredibly sloppy through six minutes, and consecutive penalties by Matt Carkner and Frans Nielsen forced the Isles into a 2-man deficit for a 1:13. Islanders survive the gauntlet of miss shots and poor execution from Florida’s PP unit, and the lead is still only 1 at the midway point of the period. The last 5 minutes saw a complete absence of battle level from the New York Islanders and a point shot that caroms off of Brian Strait‘s skate finds the back of the net, and the Isles down a pair of goals with minutes left to the period.  The Isles awaken at the 18:00 mark with a short flurry of shots on Tim Thomas, but a defensive zone turnover by Kyle Okposo is the direct reason the Panthers up by 3. Terrible period for New York.  SOG 6-9 Panthers

Point of Interest: Nothing. Slowest and sloppiest period of the road trip, and, perhaps, one of the worst periods in recent memory for New York.  GIVES AND TAKES EVEN AT 3. 

Second Period: The Isles 4th line with the strongest shift of the game thus far, some nice shooting opportunities and some traffic in front of Tim Thomas. Islanders kill off a Calvin de Haan phantom Holding call, but still nothing short of lackluster play by New York through the first 5:00. Some scrambling in front of Thomas’s crease, but nothing doing for rebounds in the Islanders’ favor. New York goes on their second PP after Goc is called for Goalie Interference. And if things couldn’t get any worse, the Isles give up their 4th SHG of the season on a Scottie Upshall breakaway. Isles get one back late in the period as Colin McDonald finds the loose puck and puts it behind Tim Thomas to give the Islanders their first notch of the evening. Still, New York playing an awful game through the first 40:00 of play.  SOG EVEN at 10

Point of Interest: Panthers with 6 TAKES and 20 FO wins. 

Third Period: Three minutes into the period, Thomas Vanek brings the Isles within 2, as he’s left in front to scoop up a rebound derived from a Frans Nielsen shot. New York showing a bit of life in their legs and pep in their shot.  But Isles’ momentum is temporarily stunted by a Calvin de Haan double-minor high sticking call, and New York goes back on the PK. The Isles kill off the 4:00 penalty, but with a team like the Panthers, such feats aren’t as impressive as one would imagine. With 5:49 left in the game, Isles find some chances, as Weaver breaks up a sure goal in front of his own net, as Tavares attempted to feed a lone Vanek sitting in the high slot with a gaping net awaiting. The Islanders are outdone by sloppy, irresponsible play, and lose to one of the weaker teams in the Eastern conference.  SOG 12-6 Islanders

Point of Interest: Panthers with 8 TAKES to the Isles 3. FO wins even at 31.

Statistics

Goals

1st Period

• Aleksander Barkov (8). Assists: Brad Boyes. (:32). 0-1 Panthers
• Drew Shore (1). Assists: Krys Barch, Ed Jovanovski. 0-2 Panthers
• Nick Bjugstad (10). Assists: Scottie Upshall. 0-3 Panthers

2nd Period

• Scottie Upshall (7) SHG. Assist: Brian Campbell. 0-4 Panthers
• Colin McDonald (3). Assist:  1-4 Panthers

3rd Period

• Thomas Vanek. Assists: Frans Nielsen, Kyle Okposo.  (2:38) 2-4 Panthers

Penalties

1st Period

• Jonathan Huberdeau. Holding. (1:59)
• Matt Carkner. Hooking. (5:57)
• Frans Nielsen. Holding. (6:43)

2nd Period

• Calvin de Haan. Holding. (3:47)
• Marcel Goc. Goalie Interference. (14:55)
• Jonathan Huberdeau. Tripping. (17:26)

3rd Period

• Calvin de Haan. High-Sticking. (6:21). 

Turning Point

• The Nick Bjugstad 3rd goal late in the first period.

What’s Ahead

The Islanders go to the Bay to face Martin St. Louis and the feisty Tampa Bay Lighting.