Snap Shots: New York Islanders @ New York Rangers – 1/21/14

Jan 21, 2014; New York, NY, USA; New York Islanders left wing

(17) celebrates a goal against the New York Rangers during the first period at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

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

New York Islanders (20-24-7, 47pts) @ New York Rangers (27-21-3, 57pts)

Mono-Sodium Glutamate Arena 

7:00 PM

Islanders (5) – Rangers (3)

SOG: 37-33 Islanders

Starting Lineup

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

37 Brian Strait – 47 Andrew MacDonald
44 Calvin de Haan – 14 Thomas Hickey
46 Matt Donovan – 4 Radek Martinek

60 Kevin Poulin

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

Game Summary

First Period: Rick Nash opens the scoring early on, as a missed scoring chance by Tavares, catches all Isles by surprise on the transition, and after dumping the puck in deep, Nash sneaks into the high, short slot area unharmed and shoots it passed Poulin. Shortly thereafter, Islanders awarded first PP, as Del Zotto; nothing doing with the man-advantage. Rangers won the momentum through the first 6:00, as Islanders to establish offensive zone presence, and are falling prey to the Rangers transition game. The Isles begin to skate and pass with a bit more precision, and now have established the boards and offensive zone, even if the play is to the perimeter and away from Talbot; lots of grinding by the Isles. Both teams with quick line changes, that doesn’t allow for much in the way of zone presence. But, again, the Isles’s D are caught snoozing as Nash is sprung on a breakaway and beats Poulin for a second time. The Islanders may have owned possession and even the boards, but the “eye test” reveals a Rangers team filled with confidence and better speed. But the last 8:00 have shown some resurgence by the Isles forecheck, and Matt Martin cuts it down by one, as John Tavares works the boards behind Talbot and feeds a rushing Martin; give full credit to Kevin Poulin who stopped a sure-fired goal by Kreider beforehand. Casey Cizikas is called for a penalty not too long after the Isles goal, and Pouliot called for Cross-Checking on Andrew MacDonald to negate it all. Kyle Okposo is called for a penalty as the period draws to a close–a weak call to say the least. SOG 16-12 Islanders

Point of Interest: Islanders Hits at 9 to the Rangers 4; FO wins about dead-even: with the Isles at 12 to the Rangers 10

Second Period: Rick Nash opens the period by tripping John Tavares, negating the Okposo penalty. Through 5:00 of play, the Isles ply the pressure, as the Cizikas line continues forechecking strongly, generating some great scoring chances deep inside Rangers territory. But John Tavares, however, called for a Hooking penalty, and the Rangers go back on the PP. Isles PK kills off the penalty, but have to right back to work, as Martin is called for being a hockey player after the whistle is blowing–a simple shove after the whistle results in a 2:00 minor. The bad call leads to a bad goal as PK does nothing to help Poulin and the screen in front of him. Rangers up by 2 goals again. The Refs call a penalty on Pouilot as a means of evening the scales on that horrific call on Martin, and the Isles are back on the PP.  Matt Donovan does a good job of fending off a rushing Rick Nash late in the period.  But Thomas Hickey does an awesome job of pinching in on an offensive rush, cutting alone in front of Talbot and buries it cleanly for the Isles second of the evening.  Not too shortly thereafter, Colin McDonald ties it off a keen John Tavares pass. STOP THE PRESSES: Isles come back from another multi-goal deficit on the road. Another impressive comeback for the New York Islanders. SOG 8-7 Rangers

Point of Interest:  Islanders with 25 FO wins to the Rangers 19; Isles with 19 HITS to the Rangers 8

Third Period: Early key save by Poulin on McDonagh on a shot going Top Shelf. Islanders owned most of the momentum through the first 5:00, but Josh Bailey is called for a weak Tripping call, and the Isles go to work on the PK; Rangers 1 for 3 on the PP. Thomas Vanek with an offensive blue line turnover, sending Rick Nash on a breakaway, but Vanek scurries back to foil the play, assuredly breathing a sigh of relief. Through 13:00 the Islanders still the stronger team on the forecheck, and are closer to the go-ahead than their rivals. Lots of back and forth, with Kevin Poulin making some tremendous saves. Rangers called for Too Many Men, and the Isles go to the PP–call it karma for the terrible call on Martin. And the Karma continues as juicy rebound from a Tavares shot inside the slot, is calmly put behind Talbot by a rushing Vanek–a thing of beauty. Rangers pull their goalie and a flurry of passing and shooting ensues. Poulin, Martin and others do an amazing job of fending off the onslaught.   SOG 14-13 Islanders

Point of Interest: The entire period’s hustle and grinding. Thomas Vanek and John Tavares muscled their way back into the game. Kevin Poulin with some amazing saves.

–SPECIAL CONSIDERATION TO THE ENTIRE FOURTH LINE–

Box Score

Goals

1st Period

• Rick Nash (15).  Unassisted. (1:02)  0-1 Rangers 
• Rick Nash (16).  Assists: Dan Girardi, Chris Kreider. (11:07) 0-2 Rangers
• Matt Martin (2). Assits: John Tavares, Kyle Okposo. (17:22) 1-2 Rangers

2nd Period

• Chris Kreider (13) PPG. Assists: Derek Stepan, Brad Richards. (9:34) 1-3 Rangers
• Thomas Hickey (3). Assists: Thomas Vanek, Kyle Okposo. (13:22) 2-3 Rangers 
• Colin McDonald (4). Assists: John Tavares, Peter Regin. (16:36) 3-3 Tie

3rd Period

• Thomas Vanek (18) PPG. Assists: John Tavares, Frans Nielsen. (15:22) 4-3 Islanders
• Frans Nielsen (17) Empty Net. Unassisted. (19:53) 5-3 Islanders

Penalties

1st Period

• Michael Del Zotto. Interference. (2:34)
• Casey Cizikas. Hooking. (17:57)
• Benoit Pouliot. Cross-Checking. (18:37)
• Kyle Okposo. Cross-Checking. (20:00)

2nd Period

• Rick Nash. Tripping. (0:10)
• John Tavares. Hooking.  (6:24)
• Matt Martin. Being an Islander or Roughing.  (8:45)

3rd Period

•  Chris Kreider. Too Many Men. (14:25)

Turning Point

• The Colin McDonald goal and everything Thomas Vanek did this evening, especially the PPG/go-ahead goal.  Hmmmmmm how sweet it is….

What’s Ahead

The Islanders go back to Uniondale to face off against Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and the Birds from Pittsburgh.