New York Islanders Power Play Sinks Woes vs Wild (Highlights)

The New York Islanders power play was pitiful again and led them straight to a 6-4 defeat on Thursday against the Minnesota Wild.

The Wild came into this game missing both Zach Parise and Nino Niederreiter I felt good about the New York Islanders chances.

That feeling was immediately erased. The Wild came out dominating. I’m getting real sick of the Islanders sleep walking through the first period and they took that to a new level on Thursday.

The Wild had the game’s first 12 shots, most of those due to an early 5 on 3. The penalty kill played well though and thanks yet again to Casey Cizikas the Wild didn’t score. That’s two games in a row now killing off a 5 on 3 and neither time did the Islanders come away with any momentum.

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No one would have blamed Thomas Greiss if he dug into his teammates at intermission. The Wild scored three goals in the span of seven minutes. I for one was ready to call it a night, barely halfway through the first.

The all-around play was just sloppy. Way too many careless mistakes and big turnovers. It doesn’t matter if it’s the Coyotes or the Wild, the team’s play at the start of games must change.

The first goal came thanks to Adam Pelech not knowing his surroundings and the second ccourtesyof a Thomas Hickey giveaway. Greiss was completely hung out to dry.
The Isles also had multiple power plays in the 1^st and they continue to be a mess. The third Wild goal came off an Eric Staal shorthanded breakaway. I was shocked that Doug Weight never called time out in the first.

The Isles managed to only be down 3-1 at the break. Anthony Beauvillier got his second of the season.

The Wild got a fourth goal but Weight won the challenge for goalie interference, which kept my interest past the opening period.

The Wild got their second shorthanded goal of the game early in the second. Staal fed Luke Kunin for his first NHL goal. I don’t’ know how you fix it at this point. No one moves. They don’t take enough shots and there is no aggression. Not scoring on the power play is one thing, but to allow two goals is borderline unfathomable.

They finished the evening zero for five on the power play.

Somehow the Islanders only trailed by two heading to the third but not even that could get them going. The Wild were simply the better team Thursday night.

If you want the very few bright sides, Anders Lee scored his 6th goal of the season. It’s only been 10 games and Lee has shown no signs of slowing down his 30 goal pace from last season. Josh Bailey also had three helpers on the night. He continues his strong start to the season. Matthew Barzal also added his second NHL goal with 3.1 seconds left in the game.

The Wild cruised to victory in the third and defeated the Islanders 6-4.

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Nothing the Islanders can do but put this lose behind them. I recommend they do it in a hurry, they have to play the defending Western Conference champion Nashville Predators on Saturday.