The New York Islanders were the dynasty of the early 1980’s, winning 4 Stanley Cups in a row including one against a plucky Minnesota North Stars squad. Since those halcyon days, the organization has only had a few bright spots amid many seasons of general embarrassment. A 15-year contract offer to Rick DiPietro, a buyout of Alexi Yashin (that comes with a $2.2 million cap hit) that finally ends this season and he hasn’t played for them since 2007, the tenure of crazy trades by then General Manager Mike Milbury (dealing away Roberto Luongo and Zdeno Chara to name a few). More recently, who could forget the wheeling and dealing a season ago when the team dealt away Nino Niederreiter for Cal Clutterbuck or their blockbuster deal for Thomas Vanek. The team swung those deals for players they felt would compliment its young talent pool but they sold off a ton of high draft picks and prospects to do it, then the Islanders hoped to sign Vanek to an extension and he says, “Nah, I’d like to keep my options open (cough sign with Minnesota cough)” prompting the club to cut its losses and deal him away for a single prospect (Sebastian Collberg). Ouch. Yet who cares about that now as the Islanders are atop the Metropolitan Division standings, with a fairly young squad that works hard and has a nice blend of speed, skill and grit.
The Wild were supposed to be that squad this season, with its collection of young talent and skilled veterans the time for a serious push was now. The truth is, the Wild are an underachieving club and the acquisition of Vanek has not vaulted the club towards the top of the Central and instead sits in 5th. Dare I say it, maybe Vanek’s decision spared the Islanders of another embarrassment. Its easy to play Monday morning quarterback with this, but Vanek was a far more productive player for the Islanders than he has been with the Wild. Will he ever live up to expectations is anyone’s guess. So will the Wild step up and get an important win or will the Islanders have the last laugh?
1st Period Thoughts: The Wild looked a little slow at the start as the Islanders were hustling well early. Niklas Backstrom found himself a little bit under siege. The Islanders were controlling the puck possession by working it down low and taking their chances to direct shots on goal. The Wild were giving the Islanders a lot of time and space. Even when the Wild matched the Islanders’ hustle, it didn’t amount to shots even being directed on goal. Poor decision-making didn’t help their cause as Nate Prosser passed a puck right to Ryan Strome who sent a pass out front that went off the skate of a backchecking Erik Haula and right onto the stick of Matt Martin who got off a quick shot that was stopped by Backstrom. It was a completely needless turnover that nearly resulted in a goal by a defenseman who can’t afford to make many mistakes if he doesn’t want to end up a regular healthy scratch. The Wild would try to go on the attack, but could not seem to gain any kind of time and space as the few pucks they sent towards the goal never reached Chad Johnson. The Islanders counter attacked as Michael Grabner carried the puck into the Wild zone rather patiently before giving a small burst to gain a little separation as he moved into the slot before firing a wrist shot by a somewhat screened Backstrom to make it 1-0. The Wild would earn a power play a little past the halfway mark of the period as Strome was called for hooking Minnesota’s Keith Ballard. Minnesota would not do much with the power play, moving the puck from the wall and out to the point and then back down low as Zach Parise looked for someone out front but no one was open. The Wild would go to its 2nd power play unit of Thomas Vanek, Jason Zucker and Nino Niederreiter and they were not much better. Perhaps out of desperation Zucker wound up and hammered a slap shot that was blocked aside by Johnson. Yet it was another sad power play performance for a team going against the league’s worst penalty kill. The pain wasn’t going to end there as the Islanders would strike twice late in the period. A careless high sticking penalty to Jason Pominville would turn what was a bad period into something worse when Nick Leddy would step into a slap shot that was redirected by Brock Nelson and by Backstrom to make it 2-0. Then just 30 seconds later the Wild would give up another as a shot from the point had Minnesota scrambling in its own end as Cal Clutterbuck knocked down Backstrom before Thomas Hickey was able to gather up the puck and shovel a slow-moving shot into the back of the net. 3-0 Islanders, and surprisingly the goal wasn’t met with a lot of boo’s but rather apathy. The fans could tell the Wild were not ready to play as could Wild Head Coach Mike Yeo, who called a timeout to chew out his club for their lack of energy. The Wild would send a few more shots on goal in the closing seconds but it was a sad end to what was a lethargic period by the home club. Minnesota was out shot 11-3 by the Islanders.
2nd Period Thoughts: The Wild had a little more push back to start the 2nd, as they tried to get traffic in front of Halak and then work a shot from the point. An early hooking penalty by Haula who rodeo’d Nelson to the ice. On the power play, the Wild’s penalty killers had good pressure on the puck carrier which prevented the Islanders from ever really getting set up in the offensive zone. After the big kill the Wild tried to press the attack as Ryan Suter led the rush and he’d send a pass near the goal that was directed on goal by Parise. A few minutes later, there was a super scary moment as Keith Ballard got rocked off the small bubble of glass between the benches. Wild Athletic Trainer Don Fuller was on the scene immediately as he called for the EMT’s to bring a stretcher. Ballard was clearly in distress as the arena was eerily silent with a few boo’s. Strangely enough, Ballard would actually make his way back up to his skates but he’d gingerly make his way back to the Wild locker room. The Wild and the home crowd were incensed at the non-call, and this ensured something nasty was going to happen later. On the replay it looked like Ballard tried to turn his back to the hit and as Martin made the hit (which didn’t look really dirty in my opinion, mostly late more than anything else) the defenseman went face / chin first into the dasher. The Wild were looking to finish their checks with a bit more ferocity as Mikael Granlund put a hit on Kyle Okposo near his bench that he did not like and he slashed the diminutive Wild forward in the back of the leg. On the power play the Wild would strike early as a wrist shot from the point by Ryan Suter hit a few legs on its way by Johnson. 3-1 Islanders. On the very next faceoff, Kyle Brodziak would drop the gloves with Martin. Martin would stay in control right from the start but never really let up as Brodziak was unable to get his arm fully free to start throwing some decent haymakers of his own. A clear cut win for Martin. Both pugilists would sit in the box for 5-minutes for fighting. The game would calm slightly as Vanek was given a roughing call. On the power play the Wild did a decent job of forcing the Islanders to settle for shots form the perimeter and they’d get another important kill. The Wild would go back on the attack as Vanek was found with a pass but he couldn’t get the puck to settle and so he pulled it back and as he tried to move behind the goal he was tripped up by Strome. This would give the Wild another power play chance to cut into the Islanders lead. Unfortunately it didn’t lead to any goals. The missed chance would come back to bite them as the Islanders who had registered a shot all period found Josh Bailey with a long pass and he moved in all alone and beat Backstrom with a backhander to make it 4-1 New York. Bailey’s goal took the wind out of the Wild’s sails as well as the crowd’s. Minnesota had to feel disappointed after surrendering that goal late in the period, despite out shooting the Islanders 12-1.
3rd Period Thoughts: The Islanders were content to defend their lead, shadowing the Wild in their own end making it difficult for Minnesota to get any kind of shots on goal. You had to be getting the vibe the Wild were looking more than a little deflated. The Wild would get a big play from their captain as he won a battle for the puck down low and skate it out front before snapping a wrist shot short side over the shoulder of Johnson. 4-2 Islanders. Minnesota would keep attacking while the Islanders played rope-a-dope while the Wild were sending every puck they could on goal, just hoping to get lucky. The Wild would draw another power play as a long pass by Vanek reached Gralund who dove to curl the puck over to Parise who got off a quick shot as he was tripped up. On the power play, the Wild set up Pominville a few times off the near the faceoff circles that he blasted wide. The Wild would get the big another big kill and they’d renew their assault on the Islanders’ end. Minnesota would cut the Islanders’ lead to one, as some great work by the 4th line of Kyle Brodziak, Erik Haula and Ryan Carter would be rewarded as Carter fired a shot towards the goal that was gathered up by Haula who flung a wrist shot that beat Johnson. 4-3 Islanders. The good feelings weren’t over just yet as Minnesota would tie the game just 45 seconds later as a point shot by Suter was stopped by Johnson before Vanek shoveled it home. With the sellout crowd roaring and momentum heavily in favor of the Wild, Islanders’ Head Coach Jack Capuano called a timeout to re-focus his team. The Islanders would have a great chance a little bit later as a long pass found John Tavares for a breakaway as raced in on Backstrom only to be stonewalled by the Wild goaltender. In the process, Tavares was slashed by Marco Scandella sending the Islanders to a power play. On the ensuing power play the Wild never let New York get comfortable in the offensive zone and Minnesota would come away unscathed on the man advantage. The Wild would take full advantage of the 2nd life the kill gave them as they’d get the go-ahead goal as a point shot by Suter again reached Johnson who couldn’t control the rebound and it was Niederreiter sweeping the puck in while lying on the ice to make it 5-4 Minnesota. There was still 4 minutes left to play, and the Wild did relax a bit and defend their lead as the Islanders tried to gather themselves for a game-tying effort. The Islanders got a bit of a break when Scandella was called for a hit to the head of former Warroad star Brock Nelson. On the power play, the Wild clogged up the middle of the ice rather effectively and with some timely puck pressure were able to clear the zone on a few occasions to alleviate from too much pressure being put on Backstrom. In the closing seconds Backstrom would make a great save from in close as they set up Okposo about 10 feet from the blue paint and Minnesota would come away with the 5-4 victory.
Niklas Backstrom made the timely saves to win the game, making 15 saves in the victory. The huge save on Tavares’ breakaway gave the Wild the chance to net the game-winning goal. Defensively the Wild responded after a very lethargic effort in the 1st period. I thought Marco Scandella was very good beyond the penalties he took tonight. Suter looked a little sluggish at certain points but he came up with some big set ups to help get Minnesota on the scoreboard. Hopefully Ballard is not too seriously hurt, even though the club rallied around his misfortune on the hit by Martin. I would suspect maybe a phone call from the league.
Offensively its hard not to be too impressed by the resilience after scoring 4 unanswered to rally back for the victory. In year’s past the game would’ve been completely over after the Islanders got up by 3 goals in the 1st period. Good to see the team will some ugly goals, instead of passing up on opportunities while they wait for the pretty play. If that is what gets Vanek and Pominville involved then so be it. I thought Koivu had a big game tonight, being engaging in both ends of the ice and Minnesota needs him to be more of a shooter because he has the shot to beat goalies when he wants to use it.
This game seemed all over but the crying until the momentum swinging hit by Martin on Ballard. While that woke the team up, it was the second rally after Bailey’s goal late in the 2nd that was perhaps more impressive. The team had dominated the whole 2nd period only to give up a goal on the only shot the Islanders’ had. Mike Yeo said he was most pleased with the way the team responded after an atrocious 1st period where the team looked lifeless. The Wild now take these good feelings on the road against the Sharks on Thursday. Hopefully the team can use this to rally for a winning streak.
Wild Notes:
~ The Wild roster tonight was as follows: Mikko Koivu, Jason Pominville, Jason Zucker, Thomas Vanek, Mikael Granlund, Zach Parise, Nino Niederreiter, Kyle Brodziak, Erik Haula, Justin Fontaine, Charlie Coyle, Ryan Carter, Ryan Suter, Jonas Brodin, Jared Spurgeon, Marco Scandella, Nate Prosser and Keith Ballard. Darcy Kuemper backed up Niklas Backstrom. Stu Bickel and Christian Folin were the healthy scratches.
~ The 3 Stars of the Game were: 1st Star Nino Niederrieter, 2nd Star Mikko Koivu, 3rd Star Thomas Vanek
~ Attendance was 18,904 at Xcel Energy Center.
Iowa Wild Report:
Recent Score: Iowa 4, Charlotte 3
Those on the Wild bench probably had some doubts when Charlotte scored the first goal of the game just 59 seconds in as Justin Shugg lit the lamp behind John Curry. Iowa would tie the game, late in the 1st as Mathew Dumba stepped into a slap shot that blazed by Drew McIntyre. The Wild would take the lead early in the 2nd as Tyler Graovac buried a shot from in close. Charlotte would respond with a game-tying goal of their own as Chad Larose tipped in a rebound off a Ryan Murphy shot. The Checkers would then take the lead with about 6 minutes left in the 3rd as another Murphy slap shot would deflect off the skates and legs of a few players before trickling by Curry. Former Wild Prospect Camp tryout Carter Sandlak was given credit for the goal. It seemed like the team was destined for another late-game disappointment, but Jonathon Blum would score off the rush just 50 seconds later to tie the game at 3-goals apiece. The Wild would get the go-ahead goal with just under 3 minutes left as Jason Gregoire sniped a shot over the shoulder of McIntyre to make it 4-3 Iowa. The Checkers threw everything they have at the Wild, but Curry was able to keep Charlotte at bey and they’d prevail for just their 6th victory of the season. Curry had 20 saves in the win, while Dumba and Blum both finished with a goals. Graovac had a goal and two helpers.
Wild Prospect Report:
C – Reid Duke (Brandon, WHL) ~ The Calgary-born forward keeps pacing the Wheat Kings’ attack after another tough 3-2 loss to Regina despite Duke contributing a goal in the game. Duke was a starter in that game playing on a line with John Quenneville and Quintin Lisoway. The former Lethbridge Hurricanes’ bantam draft pick has 10 goals, 28 points, 28 PIM’s and is a +11 in 27 games.
D – Dylan Labbe (Shawinigan, QMJHL) ~ The two-way defenseman had a huge night for the Cataractes as he contributed an assist and two goals, including the game-winning overtime goal as Shawinigan prevailed 4-3 over Victoriaville. Almost sounds Marco Scandella-ish. Oddly enough, in that game Labbe was not named any of its 3 stars despite the game being played in Shawinigan. Labbe has 9 goals (already one off his QMJHL single season high), 23 points, 19 PIM’s and is a +4 in 28 games.
G – Stephen Michalek (Harvard, ECAC) ~ Sometimes its not always about stopping more shots than the other team as it is about stopping one more goal than the other goaltender gives up. That was true Friday night when Michalek stopped 22 shots en route to a 4-3 win despite the Crimson pumping 55 shots on Princeton’s Colton Phinney. Michalek has an impressive 9-1-2 record, a 1.70 goals against average and a .942% save percentage.
RW – Chase Lang (Calgary, WHL) ~ The lanky Calgary winger added an assist, a shot on goal and 2 PIM’s in the Hitmen’s 6-2 victory over provincial arch rival Edmonton on Friday night. Lang has 13 goals, 27 points, 25 PIM’s and is a +9 in 26 games.
C – Pavel Jenys (Sudbury, OHL) ~ With some prospects, you kind of expect to get skunked from seeing anything new when their club gets trounced in a one-sided score. With Pavel Jenys, as long as his club scores one goal, chances are he was a part of it. Case in point, Jenys had an assist in the Wolves 7-2 loss to Oshawa. The Brno, Czech Republic-native has 6 goals, 22 points, 22 PIM’s and is a -9 in 27 games played this season. The -9 might seem bad, but the Wolves are the worst team in the OHL with an ugly 5-21-1 record.
LW – Mario Lucia (Notre Dame, H-East) ~ The Fighting Irish have found Hockey East to be a lot more difficult than things used to be in the CCHA. Even teams near the bottom on Hockey East’s standings battle very hard night to night and can give higher profile clubs fits. This was true Friday night where the Fighting Irish outlasted the Massachusetts Minutemen 7-5 in a barn burner. Former Penticton Vees’ scoring ace Mario Lucia had a goal and registered 2 shots on goal in the victory. Lucia has 11 goals, 14 points and 12 PIM’s in 18 games this season.
D – Louie Belpedio (Miami-OH, NCHC) ~ The Miami Redhawks struggled in their first season in the NCHC and after a slow start have caught fire to rise to the top of the conference. They sent another loud message to the rest of the conference with an 8-2 thrashing of Nebraska-Omaha on Friday night. The former U.S. National Development Team defenseman Louie Belpedio had a solid game adding 2 helpers and 2 shots on goal in the victory. Belpedio has 3 goals, 7 points and 8 PIM’s in 15 games.
C – Avery Peterson (Nebraska-Omaha, NCHC) ~ Yet imagine how you’d feel if you’re on the other end of that 8-2 loss, well Peterson certainly knows that feeling. After chipping in an assist on the first goal of the game, he watched as his team gave up 7 goals before answering back late in the 3rd period. Peterson has 5 goals, 9 points, 2 PIM’s in 14 games this season.
D – Tanner Faith (Kootenay, WHL) ~ The stay at home defenseman normally is not much of a factor in the Kootenay attack. He registered a an assist in Kootenay’s 3-2 win on Saturday. Faith has a goal and 6 points, 29 PIM’s and -4 in 19 games.
D – John Draeger (Michigan State, Big 10) ~ The Spartans got a dose of revenge Saturday night as they were able to prevail in a shootout over Minnesota, 4-3. The former Shattuck-St. Mary’s star had an assist in the victory. The assist was Draeger’s first point of the season.
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