N.Y. Islanders Impose Their Will Upon Boston Bruins

From the desk: THE LONG ISLAND NOMADS

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
PLAYOFFS: ROUND TWO

Islanders defeat Bruins; 4-2

I - BOS 5; NYI 2

II - NYI 4; BOS 3*

III - BOS 2; NYI 1*

IV - NYI 4; BOS 1

V - NYI 5; BOS 4

VI - NYI 6; BOS 2

*overtime

Boston Gets Blown Out Of The Barn; Isles Advance To Final Four

Looking back, it took Barry Trotz exactly one game to figure out the Bruins.  Afterwhich, it was just a matter of physical execution.  

Game one was not an aberration.  Boston and their perfection line are that good.  Game three was a coin flip; we know that.  The real story was the one-all tie during regulation.  Otherwise, overtime is risky business.  Take away Long Island's two empty-net goals in game six, and the Isles still doubled up on Boston.  All told, the Islanders wind up outscoring Boston by a 22-17 margin.

Wednesday evening started with an inspiring National Anthem.  Good job by Long Island!

At some point, Lou Lamoriello needs to be shoehorned into this conversation.  In 13 regular-season games after his acquisition from the Devils, 36-year old Travis Zajac registered two points, a goal against Boston, and an assist versus the Rangers.  He played just one game in the series against Pittsburgh in which he posted an assist and a plus-two.  Travis was scoreless through the first five games against the Bruins.  Come game six, the veteran of 15 seasons and 57 playoff games while with the Devils opens the scoring at 8:52 of the first period off feeds from Noah Dobson and Jean-Gabriel Pageau - another Lamoriello acquisition.

This time Semyon Varlamov did not yield an early goal, and thus the Isles could play with a lead.  That is until Brad Marchand made Long Island pay for committing two really dumb tripping penalties when at 17:36 of the first, he scored a power-play goal assisted by David Krejci and David Pastrnak.

We've heard it before about Barry Trotz telling his team to keep pressing with the forecheck.  So you know he must have said something during the first intermission.  With mission statement in hand, Brock Nelson stole the puck near Boston's blue line and came barrelling through the right circle to score at 5:20 off feeds from Nick Leddy and Josh Bailey.  Then, at 12:39, a forechecking Brock Nelson seized the puck in a major Boston defensive zone faux-pas and scored with another assist from Josh Bailey.

Barry Trotz's system and Lou Lamoriello's acquisitions are punctuated by yet another Boston defensive zone turnover.  Kyle Palmieri converts a rebound unassisted at 16:07, giving the Isles a 4-1 lead.  Former New Jersey Devil Kyle Palmieri now leads the Islanders with seven playoff goals; Brock Nelson is next with six.

A third tripping penalty called against the Islanders (Matt Martin) leads to Brad Marchand's second power-play goal of the game.  Otherwise, Semyon Varlamov does not yield an even-strength goal.  He faces 25 shots on goal, stopping all but two during special teams.  Varlamov rewards his head coach's confidence in him with his fourth victory over Boston.  His only loss came after limiting Boston to just one goal in regulation, then losing game three in overtime.

It was quite appropriate that Cal Clutterbuck and Ryan Pulock should both score into empty nets, respectively, a reward for jobs well done.  Pulock led Isles blueliners with 23:21 minutes and a plus-one.  Clutterbuck, there's a reason why the Islanders a few years ago signed him to an extension.  They get their money's worth every night.

Meanwhile, the Islanders out-bullied the brutish Boston Bruins.  Long Island could have fallen upon the Bruins like a ton of bricks (as they did in game one) if they wanted to but realized a need to tone it down a bit to better sync up the rest of their game.  That said, Long Island in game six provided young Charlie McAvoy a lesson in what it's like playing under duress.  He needed upwards of six minutes to recover from a big hit by Kyle Palmieri ... there's that name again.

This was a sound series victory over the Bruins.

Nuf ced.

N.Y. Islanders Take 3-2 Series Lead Over Boston Bruins

From the desk: THE LONG ISLAND NOMADS

STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS
ROUND TWO
Islanders lead Bruins; 3-2

I - BOS 5; NYI 2

II - NYI 4; BOS 3*

III - BOS 2; NYI 1*

IV - NYI 4; BOS 1

V - NYI 5; BOS 4

*overtime

Three Power Play Goals Sink Bruins

David Patrnak, or should I say, Semyon Varlamov did it again.  He yields an early goal within the first few shots of the game, forcing the Islanders to again play from behind.

A Bruin is a Bruin is a Bruin ... despite dominating play in the first period, Sean Kuraly is whistled for a mindless slash upon Noah Dobson at 18:17 of the first period.  Mathew Barzal continues his personal surge with a power-play goal at the 18:49 mark - a real crowd killer - tying the game at one.

A Bruin is a Bruin is a Bruin II ... at 2:56 into the second period, Matt Grzelcyk is penalized for cross-checking Leo Komarov.  Kyle Palmieri makes Boston pay just before the power play was set to expire.

But of course, the lead does not last.  The Islanders have thus far been caught playing Bruins hockey.  Brad Marchant skates around Ryan Pulock and, at 7:27, ties the game at two.

However, the tide starts to change, and now the Islanders have Boston drawn into their own brand of hockey.  Josh Bailey puts the Islanders ahead at 14:30 on feeds from Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Anthony Beauvillier.

A Bruin is a Bruin is a Bruin III ... at 15:18 of the second period, Chris Wagner is sent to the box for high-sticking Mathew Barzal.  At 16:38, Jordan Eberle gives Long Island a 4-2 lead; Noah Dobson and Mathew Barzal the assists.

The Bruins pulled goalie Tuukka Rask for the third period.

Brock Nelson repays Boston for the Pastrnak goal when he scores at the 1:59 mark of the third period.

Afterwhich, it becomes a matter for Semyon Varlamov outlasting the Bruins.  Whereas the Islanders generate just 19 shots on goal, Boston fired off 44 shots on goal.  Pastrnak scores on a power-play at the 3:48 mark, and at 14:43, David Krejci pulls the Bruins within one.  But they would score no more.

Semyon Varlamov faces 44 shots stopping four for the win.  

Physicality remains up to snuff; Islanders hold the edge.

Mathew Barzal now has three goals in his last three games and six points in the series.

Kyle Palmieri scored his team-leading sixth goal of the playoffs and his third against the Bruins.

N.Y. Islanders Beat Themselves in Game Three

From the desk: THE LONG ISLAND NOMADS

STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS

Penguins lead Islanders; 2-1

I - NYI 4; PITT 3*

II - PITT 2; NYI 1

III - PITT 5; NYI 4

Penguins Unphased By Long Island's Physicality

The Islanders continue pushing the Penguins around.  They once again outhit the Penguins by a 47-29 margin bringing the grand total through three games to 165-111 in favor of the Islanders.  This speaks of the forecheck, back-checking, and every other kind of check.  At 5:35 of the third, all decorum leaves the building.  All ten skaters have at it.  Afterwhich, the Islanders reap the benefits of Anthony Beauvillier's game-tying goal.  They even scored on the power play for a change!

But this is only getting the Islanders so far.  Most times during this series, they're playing right into Pittsburgh's hands.  They're not defending well, and, if truth be told, Semyon Varlamov played a terrible game.  Josh Baily, Anthony Beauvillier, Brock Nelson, defenseman Noah Dobson all finish with a minus-two.

Pittsburgh scored at 2:01 of the first period.  It might as well have been within the first two minutes, which, we know, is a cardinal sin.

After Scott Mayfield tied the game midway through the second, Jeff Carter put the Pens back in front exactly two and a half minutes later - that's a mistake.  Then yielding a third goal with under two minutes left in the second period is indeed a cardinal sin, much less a huge mistake.  

Early in the third, Cal Clutterbuck cut the Islanders deficit to one.  Anthony Beauvillier then ties the game at three at the 5:54 mark.  However, Clutterbuck gets whistled at 6:23 for a costly interference penalty.  On the power play, Jeff Carter does it again, scoring within forty seconds and putting Pittsburgh back in front - a mistake.  Cal Clutterbuck somewhat makes up for his indiscretion with his second goal, tying the score at four.  

At 16:24 of the third period, Branden Tanev scores the decisive goal.  That's what happens when you're playing catch-up hockey.

You might say Semyon Varlamov allowed a couple of soft goals, particularly the first.  He faces just 27 shots on goal and yields five very ill-timed goals.  Coach Trotz is now faced with making a critical goalie decision down 2-1 in the series.

And where is Mathew Barzal?

N.Y. Islanders: Tell League Lou You and Go Trotz Yourself

From the desk of:  NO SLEEP TILL BELMONT

MATHEW BARZAL~C

22 Goals; 63 Assists; 85 points

2018 NHL TOP ROOKIE

CALDER TROPHY

Lou Lamoriello, hired by the New York Islanders ownership group in May was charged with restoring a once proud franchise back to prominence.  He may by 75-years old but he is still sharp as a sickle and knows how to wield it.  And on Tues, June 5, 2018, he whacked both former general manager Garth Snow and former head coach Doug Weight.  In turn, he agreed to pay the suddenly available Barry Trotz' asking price, and hired him on the spot to be next handler of the Islanders.

Lou Lamoriello looked around, and it said was good ...

This past weekend, he addressed two glaring team needs during the 2018 NHL Entry Draft.  Knowing the Isles have long lacked an impact defensemen, he drafted three: Noah Dobson, Bode Wilde, and Christian Krygier.   Together they average 6'2" 190lbs., in size.  And knowing he needed an upgrade at goalie, Lou selected Jakub Skarek in the 3rd round and 72nd overall.  Among four forward selections, two are centers: smallish 5'8" 152 lbs Ruslan Iskhakovc, and the considerably larger Jacob Pivenka who weighs in at 6'0" 201lbs.  Lou selected two wingers as well who average 6'2" 204 lbs.

Then Lou Lamoriello looked around, and said it was good ...

On July 2, 2018, the franchise player, John Tavares, becomes an unrestricted free agent.  He turns 28-years old in September.  Various reports list the Sharks, Golden Knights, Stars, Lightning, and Maple Leafs as being interested parties.  Odds are he will agree to a contract with the Islanders, and finish out his career as an all-time Long Island favorite.  If in fact that happens, Brooklyn had better continue appreciating this opportunity for watching a great hockey player representing the Borough until the team's planned move to Belmont.

There's reason to believe Lou Lamoriello will take another look around, and make good with John Tavares, as well.