N.Y. Islanders Short Circuit Bolts In Game One At Tampa

From the desk: THE LONG ISLAND NOMADS

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
EASTERN CONFERENCE FINAL

Islanders lead Lightning; 1-0

I - NYI 2; TBL 1

GAME TWO
New York Islanders

vs

Tampa Lightning

Islanders Steal Away Home Ice With Opening Win At Tampa

They meet again.  

The long-awaited rematch has begun.

It takes just eight seconds before tempers flare and bodies come together.  But that would eventually play right into Long Island's hands.

New York Islander hockey is the lead story here.  For sixty minutes, they impose their will, offering the Bolts little space to strike and continually directing them outward toward the perimeter.  Tampa finds a big "Do Not Enter" sign hanging around Semyon Varlamov's neck with Islanders' forwards serving as bouncers.

Speaking of which, Long Island's forecheck remains relentless.  They forced Boston into turnovers and did the same to Tampa.  In fact, Kucherov was benched for a spell after making an inferior on-ice decision.  In addition, the Islanders made outlet passes quite problematic for them.

Semyon Varlamov effectively pitches a shutout, but not quite.  At 18:22 of the final period, Brock Nelson gets whistled for high-sticking the now-you-see-him-now-you-don't Nikita Kucherov.  Braiden Point cashes in on the power play with just 0:54 left in the game.  Otherwise, Semyon faces 31 shots, stopping all but one.  He makes seven special teams saves and 23 at even strength.  Said another way, he was brilliant.  Varlamov once again held down the fort and allowed the Islanders to establish a lead - no habitual goal allowed within his first few shots against, just stellar goaltending.

After a scoreless first period, the resurgent Mathew Barzal scores his fourth goal of the playoffs at 12:32 of the second period off a feed from Josh Bailey.  Then at 5:36 of the third, Ryan Pulock scores with an assist from Jordan Eberle.  Barzal now has seven points in his last six games.

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: Long Island Blows Overtime Budget

From the desk: THE LONG ISLAND NOMADS

Bruins lead Islanders; 2-1

I - BOS 5; NYI 2

II - NYI 4; BOS 3*

III - BOS 2; NYI 1*

*overtime

GAME FOUR

Bruins

vs.

Islanders

FROM

The Barn

Semyon Varlamov Surrenders First and Last Goal

The bottom line is Boston won on a really bad-angle shot.  

It renders moot which skaters were on the ice at that moment.

Was Semyon Varlamov surprised by this one particular attempt on net after already having faced 40 shots?  Did he not seal his body against the pipe?  Was he also being mindful of a Bruin potentially barreling down the slot?  Did Semyon even see the puck?   

Yes, he surrendered yet another early goal.  Lest we forget, he made five saves during an early Boston power play in the first as well.  That being said, can Semyon Varlamov be criticized for stopping all but one of 40 shots before the curtain fell?

Answer as you will.

Mind you, the Isles laid more hits and won more face-offs.  However, it's no wonder they also blocked more shots as Boston fired off 41 shots on goal, whereas the Islanders mustered 29 shots on goal.  Said another way, the Islanders were outplayed.  The power play was scoreless in three chances.

Islanders centermen (minus their captain) totaled nine shots on goal with one point.  Boston centermen joined together for 15 shots on goal with two points.  That's how close this is, two straight overtime games, and why Coach Trotz faces another dilemma regarding who starts the next game in net.  

Ilya Sorokin, if you remember, yielded five goals in game one, two on Boston power-plays, and three in the third period.  Meanwhile, Varlamov has carried the Isles into consecutive overtimes.  Fans might be split evenly down the middle.  It's just that Varlamov continues rendering the most inopportune goals.  Even then, you know what they say, listen to the fans, and before long, you'll find yourself sitting with them.

In three power-play opportunities, Tuukka Rask made five saves.  Otherwise, he makes 23 saves at even strength.  In fact, he made some rather stellar saves.  The Isles had their chances but simply couldn't convert against Rask.  After keeping the Isles scoreless through two and a half periods, Mathew Barzal decided to finally show up.  He scored his first goal of the post-season at 14:34 of the third period on feeds from Kyle Palmieri and Ryan Pulock, but that's all there was.  

At 3:36 of overtime, Brad Marchant takes a bad angle shot from the left corner that beats Semyon Varlamov.  

Boston takes two games to one series lead.

The Bruins have now outscored the Isles by a 10-7 margin and by a 9-6 margin in regulation.

Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy played 29:11 minutes, which sort of mirrors what Pittsburgh does with Chris Letang.  You do not see the disciplined Barry Trotz doing that.  Ryan Pulock led Isles blueliners with 24:34 minutes, Adam Pelech was next in with 23:21 minutes. 

N.Y. Islanders Take Out Penguins In Six

From the desk: THE LONG ISLAND NOMADS

NHL STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS

ROUND TWO

GAME ONE

ISLANDERS

vs.

BRUINS

FROM

Causeway Street Ice Hut

Isles Find Balance in the Force

Hear that..?

That's the sound of a window slamming shut.  

Time is running short for the Penguins.  For several years now, they've suffered poor goaltending and defensive depth.  Far too often, their top two defensemen average 28 and 29 minutes a night.  On this night, Chris Letang registers over 28 minutes.  Four Penguins defensemen finished with a minus-two.  Sidney Crosby and Bryan Rust were minus-three, and Jake Guentzel was a minus-four.

Game Six starts on a down note.  Jeff Carter, there's that name again, scores just 1:27 into the game.  The Isles answer just under four minutes later.  Anthony Beauvillier nets his third of the series on feeds from Brock Nelson and Josh Bailey. 

Scott Mayfield gets whistled at 9:58 of the first for cross-checking Evgeni Malkin.  It served its purpose, but Jake Guentzel made Long Island pay at 11:12 with his first goal of the series.  Then roughly one minute later, Kyle Palmieri ties the game at two off a feed from Jean-Gabriel Pageau.

The Islanders commit their second cardinal sin of the evening when at 1:53 of the second period, Jason Zucker gives the Penguins a 3-2 lead.

After which, the Penguins fall apart like wet toilet paper.

Brock Nelson scores at 8:35, and Ryan Pulock scores 13 seconds later on feeds from Travis Zajac and Jean-Gabriel Pageau.  Just under three minutes later, Brock Nelson nets his second goal of the game for a 5-3 lead and the final margin of victory.   

Ilya Sorokin stops 34 of 37 shots on goal and all shots over the final 38:07 minutes of play.

Anthony Beauvillier and Brock Nelson register three points each.  Islanders trade acquisitions: Kyle Palmieri scores three goals in six games, and Travis Zajac, who has played infrequently, finished with a plus-two.

• ICE COLD: Mathew Barzal registers just three assists and a minus-two through six games. 

Long Island wins the series in six.  After being down two games to one, the Isles win three in a row.  Once they toned down the physicality, their overall game synced up.  They will now take on the Boston Bruins, who easily defeated the Washington Capitals in five.  I'm curious to see how they approach this easily more physical match-up.

N.Y. Islanders Put Forth Complete Game Victory Over Pens

From the desk: THE LONG ISLAND NOMADS

Penguins and Islanders tied; 2-2

I - NYI 4; PITT 3*

II - PITT 2; NYI 1

III - PITT 5; NYI 4

IV - NYI 4; PITT 1

*overtime

Pens get Sixty Minutes of Long Islanders Hockey

A complete game and near shutout, Ilya Sorokin quells any lingering goalie debate in a statement performance.  He faces 31 shots and stops all but one, an inconsequential one at that, at 17:25 of the third period.  Sorokin must now finish out the series.  

To be frank, the Islanders should be up 3-1 in this series, except that Semyon Varlamov in game three failed to rise to the occasion.  Any time the Islanders score four times, they must come away with a victory, but unlike Sorokin on Saturday, Varlamov yielded very consequential goals time and again.

Long Island toned down the hitting, dominated face-offs, frustrated the Penguins into taking penalties while limited their own mistakes.  Cal Clutterbuck and the Islanders antagonized Evgeni Malkin all night and limited Sidney Crosby to just two shots on goal.  The Penguins committed dumb penalties in the third, and the Islanders made them pay a stiff price.  Oliver Wahlstrom and Jordan Eberle scored with 24-seconds of each other.  After going 0 for 3 in games one and two, the Islanders' power play is now 3 for 9 in the last two games.

The Islanders got top-notch goaltending, tight defensively, the power play was in working order, and they got even-strength goals in the second period from Josh Bailey, his second, and Ryan Pulock's first of the playoffs.

Mathew Barzal assisted on Eberle's goal.  He now has three assists in the last two games but is yet to score a goal through four.  Anthony Beauvillier led the Isles with six shots on goal.  Ryan Pulock led the team with a plus-two.

N.Y. Islanders: Semyon Varlamov Pitches Shutout Over Washington Capitals

From the desk: THE LONG ISLAND NOMADS

TUESDAY

Capitals  0

Islanders 1

FINAL

Battle For The Highground Rages On

With Tuesday's victory, the Isles win their third straight game and, with 54 points, reforge a first-place tie with the Capitals.  

After losing their first three meetings this season, the Islanders have now defeated Washington in consecutive games.  They will clash three more times before the season's end.

The teams engaged in a scoreless duel through the first two periods.  Another 13:05 would go by until Brock Nelson buried a loose puck in front on an initial shot by blueliner Ryan Pulock from the high circle and Josh Bailey's assist.  In fact, Islanders defensemen accounted for 14 shots on goal.  

Since we're talking defensemen, Nick Leddy leads the team with 24 assists.

With his 14th goal of the season, Brock Nelson takes over the team lead in goals over Mathew Barzal and Jordan Eberle.

Jordan Eberle put a couple of dents into the goalposts.  Otherwise, the Islanders peppered Washington goalie Vitek Vanecek with 39 shots, who stopped all but one.  Washington killed two penalties, and the Islanders likewise killed two penalties.  

Semyon Varlamov wins his second straight decision over the Capitals.  He faced 29 shots on goal and stopped them all for his fourth shutout of the season and his first since Feb. 8 against the Rangers.

N.Y. Islanders: Semyon Varlamov Saves Long Island From Elimination

From the desk of: NO SLEEP TILL BELMONT

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE

2019   EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS   2020

Lightning lead Isles; 3-2

I - TBL 8; NYI 2

II - TBL 2; NYI 1

III - NYI 5; TBL 3

IV - TBL 4; NYI 1

V - NYI 2; TBL 1*

*double-overtime

Semyon Varlamov Short Circuits Bolts Through Double Overtime

The pressure was squarely on Semyon Varlamov to steal a game.  It took 92:30 minutes, but like a thief in the night he does just that.  He faces 37 shots and stops all but one.  Once Tampa does score, Varlamov pitches a shutout over the ensuing sixty-seven minutes of play.  It's the first time in five games and only the third time since entering the bubble that Tampa has been held to one goal or less. 

It's a good thing too, as the Islanders are held to just 24 shots on goal through four and a half periods of hockey. 

Through two periods shots on goal were 15-12 in favor of the Bolts.  They out-shoot the Islanders 9-5 in the third, then trade four shots on goal during the first overtime.  But the Islanders were out-shot again by an 8-4 margin in the second overtime making Semyon Varlamov the brightest star of the game. 

The onus is now on the skaters in front of him to get the Islanders through to game seven.  After going just 1/14 on the power play through the first four games, Long Island finally gets a timely goal at 15:41 of the first period by Ryan Pulock giving the Isles a 1-0 lead.  But four minutes into the second period the Islanders get caught in a change; Victor Hedman collects a rebound and blasts it past Varlamov tying the game at one.

Long Island kills three power lays.  None more important than a four-minute minor called against Anthony Beaullivier for high sticking at 18:37 of the third period that spills into overtime.

Midway through the second overtime Kevin Shattenkirk whiffs on a shot attempt.  The puck is poked up ice by Anders Lee who catches up with it along the left side.  Joining him on the right is Jordan Eberle.  Lee feeds a beautiful slider to Eberle who converts on a one-timer that beats Andrei Vasilevskiy glove side for the win.

The Islanders are now 2/17 on the power play.  Tampa is 4/16, however, three goals come in game one.  Otherwise, the Bolts since game two are 1/10 on the power play.  Goals scored since game two are presently 10-9 in favor of the Lightning.

Through five games both teams get "The Point" - the Lightning are 3-0 when center Brayden Point is on the ice; the Islanders are 2-0 when Brayden Point is not on the ice.  On that note, Johnny Boychuck was back on the ice for the first time since sustaining an injury against Florida.

N.Y. Islanders: Zapped Again

From the desk of: NO SLEEP TILL BELMONT

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE

2019   EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS   2020

Lightning lead Isles; 2-0

I - TBL 8; NYI 2

II - TBL 2; NYI 1

When Lightning Strikes the Same Place Twice

This is the type of game the Islanders wanted to play, proving game one was an aberration.  They had everything going their way.  Tampa enters the game with eleven forwards and seven blue liners.  Midway through the second period the Bolts were playing with only nine forwards - no Steven Stamkos; no Brayden Point; no Alex Killorn.  Long Island yields just 21 shots on goal.  They keep Tampa scoreless in three power play opportunities.  The Isles win more face-offs and inflict more overall hits.  And they play with an early lead.  Matt Martin scores at the 1:24 mark of the opening period.  After which, the Isles spend upwards of twelve minutes in Tampa's end to start the game. 

At 5:55 of the first, Alex Killorn is called for a five minute major and a game misconduct for his vicious boarding of Brock Nelson.  The Isles get off five shots on goal but come up empty.

By the eight minute mark Tampa appears to be recovering from Long Island's opening surge.  But the Isles veto that and continue applying pressure.  Midway through Long Island owns an 11-3 advantage in shots on goal.  At 13:54 Ryan Pulock is whistled for tripping.  The Isles kill the penalty without allowing a single shot on goal.  It's part of a ten minute stretch in which the Islanders prevent the Bolts from taking a single shot.  Once out of the box, Pulock continues covering Brayden Point like a blanket, clearing the way for Mathew Barzal being the best centerman on the ice.

COMMITTING CARDINAL SIN of HOCKEY NUMBER ONE:

In the closing moments of the first period the Isles are called for a ponderous icing infraction.  The stripes clearly get this one wrong.  Back in their end the Isles lose the ensuing face-off.  Victor Hedman, there's that name again, scores with 1:34 showing on the clock.

COMMITTING CARDINAL SIN of HOCKEY NUMBER TWO:

The score remains unchanged for the next forty-four minutes and fourteen seconds.  Tampa does not achieve their tenth SOG of the game until the fourteen minute mark in the second.  But then, Long Island commits a defensive zone turnover.  At 19:51 of the third an uncontested Nikita Kucherov beats Semyon Varlamov; the Lightning lead 2-1; overtime averted. 

Assist by Ryan McDonagh ... a hard cross-ice pass from deep down along the left boards that goes untouched by three defenders.  Kucherov was positioned and waiting the whole time.

For two fleeting moments in time the Islanders slept on Tampa and it cost them dearly.  For a second straight game Ryan McDonagh proves Long Island's phantom menace.  Tampa is being aggressive on the pinch.  Tampa is known to interweaves a forward through the defensemen in order to facilitate just that; no big secret.  But the Islanders are letting McDonagh get lost in the crowd.  McDonagh is alone and free and more than happy to assist.

And so the Islanders had everything going for them except the final score.

They certainly had their chances, many chances in fact.  However, they go 0 for 4 on the power play; costly was their inability to score during a five minute major to Killorn.  But more than anyone, Tampa goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy deserves all three game stars.  Just hand em over.  He has started all fifteen games for Tampa since the NHL's return to action.  In game two he faces 28 shots and stops all but one.  Another way of looking at it: he yields a goal 1:24 into the opening period then shuts out the Islanders the rest of the way.

Tampa also seemed to have it in for Brock Nelson who suffers not one but two major boarding incidents, only the second period infraction goes uncalled.

Otherwise, never allow a goal in the first two minutes or last two minutes of any period!

I still say a 2-1 series deficit is manageable.  But the Islanders must now win game three or else be faced with having to sweep the final four.  Winning four of the next five .. not out of the question.