11/7/2011 Islanders Game Review

Islanders 2011-2012 Game 12 @ Bruins Review:

LOSS: Isles 2-5 Bruins

Record: 4-6-2

Summary:

Another bad start was a big reason for the team's loss in this game. Only a minute and thirty-two seconds into the game the Bruins were able to get a very questionable goal past Evgeni Nabokov. Quickly the Islanders tied it up just a few minutes later, but it was in vein as the Bruins then put two goals up mid-way through the first. Nabokov looked bad, and was promptly replaced by Al Montoya. According to Chris Botta, the Islanders wanted to showcase Nabokov in this game, but unfortunately all it did was lower his value. Once Montoya got in the net, things seemed to change for the Islanders. Late in the first Michael Grabner put a nice shot past Rask and it was once again a game. Unfortunately that was the last goal the Islanders were able to score. In the second, they held on by a thread and without Montoya standing on his head it could have easily been a blow-out much earlier on in the game. During the second intermission the Versus analysts were stunned that the Isles were actually still in this game because the Bruins had dominated them. That shock wore off though, as the Bruins came out in the third and put up two very quick goals and then towards the end of the 3rd they scored the empty netter on an Islanders power play. Speaking of the power play…it was atrocious. The Isles were 0 for 4, including two great opportunities in the 2nd period to tie the game. The lack of creativity on the power play is troubling and if I were Doug Weight I'd be telling the players to stop with this fancy crap and just get the puck to the net. This was a rough game for the team, and as Mike Milbury pointed out, especially for the veterans of the team. Brian Rolston, in my opinion the teams biggest underachiever, was a major negative factor in this one. In almost seventeen minutes of ice-time, he was a minus-3 and for a guy that is supposed to be producing and leading, this will not and should not continue. 

Three Positive Players Of The Game:

1- Michael Grabner- 

His speed was on full force last night and so was his offensive creativity. He had two points (a goal and an assist), and during the first period was making some very nice plays. It seems no matter who is on the first line it will remain successful and I personally believe that attributed to my 2nd player of the game

2- John Tavares- 

Even though he only had one assist, he was very solid in all three zones. There was one flaw to his play during the night, but I believe it was more on Mark Streit than it was on him. Anyway he had numerous take-away's and made a gorgeous play on the assist on Grabner's goal. He is playing a very consistent brand of hockey. 

3- Matt Moulson- 

As you can probably tell, I thought the first line played well and Matt Moulson was a big proponent to that. He made a beautiful deflection on a Steve Staios shot and continued to get to the areas on the ice you need to be to score score some goals.

Three Negative Players Of The Game:

1- Brian Rolston- 

I am getting really tired of having our highest payed player as the worst guy on the ice. He needs to pick it up soon or I think there has to be something done because this cannot continue to go on.

2- Mark Eaton- 

Not one of his better games, he looked lost out there a bit and was a big reason for the opening goal by the Bruins. He didn't seem as aware as he's been this season and his outlet passes were unimpressive. I can clearly remember at least two breakout passes that were either intercepted or deflected by the Bruins forecheckers. 

3- Frans Nielsen- 

He has been incredibly inconsistent this season and it continued last night as he put up a terrible minus-2. His play in his own end was not what you would be expecting from a guy like him and he turned over the puck in the neutral zone at least three times.