Islanders try to bounce back versus questionable Crosby and Pens

November 8, 2008   ·   Derek Felix   ·   Jump to comments

They were 20 minutes away from a season best three-game winning streak but then the third period came which saw the Thrashers score three unanswered sending Scott Gordon’s Islanders soul searching after a 4-3 loss in Atlanta.

“After our first two goals, we stopped skating,” the first-year coach explained. “All of a sudden, we were a different team. We were not aggressive.”

His team had gotten goals from Frans Nielsen and Trent Hunter 17 seconds apart in the second to take the 3-1 lead into the locker room. But it was quickly erased when Slava Kozlov and Jason Williams tallied 48 seconds apart early in the third before Tobias Enstrom netted the winner with 8:31 left.

It seems no lead is safe for this Islander club who’s blown three big ones in the third including last week’s meltdown versus the Canadiens where they unveiled their new uniforms honoring the 1972-73 inaugural season. In that third period, they blew a three-goal lead giving up four straight to lose in regulation.

What if they could protect a lead? They’d obviously be better than their 4-8-1 record that has them tied with Florida for the fewest points in the league. The encouraging news is they’re playing better lately despite knowing Rick DiPietro won’t be back anytime soon. But can Joey MacDonald and backup Yann Danis keep them afloat?

In the mean time, whoever gets the nod in goal will be facing the high powered Penguins for the first time ever. The Pens will have the league’s leading scorer Evgeni Malkin (4-17-21) but Sidney Crosby is uncertain and has been playing through an injury. So, he’ll be a game-time decision.

It also marks the return of Miroslav Satan and Ruslan Fedotenko. Satan spent his previous three seasons on the Island driving Islander fans nuts due to inconsistencies and numbers which plummeted from 35 goals and 66 points in 2005-06 to 27 and 59 in 2006-07 to just 16 and 41 last season making it an easy club decision not to bring him back.

Somehow, Satan landed on his feet getting to play with the very skilled Pens and now enters having scored in three straight leading the club with eight goals. As for Fedotenko, his lone season with the Isles saw him put up 33 points (16-17-33) in 67 contests. He enters with two goals and two assists with his new team.

Obviously, the Isles should have a little added incentive to win tonight aside from looking to bounce back from the Atlanta game.

First-year defenseman Mark Streit has played well leading the team in scoring with 11 points (4-7-11) proving Garth Snow right so far for investing $20 million over five years in the former Hab power play specialist. He’s logged a ton of ice-time playing in all key situations.

Islander team captain Bill Guerin continues to provide solid leadership tied for the team lead with Hunter in goals (5) while also tied with Streit and vet Doug Weight for the team lead with 11 points.

Nielsen’s also been a pleasant surprise totaling seven points and veteran Richard Park has seven points including a deciding shorthanded goal in a 2-1 win over the Rangers earlier this week.

The Isles need more from Jeff Tambellini who re-signed for a couple of years and has no goals and only one assist with a minus-five in 11 games. When does the former Kings’ 2003 first round pick prove he’s worth that committment?

Meanwhile, rookie Kyle Okposo has struggled with only a goal and two helpers with a minus-six rating thus far. He’s capable of more.

The upcoming schedule doesn’t promise to get any easier with the Flyers visiting Tuesday and then a home and home against Ottawa before returning to Nassau Coliseum to host the Canucks on Nov.17.

There isn’t one easy game in it. So, it should be interesting to see how Gordon’s club responds.

The other locals also will be in action with the Rangers visiting the Caps while the Devils pay a visit to The Joe to face the defending Cup champion Red Wings.

Here’s the rest of Saturday night’s sched:

Buf at Bos, 7 ET

Cgy at CBJ, 7 ET

TB at Phi, 7 ET

Mtl at Tor, 7 ET, HNIC

Nsh at Col, 9 ET

Fla at Phx, 9 ET

Dal at SJ, 10 ET

Min at Van, 10 ET

Stl at LA, 10:30 ET