Home sweet home, Isles end road trip on sour note
There is a reason players get chosen first overall on most years. John Tavares, the leading candidate for the Calder trophy during this 2009-10 Islanders campaing is showing why.
Tonight, the Islanders were down 2-0 against the Toronto Maple Leafs and then John Tavares, along with some amazing stops by Dwayne Roloson, took over.
The Leafs Ian White was called for a hold at 19:57 of the second period and then Mike Komisarek was called for Interferencce at :19 of the third giving the Islanders a 5 on 3 power play. John Tavares scored on the power play to cut the Leafs lead to 2-1. Then, late in the 3rd period, the Islanders found themselves again on the power play. At 11:48 of the 3rd period, Jamal Mayers was called for a Boarding penalty after he and Brendan Witt got matching rough minors, and the Islanders went back on the power play. A set play off a face off saw Kyle Okposo feed Tavares for his second of the game, both on the power play to tie it up at two.
It seemed as if “JT” had changed the momentum in this one. That was until Bruno Gervais made a bad behind the net pass to Mark Streit, in which neither player were looking up the ice. The Leafs Mikail Grabovski stole the puck from Streit, fed Jason Blake who scored to put the Leafs on top 3-2. Jason Blake had four goals on the year coming into this game. It seems that it would be the Islanders luck that he scores the game winning goal.
Dwayne Roloson was sharp again, stopping 32 of 35 but the extra man for the Leafs early and the fumbled play by the Isles late ruined a nice outing.
The loss comes from two bad Matt Moulson penalties in the first period and a horrible broken play.
The Jack Hillen penaty with 3:33 to go in the 3rd took the life out of any attempts the Isles would make at a comeback. Scott Gordon, nor Hillen were happy with the call.
There is a lot of work to be done for the Islanders, who now have two days off. They return home to welcome the Boston Bruins on Saturday, a team that has been playing much better hockey as of late.
The tale of two tapes, the Islanders need to wake up as the Bruins are for real.
