Dubie, Dubie, Dubie, Du-BYE!!
Can't get that song by The Stories out of my head now that it's been announced that Wade Dubielewicz will start Thursday night's rematch against the Rangers at the Coliseum. It's a curious move by Ted Nolan for a couple of reasons, not the least of which is that Rick DiPietro is back and ready to go and is unquestionably the starting goalie for this team.
You'd think that after getting two strong efforts from Dubie while DiPietro was attending to family matters, Nolan wouldn't press his luck looking for number three. And don't you think that DiPietro, who has carried this team for much of the season, isn't raring to get back in there, especially at home against the hated Rangers? Don't you think he'll be a LITTLE bit P.O.'d? Why mess with him?
And then there's this S.A.T. analogy: Dubie is to the Rangers as Garth Snow was to the Flyers. Is that true now?
Maybe we're getting a little ahead of ourselves. Let's just focus on winning the game tonight, then getting DiPietro back in the nets, where he'll hopefully remain for the next 13 games, plus playoffs. Needless to say, I'd LOVE to be there tonight, but having just returned from a conference in sunny Palm Springs, I'm still getting my work and home lives in order and can't spare the evening out, so I will instead watch from the comfort of the living room.
What a game I missed, though (gotta get myself a Slingbox, I guess). Another blown two-goal lead, but winning in an extra-long shootout only makes a win over the Rangers that much sweeter, and the sting that much more painful for Blueshirts fans. And you love seeing a guy like Tambellini score the game-winner in an atmosphere like that. What a confidence boost.
And let's face it, Dubie played well so you don't mind giving him another shot and playing the hot hand. But me? I'd thank Dubie for filling in so well, then hand the mask to D.P. and tell him to go beat the Rangers. Either way, with the Isles three points behind the Flyers for eighth place -- a win is a win.
Showing posts with label Tambellini. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tambellini. Show all posts
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Liveblog: Islanders v. Flyers
A small, intimate gathering here at the Coliseum tonight as the Islanders take on the Flyers and try to snap not only a seven-game winless streak but a seven-game HOME losing streak. I made the drive from Stony Brook to be here, so I expect a win. So does Ted Nolan, I'm sure.
Actually, the roads weren't too bad coming in. Took 90 minutes to get here, double the usual time, but by the time I hit the Northern State it was pretty much a train ride -- a line of cars content to go 20 miles an hour and not get too crazy, unlike some of the drivers who had traversed the same road earlier in the day and took it a little too fast, whose cars dotted the shoulders every couple of miles.
In case you haven't seen it, read the profile of Stefan Persson on the Islanders site. Persson was extremely underrated and could have starred on just about any team in the NHL, so we were very glad to have him here.
Bruno Gervais won't be playing tonight - just add him to the list of the injured. It doesn't get any easier for this team, which would make a win tonight against the Flyers even bigger.
By the way, there are more people in the Blog Box tonight than there are in Section 226. Seriously. Everyone wants to see the Isles break the slide and beat Philly. YEAH!
Berard and Bergeron playing together tonight -- that will be a combo to watch tonight. Scoring chances created versus allowed. Isles come out strong by the way with three shots in the first three minutes. So let's see some goals.
Martinek called for closing his hand on the puck - are you kidding me? It may have been closed for a thousandth of a second on the hand pass. Please. Can we just let them play? Weak. Isles kill it off.
It's Hockey and Heels night tonight, and the Isles are giving away makeovers. Eddie Shore is turning over in his grave.
When it rains it pours. Witt and Hartnell smash knees at center ice - didn't look intentional either way, but Witt gets the penalty. Can we catch one break? And then a puck comes firing into the stands. Even the fans are outta luck tonight. Isles kill it again.
Lots of talk in the Blog Box tonight about whether the Isles are buyers or sellers. Frank Trovato says blow up the team and bring up Okposo. Tom Liodice says keep Okposo down. I see three or four players dealt at most. Speaking of drafts, I was perusing through The Hockey News 1991-92 Yearbook at the 1991 draft results. The Isles took Scott Lachance with the fourth pick, which I thought was a good pick since he went to BU. A few picks later, Peter Forsberg went to the Flyers. Ouch.
By the way, there is a three-month-old sitting two rows in front of me in his Islanders blue. Now THAT'S dedication.
Scramble in front - and Hunter pokes it past Nittymaki with just 2:18 left. Isles convert on one of their 14 shots of the period. Isles up 1-0 after one, shots 17-11 in favor.
Not only flying pucks to be wary of, but we were almost nailed by two T-shirts. They keep you on your toes here.
Keeping you informed: Larry the Cable Guy will be at the Coliseum on May 2. I may have to be here. That isn't a paid endorsement - I just think the guy is hilarious.
Second period begins - and of course the Isles get called for a penalty, this time Sutton for holding, a mere 15 seconds in. Geez. And the Flyers score - D.P. makes a great stop in a goalmouth scramble with a wave of his glove off Knuble, but the puck goes right to Briere, tie game.
What's this? An Islanders power play? We'll take the make-up call if it was one.
Comrie a terrible cross-ice pass to Berard picked off by Richards - D.P. stays with him on the breakaway and Richards dekes himself, no shot. Then Meyer with a pass from the point to the post to Satan, he deflects the puck just wide. That was a fun sequence.
And a nice shot by Tambellini from the left circle and it's 2-1 Islanders! Beats Nittymaki inside the far post. That's how you answer.
Another reason the Isles need to win tonight - tomorrow's my birthday. Thanks!
Tambellini with a golden opportunity in front with Nittymaki down and he can't convert - shot hits a Flyer in front. Could have been 3-1 right there. Nice work tonight from that line of kids.
GREAT GOAL - Hunter steals the puck at the Isles blue line and feeds Bergenheim on a breakaway down the middle. He draws the penalty as he's hooked from behind, but still gets off the shot and beats fellow Finn Nittymaki -- again, stick side -- with just over 6 minutes left in the second. Isles up, 3-1.
Isles shorthanded AGAIN - this time it's Comeau in the box. Get the feeling someone would like to see a certain outcome tonight? Hmmmmmmm. No matter - another kill for the Islanders.
Moments later, the equalizer. Umberger down low crosses a pass to the slot for Hartnell, who beats the defenseman to the spot, Flyers cut it to 3-2. Bad goal with two minutes left - you can't give one back that easy. End of two, Isles up by one.
Flyers jump on it in the first minute of the third, D.P. makes a nice pad stop at the left post. Comrie answers with a sharp wrister snared by Nittymaki.
ANOTHER Isles penalty, this time on Bergenheim, two minutes for interference. Not making it easy. And another kill. Great job by the PK tonight.
With 8:26 left, I think the Isles really need a goal here to go up two, because Philly will probably score with around 4 minutes left, if recent history counts for anything.
Kimmo Timonen rings one off the post -- here we go...
Fedotenko! With 5:58 left. His shot was saved, Hunter takes a shot low that's stopped, but the Tenk roofs one, third time is a charm and the Isles are up 4-2. There's the insurance goal they needed. HUGE.
Isles almost make it five goals when Vasicek puts a move on Nittymaki but it's stopped - Vasicek had the arms raised. Seconds later, Isles on another PP. Now it's a 2-man advantage when Comrie drags the toe and holds the puck on a 2-on-1 to draw the foul.
Easy come, easy go. The 2-man advantage disappears, then Fedotenko is called for roughing as the Flyers swarm the net. It's 4-on-4 with 1:06 to go. Game ain't over yet.
Philly pulls the goalie, and right off the faceoff Lupul scores to make it 4-3. Philly on the PP for the last 53 seconds. Nice clear by Park with :18 left.
That's it -- Isles win and the streaks are broken. Off to the postgame!
Actually, the roads weren't too bad coming in. Took 90 minutes to get here, double the usual time, but by the time I hit the Northern State it was pretty much a train ride -- a line of cars content to go 20 miles an hour and not get too crazy, unlike some of the drivers who had traversed the same road earlier in the day and took it a little too fast, whose cars dotted the shoulders every couple of miles.
In case you haven't seen it, read the profile of Stefan Persson on the Islanders site. Persson was extremely underrated and could have starred on just about any team in the NHL, so we were very glad to have him here.
Bruno Gervais won't be playing tonight - just add him to the list of the injured. It doesn't get any easier for this team, which would make a win tonight against the Flyers even bigger.
By the way, there are more people in the Blog Box tonight than there are in Section 226. Seriously. Everyone wants to see the Isles break the slide and beat Philly. YEAH!
Berard and Bergeron playing together tonight -- that will be a combo to watch tonight. Scoring chances created versus allowed. Isles come out strong by the way with three shots in the first three minutes. So let's see some goals.
Martinek called for closing his hand on the puck - are you kidding me? It may have been closed for a thousandth of a second on the hand pass. Please. Can we just let them play? Weak. Isles kill it off.
It's Hockey and Heels night tonight, and the Isles are giving away makeovers. Eddie Shore is turning over in his grave.
When it rains it pours. Witt and Hartnell smash knees at center ice - didn't look intentional either way, but Witt gets the penalty. Can we catch one break? And then a puck comes firing into the stands. Even the fans are outta luck tonight. Isles kill it again.
Lots of talk in the Blog Box tonight about whether the Isles are buyers or sellers. Frank Trovato says blow up the team and bring up Okposo. Tom Liodice says keep Okposo down. I see three or four players dealt at most. Speaking of drafts, I was perusing through The Hockey News 1991-92 Yearbook at the 1991 draft results. The Isles took Scott Lachance with the fourth pick, which I thought was a good pick since he went to BU. A few picks later, Peter Forsberg went to the Flyers. Ouch.
By the way, there is a three-month-old sitting two rows in front of me in his Islanders blue. Now THAT'S dedication.
Scramble in front - and Hunter pokes it past Nittymaki with just 2:18 left. Isles convert on one of their 14 shots of the period. Isles up 1-0 after one, shots 17-11 in favor.
Not only flying pucks to be wary of, but we were almost nailed by two T-shirts. They keep you on your toes here.
Keeping you informed: Larry the Cable Guy will be at the Coliseum on May 2. I may have to be here. That isn't a paid endorsement - I just think the guy is hilarious.
Second period begins - and of course the Isles get called for a penalty, this time Sutton for holding, a mere 15 seconds in. Geez. And the Flyers score - D.P. makes a great stop in a goalmouth scramble with a wave of his glove off Knuble, but the puck goes right to Briere, tie game.
What's this? An Islanders power play? We'll take the make-up call if it was one.
Comrie a terrible cross-ice pass to Berard picked off by Richards - D.P. stays with him on the breakaway and Richards dekes himself, no shot. Then Meyer with a pass from the point to the post to Satan, he deflects the puck just wide. That was a fun sequence.
And a nice shot by Tambellini from the left circle and it's 2-1 Islanders! Beats Nittymaki inside the far post. That's how you answer.
Another reason the Isles need to win tonight - tomorrow's my birthday. Thanks!
Tambellini with a golden opportunity in front with Nittymaki down and he can't convert - shot hits a Flyer in front. Could have been 3-1 right there. Nice work tonight from that line of kids.
GREAT GOAL - Hunter steals the puck at the Isles blue line and feeds Bergenheim on a breakaway down the middle. He draws the penalty as he's hooked from behind, but still gets off the shot and beats fellow Finn Nittymaki -- again, stick side -- with just over 6 minutes left in the second. Isles up, 3-1.
Isles shorthanded AGAIN - this time it's Comeau in the box. Get the feeling someone would like to see a certain outcome tonight? Hmmmmmmm. No matter - another kill for the Islanders.
Moments later, the equalizer. Umberger down low crosses a pass to the slot for Hartnell, who beats the defenseman to the spot, Flyers cut it to 3-2. Bad goal with two minutes left - you can't give one back that easy. End of two, Isles up by one.
Flyers jump on it in the first minute of the third, D.P. makes a nice pad stop at the left post. Comrie answers with a sharp wrister snared by Nittymaki.
ANOTHER Isles penalty, this time on Bergenheim, two minutes for interference. Not making it easy. And another kill. Great job by the PK tonight.
With 8:26 left, I think the Isles really need a goal here to go up two, because Philly will probably score with around 4 minutes left, if recent history counts for anything.
Kimmo Timonen rings one off the post -- here we go...
Fedotenko! With 5:58 left. His shot was saved, Hunter takes a shot low that's stopped, but the Tenk roofs one, third time is a charm and the Isles are up 4-2. There's the insurance goal they needed. HUGE.
Isles almost make it five goals when Vasicek puts a move on Nittymaki but it's stopped - Vasicek had the arms raised. Seconds later, Isles on another PP. Now it's a 2-man advantage when Comrie drags the toe and holds the puck on a 2-on-1 to draw the foul.
Easy come, easy go. The 2-man advantage disappears, then Fedotenko is called for roughing as the Flyers swarm the net. It's 4-on-4 with 1:06 to go. Game ain't over yet.
Philly pulls the goalie, and right off the faceoff Lupul scores to make it 4-3. Philly on the PP for the last 53 seconds. Nice clear by Park with :18 left.
That's it -- Isles win and the streaks are broken. Off to the postgame!
Monday, December 3, 2007
LIVEBLOG: Bruins 3, Islanders 1
Another liveblog from the Coliseum to see if the Isles can bounce back against Boston. Jeff Tambellini was brought up from Bridgeport to inject some life into a moribund offense. Tambellini has seven goals and 14 assists in 20 games with the Sound Tigers and will play tonight with Mike Comrie and Miro Satan.
Ted Nolan stated before the season that Tambellini wasn't the kind of player who is suited for toiling on the fourth line, and if he was to play with the big club he'd have to produce. Well, Jeff, welcome to the first line. And score some goals, will ya?
Fedotenko will skate with Vasicek and Guerin while Bergenheim plays with Sillinger and Hunter, with Park-Simon-Hilbert rounding out a forward set that needs to get on the board three times tonight. Is that too much to ask?
Also of note, Bruno Gervais is a healthy scratch tonight as the Isles go with the traditional six defensemen. Berard and Bergeron will both be out there tonight. Again, it's about goals.
If you're wondering why no post after the 4-0 loss to the Thrashers, I also ask - why? What's the point? That was ug-leeeee. Let's forget it ever happened.
Tambellini gets involved early with a big hit and has a couple of looks. Interesting to see Zdeno Chara not only wearing Larry Bird's number 33 for Boston on the Coliseum ice, but also wearing the captain's C. It got me thinking, how many former Islanders are currently captains in the NHL? That'll give me something to do between periods.
Comrie gets a golden opportunity with 5:09 left in the first on the doorstep with Tim Thomas down, but he can't lift it into the goal. One goal isn't going to do it tonight, fellas!
Isles on the power play, Jeremy Reich gets the gate for tripping. That's Reich as in "reach out and trip him" and not Reich as in "Third Reich." Thank goodness for him. One good chance on a shot from the slot but otherwise, that power play went by in a hurry.
DiPietro keeps it 1-0 with two good stops on Chuck Kobasew right in front in the final minute. End of one, Bruins up 1-0, Isles outshooting the B's 11-8.
Answer to our first period trivia question - two former Islanders are currently captains on their respective NHL teams - Chara and Olli Jokinen of the Florida Panthers. Those were the two guys I knew of off the top of my head, and that's all there is. I did look up every roster on NHL.com to double-check. That's the kind of effort you'll get from this blogger. It's the J.T. way.
By the way, as bad as the Isles have been on offense, has ANYONE lamented the absence of Alexei Yashin? Didn't think so.
My Blog Box neighbor Jim McGlynn and I talked a bit about the Isles' scoring woes between periods, and though the team has treaded water in the last 11 games, playing .500 it is a slippery slope and if they don't snap out of it, you get the sense it could all go downhill. The presence of DiPietro has prevented that so far, but how long can that last?
Isles on the power play again and the snakebitteness (Is that even a word? It is now) continues. Bergeron blasts a shot wide right (hit the net, please) and then Satan is absolutely STONED at the right post by a Thomas pad save off a rebound of a Berard shot from the point. DAMN! No goals.
Boston with a chance at the post but D.P. covers up. Hard to believe that a two-goal deficit would be such a big hill to climb. But it is. And it is sad.
It continues - Satan passes up to Vasicek in front to Fedotenko with the net open at the left post - WIDE! You get the feeling that when the Isles finally score this place is going to explode like it did when Tonelli fed Nystrom. Except with about 6,000 less people. You get the idea.
I've mentioned in the blog before that when the horn sounds here, the frequency of vibration makes my iBook freeze for a couple of seconds while it's blaring, and sometimes I think the next one is going to fry it for good. But if that's what it takes to get this team to score a lousy goal, I'm willing to sacrifice the laptop. I'll take one for the team.
The game has settled into a mode where, if I were watching at home on the DVR, I'd be watching it on the first fast-forward setting.
Isles kill a penalty with Hunter in the box, then Witt tries to wake up his mates by drilling Kobasew into the boards. It doesn't work. Bruins go up 2-0 moments later when Petteri Nokelainen steps in on a breakaway after a miscue by Sutton and beats DiPietro high on the stick side with under two minutes left in the second. Islanders, meet the two-goal mountain.
Isles get a power play chance with 47 seconds left in the period when Marco Sturm goes off. Bergeron breaks his blade on a shot from the point. Hunter fires wide from a low angle. End of two, 2-0 Boston, and based on recent history, you can beat the traffic and not miss a comeback. I hope I'm wrong.
Keeping you informed: The difference between nachos grande and the nachos with cheese: salsa, sour cream and jalapenos. That's a dollar well-spent.
Start of the third, Isles with 1:13 left on the power play. Twenty minutes of desperation to follow. Nothing doing on those 73 seconds, and it's come to this - fans are chanting "Score-a-goal." You forgot to say please, folks.
Isles kill a penalty, then Glen Metropolit (no 'an') gets two for hooking. Satan gets a shot blocked, Bruins clear, then clear again with 40 ticks left on the advantage. Thomas stops Fedotenko, Sutton's shot is blocked - PP ends and the booing begins.
Satan gets hauled down on a break by Andrew Alberts - no penalty shot called. You hate to say 'this is it,' with 11:18 left, but... I think it is. HUGE power play here.
Fedotenko rebound deflected over the net by Thomas, then Sillinger is stopped from the slot with 12 seconds left in the advantage. More booing. The power play continues to be utterly lifeless.
Of course, moments later Sillinger is called for slashing as the Bruins push into the Islanders zone. If two goals is a mountain, what's three? Everest? A black hole? The Mariana Trench?
Hilbert gets called for delay of game for knocking the puck into the crowd, and now the Isles are down two men. Doesn't there have to be a shred of intent there? He flailed at the puck and got lucky to connect - or unlucky, to be exact. Horrible.
Isles kill the disadvantages but time is short, less than five to play.
Frustration: Hunter is called for roughing, well behind the play with 3:34 left. Eight seconds later, Kobasew converts and it's 3-0. Goodnight, everybody! Drive home safely.
Hang on... Chris Campoli scores from the point through a screen with 1:51 remaining, a POWER PLAY goal that finds the top left corner. That makes it 3-1 and snaps the scoreless streak at 140 minutes and 12 seconds.
Rangers blanked by Carolina, by the way, 4-0. Hey, it's something.
Empty net, Hunter stopped and Comrie has it ON HIS STICK in front, net open, can't get a handle on it. Eighteen seconds left. And so it goes. Twelve games now without scoring more than two goals in any game, and the Isles are 5-6 with an overtime loss in that span.
Boston's win is its first at the Coliseum in 11 games, since December, 2001. Congrats.
POSTGAME INTERVIEW: TED NOLAN
What's wrong with the offense? A lot. It just comes down to being more hungry. We're OK, but OK doesn't cut it. We did have our chances but they're coming when the goaltender is seeing the puck.
Nothing seemed to work today but there's always tomorrow. We just have to keep working at it. Just have to find a way and stick together.
We had some jump [early] but didn't capitalize.
ON SUTTON'S MISCUE THAT LED TO BOSTON'S SECOND GOAL: Everything becomes more magnified. Every time you lose, those things happen.
ON THE UPCOMING ROAD TRIP: Maybe the road is a good thing for us to have some meals together and be together. We can't let frustration get the better of us. It's a long year and a lot of teams go through spurts like this.
ON TAMBELLINI: He added some speed to us. He gave us some grit along the boards. He did what we asked him to do.
(Nolan added that Gervais' scratch was partly being the odd man out and partly because he is banged up, but added that he will be back in the lineup.)
ON BERGENHEIM GETTING EXTRA TIME: His effort is always there. What he gives us is what we are looking for.
Ted Nolan stated before the season that Tambellini wasn't the kind of player who is suited for toiling on the fourth line, and if he was to play with the big club he'd have to produce. Well, Jeff, welcome to the first line. And score some goals, will ya?
Fedotenko will skate with Vasicek and Guerin while Bergenheim plays with Sillinger and Hunter, with Park-Simon-Hilbert rounding out a forward set that needs to get on the board three times tonight. Is that too much to ask?
Also of note, Bruno Gervais is a healthy scratch tonight as the Isles go with the traditional six defensemen. Berard and Bergeron will both be out there tonight. Again, it's about goals.
If you're wondering why no post after the 4-0 loss to the Thrashers, I also ask - why? What's the point? That was ug-leeeee. Let's forget it ever happened.
Tambellini gets involved early with a big hit and has a couple of looks. Interesting to see Zdeno Chara not only wearing Larry Bird's number 33 for Boston on the Coliseum ice, but also wearing the captain's C. It got me thinking, how many former Islanders are currently captains in the NHL? That'll give me something to do between periods.
Comrie gets a golden opportunity with 5:09 left in the first on the doorstep with Tim Thomas down, but he can't lift it into the goal. One goal isn't going to do it tonight, fellas!
Isles on the power play, Jeremy Reich gets the gate for tripping. That's Reich as in "reach out and trip him" and not Reich as in "Third Reich." Thank goodness for him. One good chance on a shot from the slot but otherwise, that power play went by in a hurry.
DiPietro keeps it 1-0 with two good stops on Chuck Kobasew right in front in the final minute. End of one, Bruins up 1-0, Isles outshooting the B's 11-8.
Answer to our first period trivia question - two former Islanders are currently captains on their respective NHL teams - Chara and Olli Jokinen of the Florida Panthers. Those were the two guys I knew of off the top of my head, and that's all there is. I did look up every roster on NHL.com to double-check. That's the kind of effort you'll get from this blogger. It's the J.T. way.
By the way, as bad as the Isles have been on offense, has ANYONE lamented the absence of Alexei Yashin? Didn't think so.
My Blog Box neighbor Jim McGlynn and I talked a bit about the Isles' scoring woes between periods, and though the team has treaded water in the last 11 games, playing .500 it is a slippery slope and if they don't snap out of it, you get the sense it could all go downhill. The presence of DiPietro has prevented that so far, but how long can that last?
Isles on the power play again and the snakebitteness (Is that even a word? It is now) continues. Bergeron blasts a shot wide right (hit the net, please) and then Satan is absolutely STONED at the right post by a Thomas pad save off a rebound of a Berard shot from the point. DAMN! No goals.
Boston with a chance at the post but D.P. covers up. Hard to believe that a two-goal deficit would be such a big hill to climb. But it is. And it is sad.
It continues - Satan passes up to Vasicek in front to Fedotenko with the net open at the left post - WIDE! You get the feeling that when the Isles finally score this place is going to explode like it did when Tonelli fed Nystrom. Except with about 6,000 less people. You get the idea.
I've mentioned in the blog before that when the horn sounds here, the frequency of vibration makes my iBook freeze for a couple of seconds while it's blaring, and sometimes I think the next one is going to fry it for good. But if that's what it takes to get this team to score a lousy goal, I'm willing to sacrifice the laptop. I'll take one for the team.
The game has settled into a mode where, if I were watching at home on the DVR, I'd be watching it on the first fast-forward setting.
Isles kill a penalty with Hunter in the box, then Witt tries to wake up his mates by drilling Kobasew into the boards. It doesn't work. Bruins go up 2-0 moments later when Petteri Nokelainen steps in on a breakaway after a miscue by Sutton and beats DiPietro high on the stick side with under two minutes left in the second. Islanders, meet the two-goal mountain.
Isles get a power play chance with 47 seconds left in the period when Marco Sturm goes off. Bergeron breaks his blade on a shot from the point. Hunter fires wide from a low angle. End of two, 2-0 Boston, and based on recent history, you can beat the traffic and not miss a comeback. I hope I'm wrong.
Keeping you informed: The difference between nachos grande and the nachos with cheese: salsa, sour cream and jalapenos. That's a dollar well-spent.
Start of the third, Isles with 1:13 left on the power play. Twenty minutes of desperation to follow. Nothing doing on those 73 seconds, and it's come to this - fans are chanting "Score-a-goal." You forgot to say please, folks.
Isles kill a penalty, then Glen Metropolit (no 'an') gets two for hooking. Satan gets a shot blocked, Bruins clear, then clear again with 40 ticks left on the advantage. Thomas stops Fedotenko, Sutton's shot is blocked - PP ends and the booing begins.
Satan gets hauled down on a break by Andrew Alberts - no penalty shot called. You hate to say 'this is it,' with 11:18 left, but... I think it is. HUGE power play here.
Fedotenko rebound deflected over the net by Thomas, then Sillinger is stopped from the slot with 12 seconds left in the advantage. More booing. The power play continues to be utterly lifeless.
Of course, moments later Sillinger is called for slashing as the Bruins push into the Islanders zone. If two goals is a mountain, what's three? Everest? A black hole? The Mariana Trench?
Hilbert gets called for delay of game for knocking the puck into the crowd, and now the Isles are down two men. Doesn't there have to be a shred of intent there? He flailed at the puck and got lucky to connect - or unlucky, to be exact. Horrible.
Isles kill the disadvantages but time is short, less than five to play.
Frustration: Hunter is called for roughing, well behind the play with 3:34 left. Eight seconds later, Kobasew converts and it's 3-0. Goodnight, everybody! Drive home safely.
Hang on... Chris Campoli scores from the point through a screen with 1:51 remaining, a POWER PLAY goal that finds the top left corner. That makes it 3-1 and snaps the scoreless streak at 140 minutes and 12 seconds.
Rangers blanked by Carolina, by the way, 4-0. Hey, it's something.
Empty net, Hunter stopped and Comrie has it ON HIS STICK in front, net open, can't get a handle on it. Eighteen seconds left. And so it goes. Twelve games now without scoring more than two goals in any game, and the Isles are 5-6 with an overtime loss in that span.
Boston's win is its first at the Coliseum in 11 games, since December, 2001. Congrats.
POSTGAME INTERVIEW: TED NOLAN
What's wrong with the offense? A lot. It just comes down to being more hungry. We're OK, but OK doesn't cut it. We did have our chances but they're coming when the goaltender is seeing the puck.
Nothing seemed to work today but there's always tomorrow. We just have to keep working at it. Just have to find a way and stick together.
We had some jump [early] but didn't capitalize.
ON SUTTON'S MISCUE THAT LED TO BOSTON'S SECOND GOAL: Everything becomes more magnified. Every time you lose, those things happen.
ON THE UPCOMING ROAD TRIP: Maybe the road is a good thing for us to have some meals together and be together. We can't let frustration get the better of us. It's a long year and a lot of teams go through spurts like this.
ON TAMBELLINI: He added some speed to us. He gave us some grit along the boards. He did what we asked him to do.
(Nolan added that Gervais' scratch was partly being the odd man out and partly because he is banged up, but added that he will be back in the lineup.)
ON BERGENHEIM GETTING EXTRA TIME: His effort is always there. What he gives us is what we are looking for.
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