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| #12 Josh Bailey helps Kevin Poulin stop a shot from #37 Matt Ellis (Photo by Bill Wippert/NHLI via Getty Images) |
The New York Islanders' late 3rd period rally fell short as they lost a close game to the Buffalo Sabres 2-1, Tuesday night in Buffalo.
Coming off a very disappointing home loss to Ottawa, the Islanders played a much better overall game, but it ended with the same result. With goaltender Evgeni Nabokov still battling the flu, Rookie Kevin Poulin got his second straight start. He played much better than his last go around, where he got pulled just 85 seconds into the game, but still ended up with his 4th loss on the year. Another Islander dealing with the flu was head coach Jack Capuano. Doug Weight took over as the interim coach for this game.
For the second straight game the Islanders gave up a goal in the first 2 minutes and couldn't overcome it. The goal came at the 1:21 mark of the frame when Tyler Myers jumped up on the play and banged home a rebound Poulin left after a Derek Roy shot. The goal was Myers' 6th of the season.
The second period saw much of the same as Buffalo scored the lone goal. It came at the 3:41 mark of the frame when Derek Roy took the puck behind Poulin's net and then made a beautiful pass to teammate, Thomas Vanek, who buried it past Poulin. It was Vanek's 22nd of the year.
The Islanders came out with a vengeance in the 3rd period, but could only get one by Buffalo goalie, Ryan Miller. The Islanders lone goal came at the 14:52 mark of the 3rd, when Frans Nielsen took a P.A. Parenteau pass and fired a slap shot by Miller's right pad. The goal was Nielsen's 13th of the year, and his 4th goal in his last 6 games. Parenteau also set a new career high with 54 points (12 goals, 42 assists).
With the Toronto Maple Leafs losing in overtime the Islanders now sit 7 points out of a playoff spot, with a game in hand on Toronto.
The Islanders next take the ice on Friday night. It's the battle for New York as the Isles and the first place Rangers will face off at the Coliseum. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 PM.
