Islanders Ice Penguins

Islanders celebrate Kyle Okposo's goal (Photo by Gregory Shamus/NHLI via Getty Images)

          Facing one of the elite hockey teams of the Eastern Conference, the Islanders offense erupted with five goals, as the Islanders defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-3.
          Center Frans Nielsen scored two goals, and Center Josh Bailey got three assists, in the big win for the Isles. 
          With the win the Islanders concluded an extremely successful five-game road-trip, in which they won four out of the five games.
          It started early for the Islanders, just over three minutes into the game they took their first lead.  At the 3:12 mark, center Frans Nielsen put a rebound, that came off the boards behind the net, past Penguins goalie, Marc-Andre Fleury, to make it 1-0 Isles.  It would stay that score until with only five seconds left in the first, the Isles would increase their lead.  At the 19:55 mark of the period, right winger Michael Grabner would fire a wrist shot that glanced off Fleury's glove and in.  The goal was Grabner's seventeenth of the year.
          Pittsburgh would answer back in the second period.  It started at the 1:42 mark when center Tyler Kennedy would tip the puck by Isles goaltender, Evgeni Nabokov, to trim the lead to 2-1.  The goal was Kennedy's tenth of the year.  Just over two minutes later the Penguins would strike again, and tie the game.  At the 4:10 mark, left winger James Neal would fire a one-timer over the glove of Nabokov, and it seemed the momentum was shifting.  However, the Islanders would regain the momentum (and then some), in the final six minutes of the period.  
          Starting at the 12:48 mark, right winger Kyle Okposo would outskate Penguins defenseman Brooks Orpik and beat him to the puck.  Okposo then fired a wrist shot from the top of the right face-off circle and buried it over the glove of Fleury, and off the crossbar, to make it 3-2 Isles.  The goal was Okposo's eighteenth of the year, and it was third straight game that Okposo has scored.  Just over two minutes later, at the 15:20 mark, left winger David Ullstrom would bury a powerplay goal past the blocker of Fleury, to make it 4-2 Isles.  The goal was Ullstrom's fourth of the year.  Finally, about three minutes later, at the 18:08 mark, Nielsen would bury his second of the game.  He was led on a breakaway by Bailey, and was challenged by a sprawling Fleury.  Nielsen would stickhandle away from the goalie and bury a wrist shot into the empty net to make it 5-2 Isles.  The goals were Nielsen's sixteenth and seventeenth of the year.  
          When the third period started both teams switched goalies, but for very different reasons.  Pittsburgh's Marc-Andre Fleury was pulled from the game after giving up five goals on on eighteen shots.  He was replaced by Brad Thiessen.  On the other hand, Evgeni Nabokov was injured in the second period when he got his skate caught in the ice and fell.  He left with a lower-body injury and did not return.  Al Montoya replaced him and stopped all but one shot.  
          Neal was only man to put one by Montoya, at the 15:42 mark.  While on the powerplay, Neal fired a snap shot by the pads of Montoya to make it 5-3, and that's how the game ended.
          With only six games left, the Islanders will now return home and face these same Penguins.  Puck drop is scheduled for Thursday at 7 PM.          

Top 20 on the Islanders: #5 Evgeni Nabokov

Nabokov makes a save at side of net (Photo by Mike Stobe/NHLI via Getty Images)

          And then we were at the Top five current Islanders.  Starting us off at number five, on the top twenty list, is one of of the oldest players on the team.  At thirty six years old, this goalie is showing no signs of slowing down, as he continues to play at a high level.  The number five player on the Island is goaltender, Evgeni Nabokov.
          Nabokov, or as Islander fans know him "Nabby", was drafted in the ninth round (219th overall), by the San Jose Sharks, in the 1994 NHL Entry Draft.  He played nine seasons in San Jose until he was traded to Detroit.  He didn't play a game in a Detroit uniform and was subsequently put on waivers.  That's where the Islanders nabbed him, claiming him off waivers on January 22nd, 2011.  
          Nabokov started his hockey career in the AHL (American Hockey League), for a team called the Kentucky Thoroughblades.  While there he played in seventy-six games compiling a record of thirty-six wins, thirty-five losses, and three ties.  
          Nabokov then moved up and started playing in the NHL for the San Jose Sharks, where he had a stellar career.  With the Sharks, Nabokov played in five-hundred sixty-three games.  He compiled a record of two-hundred ninety-three wins and one-hundred seventy-eight losses.  In the 2000-2001 NHL season, Nabokov was awarded the Calder Trophy, which is awarded to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition in the NHL.
          Nabokov then was brought on to play for the Islanders.  He was picked off waivers in early 2011, but Nabokov decided he wanted to play the rest of the year in Russia and not with the Islanders.  Though many fans shunned him for this decision, they now love him.
          In his first year with the team, Nabokov has made a major impact.  He's played in forty-one games compiling a record of eighteen wins, eighteen losses and three losses in overtime.  
          The biggest thing Nabokov has brought is stability to a position that has seen five different goalies play this year alone.  
          One of the best headlines Islanders fans have seen recently, was on March 21st, 2011.  It was on that day that the Islanders and Nabokov agreed on a one-year extension, and landed Nabokov back on the Island through next year.
          Even though he has been here a short time, Nabokov has become a leader on this team, and is a player who has experience getting to the playoffs.  That will be a key element for a team who will be looking to become a playoff team next year.  

Islanders tame Panthers

Islander Frans Nielsen scores in shootout against Jose Theodore (Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/NHLI via Getty Images)

          The Islanders battled back twice against the Florida Panthers, and eventually ousted them in a shootout, to win 3-2.
          The win was the Isles' third in four chances, on this current five-game road trip.  They will end the road trip in Pittsburgh on Tuesday.
          The Islanders fell behind early, when the Panthers scored just six minutes into the game.  At the 5:55 mark center Stephen Weiss took a pass from behind the net and buried a wrist shot over the glove of Islander goaltender, Evgeni Nabokov, to make it 1-0.  The goal was Weiss' nineteenth of the year.  
          The Islanders would bounce back, and tie the game, late in the second period.  At the 18:57 mark, while on the powerplay, left winger Matt Moulson took a pass from linemate, center John Tavares, and buried a wrist shot past the Florida goaltender, Jose Theodore, to tie the game at one.  The goal was Moulson's team leading thirty-fourth of the season.  
          The two teams would match each other in goals in the third.  Florida scored first at the 9:51 mark, when left winger Tomas Fleischmann would take a weird bounce off the boards and fired a wrist shot under the right pad of Nabokov, to make it 2-1.  The goal was Fleischmann's twenty-fourth of the year.  Just over two minutes later, at the 12:22 mark the Isles would tie the game once again.  Right winger Kyle Okposo would throw the puck towards the net and it would deflect off the stick of Florida defenseman Dmitry Kulikov, and past Theodore, to tie the game.  The goal was Okposo's seventeenth of the year, and his second in two games.  Regulation time would end with the game tied at two, and it was time for overtime.
          Neither team would score in the overtime period, sending this game to a shootout.  Florida shot first, and it was center John Madden against Nabokov.  Madden would try to go over the glove of Nabokov, but was not able to put it past him, giving the Isles the early advantage.  The Islanders would send out one of the best lead-off hitters in the game, center Frans Nielsen.  Prior to this shot Nielsen had been 6-10 (60%) in shootouts this year.  Nielsen would go in on Theodore and bury his famous backhand over him and give the Isles the 1-0 advantage.  Nielsen continued his amazing showing in shootouts, and is now 7-11 (63.6) this year.  That would be all the Islanders would need as Nabokov would stop the following two Florida shots, and the Islanders would skate away with the shootout victory.
          Unfortunately for the Isles, the eighth place Washington Capitals also won, and their hopes for the playoffs are almost gone.  With only seven games left, the Islanders sit eleven points out of a playoff spot.  
          The Islanders will conclude, what has been a successful road trip so far, when they visit the CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh, for a tilt against Sidney Crosby and the Penguins.  Puck Drop is scheduled for 7PM.            

Nabokov Signs One-Year Extension

Isles Goalie Evgeni Nabokov (Photo by Mike Stobe/NHLI via Getty Images)

          The Islanders leader in wins, goals against average and save percentage is coming back.
          The New York Islanders announced earlier today that goaltender Evgeni Nabokov has agreed to terms on a one-year contract for the 2012-13 season. 
          Nabokov, has a 17-18-3 record this season with a 2.56 goals against average and a .912 save percentage.  He leads all Islander goaltenders in games played, and has become a leader in the locker room.
          Nabokov is a major piece to the puzzle if the Isles want to make a playoff run next year.  They have a great young team and have a chance to become good next year.  Securing Nabokov for next year is a great move by Islanders GM Garth Snow.
          With Nabokov in place and excited to play a full season with the Islanders, the chances of the organization making the playoffs have once again become a reasonable possibility.  

Islanders make Nabokov an offer

It's looking more likely Nabokov will remain in this #20 jersey (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

          With the NHL trade deadline fast approaching, Islanders GM Garth Snow is letting it be known that he has no intentions on trading his number one goaltender, Evgeni Nabokov.  Snow has reportedly made an offer to Nabokov to keep him in the orange and blue.  
          Though many teams have shown interest in the veteran goaltender, it appears as if the Isles want to keep their net-minder on Long Island.  And the feeling seems mutual, as Nabokov has reportedly said he is happy with the team and its future.
          The Islanders' offer to Nabokov has options, as they offered him both a 1 year and 2 year deal.  The decision is said to be happening soon.  The hope around the organization is that he will extend his contract 2 years.    
          It's no surprise that the Islanders made this decision as Nabokov is one of the top goaltenders in the league.  In 29 starts he is 14-14, and has 2 shutouts.  The record doesn't give him justice, as in some of those wins the Islanders offense struggled big time.  He currently ranks 9th in the league with a 2.24 goals against average.  He also is 8th in the league with a .925 save percentage.  
          Another key factor for Snow has got to be the opportunity that rookie Kevin Poulin will have learning under one of the best goalies in the NHL.  Poulin has shown flashes of brilliance, but with Nabokov's guidance he will be able to harness his abilities and perform better on a game to game basis.  
          Nabokov has quickly become a fan favorite on the Island and many fans should be happy with this decision by Snow.  All that needs to happen now is for Nabokov to commit to this young up and coming team and resign.  But that, I believe, will come in time. 

My advice to Garth Snow: Don't Trade Nabokov!

Evgeni Nabokov manning the net (Photo by Mike Stobe/NHLI via Getty Images)

          With the trade deadline exactly two weeks away, there have been many rumors surfacing about the future of goaltender, Evgeni Nabokov.  My advice to the Islanders; keep him.
         Nabokov has won 7 of his last 10 outings, some of them on his own.  In 6 of those wins he has been one of the three stars of the game.  In 3 of those contests he was the first overall star.
          Islanders fans also won't soon forget a certain game in Philadelphia against the Flyers.  If not for Nabokov the Islanders might not of had any type of shot in the game.  But as it was, Nabokov turned away all 45 shots he faced in the regulation and overtime periods.  He then proceeded to stop 2 additional shots in the shootout, while the Islanders scored twice, which gave them the unlikely win.  

Nabokov is on his own island when it comes to trade talks (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

          Which brings me back to my 3 reasons why the Islanders should not trade away their starting goaltender:  

          1) In the top ten in Goals Against Average.  He comes into the next game with a 2.29 GAA, which is tied with Calgary Flames goalie Mikka Kiprusoff for 10th in the league.  

          2) In an absolute zone right now.  In his last 10 games Nabokov has won 7 of them.  He's faced 301 shots and has only given up 16 goals, that's a 1.79 GAA.  He's also added 2 shutouts.

          3) The Isles are still 100% in the race for the 8th seed. The Islanders currently sit in the number 13 spot, but are only 8 points out of a playoff spot.  The one thing a team needs in a playoff race and especially the playoffs, if they make it, is a solid number 1 goaltender.  With 27 games to go the Islanders certainly have a good shot to grab that 8th seed and make a run at the playoffs.

          Now I'm not Garth Snow nor Charles Wang.  All I can say is that if I was, I would not even be fielding any phone calls inquiring about Nabokov.