Tampa Bay 8, New York 4

New York Islander Fan Central | 3/11/2008 09:07:00 PM | |
Islanders website: Has the recap of Tuesday's to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Islanders looked like they mailed this one in top to bottom against a goaltender in Kari Ramo who looked like a bad goal waiting to happen and a Tampa team going nowhere that from the middle of the second period outworked the Isles in every area of the ice and just pinned them in their own end aside from a few odd shifts.

Guerin had a nice shot for his goal but it seemed Ramo just did not play it well. Hunter's pass to Fedotenko was a very good play that the goalie finished off himself by kicking it in with his pad. Richard Park hit a post early but he's not a scorer and is not going to carry this team in that role. Walter's tip goal was his first goal of the season.

Fair to write as usual Sean Bergenheim seems to be the most visible Islander and there is no excuse for the veterans after a few days off against a team fifteenth in the east.

Worst of all Rick DiPietro's play is costing his club goals against with poor stick handling and positioning. Islanders for two periods could only draw one powerplay while once again they allow a five on three which yields to a goal that you expect DiPietro to stop from that area of the ice.

No desperation at all from Isles. Tampa threw the bigger hits and owned the walls most of the game and the Isles had trouble with their speed. Blake Comeau has no business as a center and being moved around like this is not helping him and cost them a goal.

Walter looked lost on a third period turnover that led to a Bergenheim penalty. Park clipped for a double minor and then after Fedotenko goes off with a knee on knee injury that looked terrible Lecavalier powers through Davison out of the corner for the 5-2 goal at four on four.

Hunter-Guerin awful powerplay turnovers. Witt icing. Another dump in Tampa forwards have plenty of time to turn and make an easy clear.

Hunter draws a penalty, the kid line scores on the powerplay with Comeau taking a shot from the outside that looked like Ben Walter tipped it in for his first goal.

Jeremy Colliton not playing much tonight for having the flu. Ben Walter arrived around the warm up.

Richard Park turnover, LeCavalier hat-trick on the two on one, Satan turnover goal, Davison turnover goal off Meyer for another goal. Nick Tarnasky buries Davison in a fight. Garbage time goal for Comrie against Ramo.

Islanders were outworked by the worst team in the East and deserved to lose and outclassed top to bottom in a must game. There is no excuse that can be made for it or the problems scoring and playing defense. If the defense and goal tending are not playing well they have no chance against any team. Tampa is a team that cannot defend a lead in the third period and just ran over the Islanders when the game got to 5-3.

Kind of effort that gets a general manager and coach fired, despite the injuries.

Now they have to find replacements for maybe Colliton, Hilbert, and Fedotenko who has a knee sprain

Ted Nolan's postgame was very interesting where he showed frustration at his goaltender and coaching so many Bridgeport callups and said Brendan Witt should not even be playing. Fact is his prospects are outplaying his veterans in too many games but this kind of losing is new for him at this level and clearly he has to be frustrated himself.