Pittsburgh 9, New York 2

New York Islander Fan Central | 12/11/2008 09:19:00 PM |
NYI Fan Central Comments:
Good thing Pittsburgh played the night before and traveled coming off three straight losses.

What can I write folks?

Joey MacDonald has given his team every chance in games to date, tonight was not his night nor was it Yann Danis to start the second.

So much for letting goaltenders finish what they start. Too bad the club did not step up and produce some goals to help them.

I'm not even sure Pittsburgh played well for two periods, all I do know is the Islanders were terrible.

Having written that what did the Islanders do to generate any kind of offense to get back in the game or get Pittsburgh taking penalties after they fell behind or at least start a fight to change momentum?

Early in Sillinger and Comeau had a good shift and found Richard Park who simply is not the player who is going to get your team a lot of goals and missed.

Bergenheim had a few good rushes at the Pens net but it looked like the previous Coliseum game for John Curry who only faced one quality shot for two periods which Mark Streit scored on and had a good third period save on Sillinger.

Instead in the first we saw a selfish slash by Brendan Witt at the end of a five on three kill with the puck nowhere near him to keep the Pens with the two man advantage until Satan finally scored, marginal call which sometimes you see let go but not tonight against Brendan Witt.

How many times in a season does Sillinger redirect one past his goaltender? Nothing
can be done about it.

After goals you see Thompson, Jackman and Fritz go on the ice (no one went out and fought) They are not going to get one back, the frustration penalties are going to pile up with Bailey taking one and then Andy Sutton who threw one nice hit on Fedotenko.

As the game progressed in the second Islanders team defense again did not have the passing lanes which has been the most alarming recent trend and Pittsburgh ate them alive. Pens did not even seem to work very hard to finish, this was not some kind of speed and skill display put on by Pittsburgh, simply terrible team defense and undisciplined play.

Nothing like a third period powerplay and Bailey holding the puck waiting for Richard Park to make a low-percentage cross-ice pass after he passes back to him.

Memo to Andy Sutton-Pittsburgh touches the puck with a high stick and Malkin is pushing you in the chest several times it's a good time to drop the gloves down 8-1, if Andy Hilbert is the one jumping in to push back something is wrong there.

Good thing Sutton whiffed on the pass (after Bailey set him up) before scoring the Islanders second goal which Curry was terrible on.

Malik pops Jackman in the third and only Jackman gets the penalty? See how wide open Malik was before the hit/elbow by Malkin?

Danis settled down and made a few good saves in the third, he had no help on Dupuis third.

Scott Gordon was a little critical of Yann Danis on the game winner against Philadelphia, have to feel the frustration and pressure is mounting on the first year coach who like Ted Nolan is not used to this kind of losing.

This was a terrible response after a good effort in Philadelphia, Mark Streit thought his team was coming out of it in the pregame. Isles made Dupuis and Sykora look like superstars.

Last time an Islander team allowed this many goals and played like this Steve Stirling was on his way to being fired in December 2005.

Almost have to wonder if this is the night the clock begins ticking on Scott Gordon's tenure.

Something has to give and it goes beyond Jon Sim being clearing waivers.






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