Bear with me here folks, I wrote this first part just before the game started.
Last week Joey MacDonald beat Pittsburgh at home in a shootout and had some good momentum for reason to start against the Rangers, Yann Danis got the start and played well enough to win but let in a soft goal.
MacDonald was spotty against Carolina the next night.
Saturday Danis started against the Devils and shut them out. Tonight he got another start against Pittsburgh, the team MacDonald beat.
I'm just trying to get a sense of the logic behind the decision making for who starts in goal because it's not consistent where it be momentum off a win or success against one team.
Not about winning, losing or final score tonight and Danis played very well. More about what Scott Gordon calls feel in making his decisions which from what I can gather could be starting Joey MacDonald at home on back to backs.
I don't know. Danis could have easily had a 1-0 win, would have written the same thing. Did the shutout Saturday carry that much weight for a Wednesday game?
***************************************************
NYI Fan Central Comments on Game:
Ok, as to the game Pittsburgh is clearly struggling and Crosby, Whitney absence does not help that, very choppy first but Pens had better of play and numbers around the puck. Danis made a few saves but nothing too dangerous until crunch time in the last seven minutes they got some quality chances off a powerplay and then kind of a break on the only goal where Witt and Danis were interfered with Malkin beating Comeau up top to the outside and Gonchar made a pass that found Sykora for a tap in and the game.
This reminded me of the tie game last year in Pittsburgh a puck hit Witt very late in the third and got past DiPietro that extended a losing streak.
Isles got a bit of a break when Malik's shot hit Witt and then the crossbar, another scramble had them miss an open net just before. You could see momentum building for them.
Islanders powerplay not generating much was a big factor in them not scoring tonight and it took away whatever momentum they created at times.
Malkin and Staal came close once or twice or generate chances but not a great effort at all by Pittsburgh.
Isles needed most of the first to get going beyond McAmmond almost getting a pass to Hunter. Okposo had a big hit but Nielsen's composure to pull the puck back in surrounded by three player and find Gervais for a shot was impressive. Joe Callahan also has two big hits and Witt skated well.
Seems like all of Okposo's best chances come off left wing with his right handed shot.
Hillen was excellent jumping in and by the second was generating chances and so were the Islanders. Bergenheim a shorthanded break, Martinek showed great composure to pull up and did everything but pocket his third goal in a few weeks. Comeau, Nielsen, Bailey had some shots blocked.
Sim again was hitting and skating well.
Islander powerplay for them was ineffective, took away momentum and as I wrote above was a key, but second period ended 0-0. Either team could have had a goal or two if they got the extra bounce.
Third period Islanders did not generate much beyond Jackman's penalty and shot by Hilbert with a big scramble. Witt got more powerplay time.
Fleury was not called on to make many tough saves. Streit finding Jackman was one of them on a shift later but really the Islanders last quality chance.
Tough loss but competitive, even if Pittsburgh cannot be very happy with anything beyond the two points.
We'll see what Islanders do against Leafs tomorrow at home.
