Battle of New York, Part 1…Isles beat Rangers 4-3
It’s been a long time since hockey has been relevant in New York… but don’t tell that to Islanders and Rangers fans. Every time these two step on the ice against one another, fans of each team treat the contest as if it were Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals.
The Islanders took the first game of a “Home and Home” series against the archival Rangers in a thrilling 4-3 shootout win last night. Wade Dubielewicz started in goal in place of All Star Rick Dipietro (who is away from the team due to the passing of his grandmother) and made 27 saves to lead Ted Nolan’s crew to victory.
The Rangers had all the momentum early but couldn’t capitalize due to the man they call Dubie’s fine play. The Islanders, who recently set a record for being shut out while posting 53 shots against Florida, didn’t record their first shot on goal until 13:20 of the first period. However, goals by Blake Comeau, Sean Bergenheim and Trent Hunter stood up until the Ranger’s Ryan Callahan scored a shorthanded marker early in the third period to tie the game (The Islanders have now given up 14 shorthanded goals this season.) The game stayed tied until overtime then went a 6 round shoout that saw both teams score once until Jeff Tambellini sealed the win by beating Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist.
Despite the team’s roller coaster season, fans of the Islanders have to feel good about the future of the franchise. Tambellini, Comeau, Bergenheim, Jeremy Colliton and Frans Nielsen all have played well with the big club and should form a good part of the core next year. Garth Snow may not have to be as active in the Free Agency market as he was last year.
Thursday’s game on Long Island is just another in a string of “Must Win” games for the Isles as they make a last ditch run at the 8th playoff spot. Beating the Rangers would just make it that much sweeter.
Author Bio
Frank has been a fan of the New York Islanders since seeing his first hockey game way back in 1977.
He reveled in the success of the Dynasty years and endured the time the team has spent in the basement of the league.
He also covers the Isles and New York Jets for www.sportstalkbuzz.com and writes a regular fantasy hockey column for www.rotoexperts.com.
» View all articles filled by Frank Mazzola.
» Subscribe to Frank Mazzola's RSS feed here.
» Visit Frank Mazzola's website at: http://www.sportstalkbuzz.com
More Articles by Frank Mazzola
6 Comments
Keep track of this discussion by subscribing to this post's RSS feed.
Sign in to comment
Not a member of RumorMeThis? Register here.
Ah… We’ll smoke that Dubie next time… lol… I am most impressed with the fact that the Rangers have gotten points in their last 10 games. It’s clutch time, and the team that looked so disjointed in the early goings is starting to jel at the right time. If only Jagr can get things going, we’ll be sipping from Stanley this spring!
by Dan Rakusan on March 5th, 2008 at 4:20 PM EST
Ha ha…thanks for the comment, Dan.
I always knew that, once the Rangers worked out their chemistry issues, they’d be a dangerous club to contend with.
by Frank Mazzola on March 5th, 2008 at 4:56 PM EST
If Dubinsky nets that first shot off the crossbar and if they get out of the period without that BS goal its a totally different game.
by Rob on March 5th, 2008 at 5:51 PM EST
No doubt, Rob…Dubinky’s shot off the post could’ve been a game changer.
Then again, so could have Martinek’s shot that beat Lundqvist as well.
by Frank Mazzola on March 5th, 2008 at 7:22 PM EST
Dubie’s at it again, eh? Ugh.
I have grown a strong dislike for him ever since he stopped the Devils on the shootout and eliminated the Leafs from the playoffs. Bad memories. lol.
BTW, how’s Satan playing these days Frank?
by Alin Mateescu on March 5th, 2008 at 7:37 PM EST
Alin, Dubie’s the kind of player that a team would never roll with for a season, but he can really inspire a team to play better for short periods. Having said that, I still say the Isles only shot at the playoffs is with a healthy DiPi in nets.
Satan…he’s snakebit right now…he’s still doing little things to creat plays and he’s getting assists, but his scoring touch is missing in a big way right now.
by Frank Mazzola on March 5th, 2008 at 8:23 PM EST