Crosby’s Return + Bad Bounces = Isles Loss
November 29th, 2006 by murph
Does the Islanders’ hotel in Pittsburgh have internet access? Do they not read IslandersArmy.com, or even ESPN.com? Sydney Crosby returned to the Penguins’ lineup after missing 3 games and it took Sid only 94 seconds to make an impact in the game, assisting on Colby Armstrong’s first goal of the season to put the Islanders down 1-0.
Viktor Kozlov replaced Yashin and centered for Simon and Blake, Kozlov tied the game up at 1 late in the first. The teams traded goals again in the second - Asham for the Isles, Armstrong’s 2nd of the night for the Penguins, assisted by Crosby (again).
They say football is a “game of inches”. Well sometimes hockey is too. Two bad bounces went the Penguins’ way, leading to the lone goal of the period and a 3-2 Islanders loss. First just 36 seconds into the third period Chris Thorburn of the Pens’ checking line banked a behind the net shot off DiPietro’s skate and into the back of the net. He even admitted after the game he wasn’t trying to score.
“I wasn’t trying to shoot it,” Thorburn said. “I was hoping to ricochet it into the slot, and we were fortunate to get the bounce. Jordan (Staal) made the play by driving to the net.”
The Isles fought hard in the third to try and tie the game, but could not get one past Pittsburgh goalie Marc-Andre Fleury. They outshot Pittsburgh 14-9 in the third and 35-28 overall. In addition to a goalpost or two, Andy Hilbert of the Islanders came about as close as you can to scoring a goal…without actually scoring.
“It was four-fifths of the way over, but it has to go all the way over,” said Hilbert, who played for Pittsburgh last season. “It happened so fast. It’s one of those things where we got a little unlucky.”
Eric Boguniecki, called up to replace Yashin played 10 shifts, 6+ minutes and had 2 hits on the official NHL Superstats report.
Good effort from the Isles last night, it obviously would have been nicer to get a point or two out of the game. They continue to skate hard and compete, so I don’t think we can complain too much. Next game is Thursday vs. the Flyers a game they should win, Yashin or no Yashin.
