Wild afternoon at the Coliseum as a full house watched the Isles storm back from a 2-0 deficit with three third period goals for the 3-2 victory. Late in the second period, a Radek Martinek shot hit Sharks’ goalie Evgeni Nabokov square in the mask, breaking one of the protective bars and gashing the bridge of Nabokov’s nose. Nabby left for the remainder of the second period, but returned for the third and did not look sharp (or very pretty with that gash and stitches).
Just two minutes into the third period, Sharks’ Captain Joe Thorton made it 2-0 on a backhander over DiPietro’s shoulder. Andy Hilbert got the goal right back for the Islanders by crashing the net as Bill Guerin seemed to harmlessly flip the puck on net. Hilbert got a stick on the rebound and it bounced past Nabby to make it 2-1. 59 seconds later, Mike Comrie undressed Sharks defender Kyle McLaren with the “Comrie-Dangle” and then beat Nabby 5 hole to tie the game at 2-2. Nabby saved his worst for last though, as Freddy Meyer beat him with a simple wrister from the left circle with about 8 minutes left for the game winner.
However all is not well in Islander Country with more possible injuries, this time to Blake Comeau who got boarded from behind in the third and left the game looking woozy. Later Andy Sutton left the game with some kind of leg/hamstring injury.
Just in case you couldn’t get enough of those FOUR Flyers’ unanswered goals on Saturday night, leading to a 5-3 Islanders’ loss, the team put on a similar matinée performance yesterday vs. the Carolina Hurricanes. Entering the third period up 2-0, the Isles allowed Carolina to come back and tie the game in regulation on goals from the unlikely combination of Mike Commodore and Niclas Wallin - in both cases, just their second goal of the season. Then under a minute into OT, with Andy Sutton sitting out on a penalty and Carolina skating 4-on-3, Corey Stillman scored the game winner for Carolina. Not even the return of defensemen Brendan Witt and Radek Martinek from injuries could save the Islanders.
Notes:
- Isles head to Carolina tonight on the back end of a home and home series.
- The loss was the Isles’ first this season after leading after 2 periods of play.
- Both games were a sellout at the Coliseum.
- DP looked a little gimpy at the end of the second period. I missed the third period, didn’t hear any further updates. Something to keep an eye on.
From Mark Herrmann, covering for Greg Logan over at On the Islanders Beat
The official word on Brendan Witt and his sprained right ankle still remains day to day. Ted Nolan said this morning that the team’s solid defenseman has made considerable progress for someone who barely could move a few days ago. Nolan gave a cryptic “we’ll see him sooner rather than later” in projecting his return. Radek Martinek still probably is “at least a week” away from returning, the coach added.
NewYorkIslanders.com updates us on DP’s status - day to day, possible Saturday return. Also lost in last night’s shuffle was that Radek Martinek was scratched with a leg bruise, also day to day.
The Islanders announced today that goaltender Rick DiPietro and defenseman Radek Martinek are out day-to-day with injuries.
DiPietro is out with a knee sprain suffered last night in warmups before the Islanders’ 4-3 overtime victory over Toronto. DiPietro played the first period before leaving the game. DiPietro could return when the Islanders host the New Jersey Devils on Saturday at 7:05 pm at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
Martinek suffered a leg bruise during the Islanders’ 3-2 overtime victory over Washington on Saturday. He is also listed as day-to-day.
Goaltender Joey MacDonald has been recalled from Bridgeport (AHL) to back up Wade Dubielewicz for tonight’s game in Ottawa.
