Not a fun game to watch regardless of what team you root for.
So many penalties being called that I thought for a second that the Knicks were playing the Nets. Seriously, I know that calling more penalties is supposed to speed up the game and make it more exciting for new fans, but what ever happened to a good 3-2 game?
The intensity was there early on, but by the end of the game, I was just happy it was over. It feels like the sport has changed so much over the past three or four years that at times, I find it hard to remember the good ole days when a hook or hold could go unnoticed on the ice or when every inch on the ice players skated on needed to be earned, rather than expected.
Anyway, before this old soul goes on anymore…
Right off the bat, the Islanders got themselves in a hole and after a few bad penalties, the game was over. Not even a fight could get the Isles out of the rut they were in. Craig Rivet’s third man in penalty was going a bit overboard. It’s understandable that the new Sabres captain wants to make his presence known early in the season, but being the third man in between two guys that have no problem handling themselves is not the way to go.
The same thing goes for Mike Comrie, who got suckered into retaliating after Henrik Tallinder boarded him and nothing was called. With his team already down a goal, Comrie got the ball rolling in the wrong direction and the Isles were never able to recover.
When it was all said and done, Joey MacDonald proved today that asking him to be third three games in a row was asking for too much. Sure the Islanders defense didn’t help matters much either, as they were too busy committing lazy penalties to be much of a help to him. Nevertheless, MacDonald wasn’t on top of his game and allowed two questionable goals where Sabres were behind the goal line. Note to MacDonald: hug the post.
Notes:
Radek Martinek didn’t dress after injuring his shoulder during the home opener. In his place, Jack Hillen logged 16:38 of ice time, registering a shot and going -1 for the night. Comrie led the Isles with four shots on goals.
Josh Bailey and Blake Comeau are the only Islanders on the roster who aren’t injured that haven’t played in a game yet this season.
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