ISLANDERS COME UP SHORT IN VANCOUVER
Jack Capuano said some strong words about his team following their loss in Edmonton but the New York Islanders failed to answer and lost 3-2 to the Vancouver Canucks.
The Islanders started fast taking an early 1-0 lead when Matt Martin tipped in a Travis Hamonic pass but that was about the only thing they did right. In a game occupied with turnovers, poor play and a lack of emotion, the Islanders finished their four game Canadian road trip with back-to-back sub-par performances.
“The giveaways cost us the hockey game,” Capuano told MSG Network’s Shannon Hogan following the loss. “Penalty kill was good, power play could have been better but again you can’t just give the puck away.”
The Islanders have split the first four games of an extended seven game road trip but the last two games the team has not looked there finest.
“Tonight we didn’t play well,” Kyle Okposo said after the team’s second consecutive loss. “Our execution was terrible in the first period especially… We couldn’t do enough to dig ourselves out of that hole that we put ourselves in mentally.”
Okposo set up Mikhail Grabovski to put the Islanders within one late in the third period but it simply was not enough. That goal ended a 10 game scoring drought for Grabovski that dated back to December 11, 2014.
Michael Grabner returned from IR and played on the top line with John Tavares and Kyle Okposo for most of the evening.
“I thought he (Michael Grabner) played well.” Capuano Continued “I thought his penalty killing was good and blocked a huge shot early in the first period. It’s going to take a little bit of time but I thought he was pretty good.”
The Islanders will return to the east coast but will not play a game at the Coliseum until January 16th. On this upcoming Friday they will square off with Metropolitan Division rival, the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center.
By: Scott Charles
WLIE 540 AM SPORTSTALKNY Staff Writer
Islanders Insight Senior Editor
Follow us on Twitter @sportstalkny and @Scottmcharles
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