Author: Dave Hopkins

The travel weary New York Islanders are proud to introduce the world to their brand spanking new rink, The UBS Arena on Long Island.  The $1.1B facility opened Saturday to a robust 17,250 spectators who witnessed a depleted home squad (COVID, what else ?) lose to the Calgary Flames.  The structure is right beside the Belmont Park Raceway which hosts the prestigious Triple Crown race The Belmont Stakes each year.  There is a link below courtesy of ESPN that features crowd favorite Matt Martin’s take from a player’s perspective.

The @NYIslanders have a new home 🙌@Buccigross and Islanders LW @mattymarts17 sat down to discuss the grand opening of UBS Arena this Saturday. pic.twitter.com/lbp8QRBe6H

— ESPN (@espn) November 18, 2021

The Islanders have had to wait a lifelong 13 games on the road before finally settling into their new digs.  During that span they managed a below average 5-7-2 record in the highly competitive Metropolitan Division.

New York Coach Barry Trotz started the Brock Nelson line against the John Tavares trio much to the delight of the boo birds who still have hostility toward their former Captain.  Leaf Coach Seldon Keefe displayed his “new” look forward lines showing a new left-wing alignment that had Bunting move up with Mathews/Marner, Ritchie drop down to the third alongside Kampf and Kase leaving Engvall to play with Spezza and Simmonds. 

Double minors were called after an innocent looking exchange and it was quickly followed by a kind of dumb call against Liligren.  During the ensuing 4 on 3, Muzzin sent a nifty cross ice clearing pass to a streaking Marner who broke across to give the Leafs a 1-0 lead.  That was his first shorty of the year.  Ritchie showed his displeasure at his demotion by landing a nice forecheck into the boards.  That was matched not long after by Martin on Rasmus Sandin.  

An uneventful second period allowed the Leafs to come out in the third to prove to Coach Keefe something he has been preaching, namely “the really good teams know how to play with a lead.”

Ondrej Kase pumped in a nice forecheck charge by the newly installed Ritchie and running mate David Kampf to make it 2-0.  That was Kase’ 4^th goal in his last 7 games.  Mathews was robbed (again) on a powerplay followed by a selfish Nylander offensive zone penalty.  Luckily for Leafs Nation the Islanders are in 30^th place in both man advantage efficiency and scoring overall.

Bunting had a great game responding to his recent promotion from the 4^th line.  He has the uncanny ability to draw opponent penalties.  This is likely due to his willingness to “get his nose dirty” in the tough areas.  On this night, he drew infractions number 13 and 14 to move him into the league in this category.  If that wasn’t enough, he set up linemate Mitch Marner for his second of the night with less than 7 minutes remaining.  Final score:  Leafs 3 Islanders 0.

HOPPER NOTES:

Is Wayne Simmonds a little snake bit around the net ?  Invisible men tonight:  Nylander and Spezza.  If the Leafs are looking for more scoring, why not give Josh Ho-Sang a look ?  He’s leading the AHL Marlies with 8 goals and 12 points.  Judging by the video I’ve seen, he shoots right, but why not try him with the “CZECH brothers. “  Hats off to 23 year old Joseph Woll with his second win (a 20 save shutout no less).  He looked so much more confident tonight, assertively challenging shooters from all angles.

The Pittsburgh Penguins came to the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on Saturday night feeling pretty good about Thursday’s 6-0 shutout of the Montreal Canadiens and the return of more players from various injury and COVID protocol.  Heck, even their Head Coach Mike Sullivan was delayed in the US before returning for tonight’s game.

Maple Leafs Nation remembers with distaste the last time these two clubs met.  A vastly undermanned Penguin squad just spanked the visiting Toronto team 7-1 to accentuate their slow start and bring alarm to the Shanny/Dubas suite.

On this night, a fairly even back and forth ensued with both sides generating quality scoring chances.  In particular, Matt Marner hit a crossbar in the 4^th minute. 

The Penguins top line of Crosby, Rust and Guentzel hasn’t exactly been setting the world on fire on the scoresheet but there were lot of man hours lost due to various injuries and COVID matters.  That trio did get the Pens on the board as Guentzel opened the scoring off a nice feed from Rust.

Liligren was in for McDermott on this night and he and Sandin were left exposed on this goal.  Coach Keefe inexplicitly left that duo on for the very next shift and only a solid Jack Campbell save prevented a 2 zip deficit.  Concern about “burning the Soup” through over work still requires attention.  With Mzarek out, Campbell’s projected workload could exceed 65 games.  Felix Potvin holds the franchise record for his 74 appearances back in 1996-67.

Another powerful  offensive zone cycle by the Matthews line got Marner another great look, but late in the first veteran Jeff Carter proved he still belongs, potting an easy tap in that started with an excellent d-zone exit pass.

A high tempo second period kept the patrons entertained.  Things started off with a Penguin PP that didn’t generate much other than an icing.  Surely, the visitors are missing their big net front presence and playmaker Geno Malkin, still sidelined with a wonky knee.  26 year old goalie Tristan Jarry stood tall throughout the stanza despite starting 8 of his club’s 9 games.   He had to have been buoyed by his first shutout of the year this past Thursday in Montreal.

The Leafs had a 39-28 chance advantage through out but the big “Core 4” shooters just couldn’t bury it.

Sometimes puck possession time just doesn’t mean squat.  The Leafs had a clear advantage (again) on this night, but they were unable to convert in the third period.  The Goalies continued to steal the headlines with spectacular saves at both ends. 

The home team had an outstanding opportunity to get back in the game at the 5 minute mark when Bunting drew his second penalty of the game.  That quickly turned to a 2 man advantage.  Tavares had been his usual dominant self in the faceoff circle but somehow managed to lose two critical offensive draws during this critical juncture.  Nada, despite Nylander’s second crossbar of the game.  Were those actual BOOS I heard from the faithful?

HOPPER NOTES:

What a beautiful looking rink they now have on Long Island !…loved the “Hockey Fights Cancer” theme throughout the evening – from lavender hockey tape, Corporate logos on the boards and congrats to Austin Mathews in over-achieving his Movember goal of $134K… OK,  I’m going to say it – Martina Ortiz Luiz is a great singer – I just wish she would sing the song as it was written…kudos to Tristan Jarry on his second goose egg in a row…love the Ted Rogers Scholarship TV spots “But I Might”…congrats to Coach Keefe on his second anniversary of becoming Leafs head bench jockey…

Discuss – CHEERS !