NYI...

Going to try to do a running game recap today, since I have nothing better to do...

The New York Islanders took 13.5 minutes to register a shot on goal. The bad news is that out of the 4 shots they took in the first period, 2 of them went in. John Tavares (who can feel free to knock it off at any time) scored both of them, and the first ended witht he Islanders up by one. Johan Franzen scored the first goal of the game, in what looked like a runaway for the Red Wings, but apparently the Islanders have Jimmy Howards number. Well, at least John Tavares (who I hope has a freak accident in the locker room with a cigarette lighter and accidentally burns all his sticks) does. So the first period ends with the Isles scoring on 50% of their shots, and the Wings scoring on roughly 8%. I don't think I like these numbers...AND the Red Wings had two opportunities on the power play.

Second Period: I'm getting verrrrry sleeeeepy...Again, a power play opportunity squandered, Tomas Holmstrom has taken 4 shots on net, and the Wings closest opportunity was from 20 feet. Jimmy DID stop a point-blank attampt by Jon Sim, so maybe he's getting his confidence back and getting into a rythym. He still isn't facing all that may shots (5 so far, with 5:13 remaining), but at least 50% of them are finding their way across the goal line. Well, that is until the Isles potted another goal with 4:47 remaining, this time it was Jesse Joensuu. Since I am following the game online now, I did not see the play, so I don't know if Jimmah could have done much about it...however, I can tell that Dwayne Roloson is not having too much trouble. Just as the second period was about to end, Valtteri Filppula knocks a Nick Lidstrom rebound past Roloson to put the Wings within one, and more importantly, give the Wings the momentum shift going into the third. Roloson has the entire intermission to let that last second goal worm its way into his psyche and start gnawing on his confidence. The Second period ends with the Wings down by one. Sound familiar? It should, because if history is any indicator, the Wings have the Isles right where they want em.

Third period begins, and the Red Wings are dominating the Isles, but they have let yet another power play slip past without a goal, and they have now doubled up on the Isles in shots. Unfortunately, the "W" is not awarded for having more shots than the other guys, so ideally, the Wings need to get a few more biscuits in the basket. As I wrote that, Tomas Tatar SCORES to put the game back on an even keel....wait...Who the "H - E - double hockey sticks" is Tomas Tatar? Wait, this just in from MLive.com: "Tatar has been called up from AHL Grand Rapids to make his NHL debut against the Islanders". Well there you have it. Called up just to score goals! What an interesting concept...First NHL goal, so congratulate him if you see him at Cheli's. Its all knotted up and grinding towards overtime, and the occasional shots that New York throws at Jimmy Howard are giving me fits, but he is doing OK, keeping the Wings in it. I can't help but think if Chris Osgood would be a little more solid right now since win #400 is behind him and he can relax and have fun. No matter, he's on the bench and Babs isn't going to pull Jimmah with 2 minutes to go. So down the stretch they come, and the Wings are peppering Roloson with shots and at this point, if someone scores, it will very likely be the game winner. Last minute to play, and Ruslan Salei tosses one into the middle to be batted away by Roloson. The Wings are really putting the screws to the Isles, but Roloson is strong with 30 sec to go. Looks like its going to OT...

OT: With one point in the bag, the Wings and Isles take to the ice for 5 min of sudden death. Two minutes in, the Wings get a power play, which is immediately negated by Zetterberg, which puts the game into a minute or so of 3 on 3, the rarest of hockey moments. Of course, nothing happens during the 3 on 3, and as soon as the Islanders go on the power play, they score to end the game. Of course.

Well, that will probably be the last time for a live game recap....