The Islanders were short-handed in this game. They were without the puck possession and slick skating of Mat Barzal. They lost 2-1. The Toronto Maple Leafs lost last night, 3-2 to the Montreal Canadiens. Despite the traumatic loss for Toronto, their number one overall draft pick, Gavin McKenna removed from his line and benched.
However, the Islanders are not skilled enough to withstand injuries to their key players. Therefore, Barzal missing this game was a significant blow to the team. Nevertheless, it was good to have hockey back. The Maple Leafs played last night, but the Islanders did not. This game was the first game of the regular season for the Islanders. How many points do you think the Islanders will score this year?
Islanders and Maple Leafs Game Summary September 30
The Islanders wanted to get off to a good start to their season against the Toronto Maple Leafs. That is a team against whom they have a great deal of animosity. It did not work out for the Islanders, who, shorthanded, did not have the offensive firepower to overcome a first-period deficit. Here is how the game played out.
In the first period, the Maple Leafs scored two goals. Colton Sissons scored first, then Easton Cowan scored on the power play. It was 2-0 after the first period. The Islanders, on the road and down a key player, were going to have a great deal of trouble coming back in this game.
There were no goals scored in the second period. In the third period, Emil Heineman scored a shorthanded goal for the Islanders, and the score was 2-1. That was a little surprising, as the impotent Islanders got a most unexpected goal. That was the final score of the game.
The Pajama Boy and the Top Overall Draft Pick
John Tavares was the first overall draft pick for the Islanders in 2009. He signed a free agent contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2018, and he just signed a four-year contract extension with the team. He is called ‘Pajama Boy’ by Islanders fans because he announced leaving the team that had drafted him first overall and named him captain, in Toronto Maple Leafs pajamas. He grew up in Toronto as a fan of the team and said he always wanted to play with them. He is lustily booed every time he returns to Long Island.
Tavaras was placed on a line with, and is living with, top overall draft pick Gavin McKenna. McKenna had a disappointing debut last night in the Maple Leafs ‘ season-opening 3-2 loss. He was removed from the Tavares line and benched.
Three Rules for Hockey
As the season begins, it is appropriate to remind readers that hockey, though appearing complex, boils down to 3 simple rules. First, take and block shots. Your team cannot score unless you shoot the puck, and your opponent cannot score if their shots never make it to the net.
Second, finish your hits. When someone is approaching you with the puck, check them and ensure they cannot rejoin the play. This is important because you want your team to be at least even in strength with the opposing team. That will happen if you eliminate your opponent from the play. Third, win puck battles along the boards. Puck battles are ubiquitous in hockey, and coming away with the puck gains your team possession. Your team must have possession to score. The fate of the Islanders this season will depend on whether they do these three things.
This Game and the Next
The Islanders lost this game 2-1. The player of the game was Easton Cowan, who had a goal and an assist in the first period. That deficit proved to be too large for the Islanders to come back from. Though the goaltender for Toronto, Anthony Stolarz, gets honorable mention.
The Islanders host the New Jersey Devils in their home opener on Saturday, October 3. The Maple Leafs, after playing a back-to-back tonight and last night, are off until they host the Ottawa Senators on Saturday, October 3.
Conclusion
One of the interesting things about this game is that Darren Raddysh is on the Toronto Maple Leafs. He is the player whose slap shot fractured Mat Barzal’s kneecap. It is chronic swelling of that knee that kept Barzal out of this game. It is worth noting that the Islanders have not lost four games in a row to start the season. They started 0-3 last season.
