May 10, 2013, New York Islanders off-day Eastern Conference Quarterfinal notebook for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
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Islanders notebook: Team remains focused in moment
By Denis Gorman
Published: Friday, May 10, 2013, 3:54 p.m.
Updated 1 hour ago
UNIONDALE, N.Y. — No panic.
That was the theme emanating from the New
York Islanders' locker room Friday morning following an optional skate
and video study at Nassau Coliseum.
The Islanders trail the top-seeded Penguins, 3-2, in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference quarterfinal series after being routed 4-0 Thursday night at Consol Energy Center. Game 6 is Saturday night on Long Island.
It will mark the first time since April
28, 2002, that a team could clinch a series on Coliseum ice. The
Islanders defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs, 5-3, that day in Game 6 of
an Eastern Conference quarterfinal to force a Game 7. Toronto won Game
7, 4-2, at Air Canada Centre.
“We've been in these must-win situations
before,” coach Jack Capuano said. “Our guys have responded pretty well.
We're at home. Hopefully we'll have that barn rocking again, like we had
the previous two games, where we can feed off (the crowd) and just be
ready to win a hockey game.”
The Islanders recognize they must be
better than they were Thursday. Fourteen players were minus-1 or worse.
The Penguins attempted more shots (61 to 57), threw more hits (33 to 27)
and blocked more shots (14 to 9).
“We have to get back to what was making us
successful. We got away from that a little bit,” winger Matt Moulson
said. “I don't think it was any major adjustments from them. I think it
was us maybe getting away from it for some reason. I don't really know
why. We have to get back to that.”
Nabokov keeps job
Evgeni Nabokov will not join Marc-Andre Fleury on the bench.
Capuano announced Nabokov will be in goal
Saturday.
Nabokov has struggled in the series, posting a 4.69
goals-against average and .847 save percentage and was pulled in Games 1
and 5 in favor of reserve Kevin Poulin.
“I (have) confidence in Nabokov to go with
him. He'll start. There's no surprise. Just move along with him,”
Capuano said. “He's a veteran guy. He's probably harder on himself than
anyone else. He knows how he has to play.”
Nielsen status unclear
Center Frans Nielsen is a game-time
decision with a lower-body injury. Defenseman Andrew MacDonald is out
six to eight weeks after having surgery on his hand.
Denis Gorman is a freelance writer.
http://triblive.com/sports/penguins/3995873-74/game-nabokov-islanders#axzz2SvRyd1Mq
posted by Denis P. Gorman at 5:04 PM
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