Roloson...That Is All

That is all you really need to justify this one.

Dwayne Roloson had 58 saves as the Islanders defeated the Maple Leafs 4-3 in (wait for it...)
overtime.

Roloson kept the aggressive Buds off the scoreboard in the 1st with 20 saves.

The Islanders would take the lead in the 2nd on a Jeff Tambellini breakaway goal thanks to a beautiful feed from Mark Streit. Matt Moulson and Sean Bergenheim would add goals and chase Vesa Toskala from the net with 3 goals in three minutes and thirteen seconds.

Then the customary NYI collapse came calling. First with the Isles just taking a three goal lead and Toronto and their fans dead in the water Coach Scott Gordon decided to take a timeout. The Leafs scored on the next shift and pretty much dominated the rest of the way till Josh Bailey finished it in the extra session.

Gordons' persistence to play his fouth line or should I say over play his fourth line is mind numbing. New York is not a deep team and while Richard Park, Nate Thompson, and Tim Jackman can be marginally effective role players when used within their means they are not premier checkers and Gordons' reliance on them when the Islanders are back on their heels is questionable. They have a grand total of 3(!) goals between them yet check the ice times tonight.
Park:19:06
Thompson:17:37
Jackman:10:55

Too much! Just too much reliance on role players...You can use the excuse that the Isles were killing penalties, but if your going to use that then Gordon needs to start implementing his younger players on the PK. 11th in the league is very respectable but not untouchable for that unit.

John Tavares' premiere in Toronto was suprisingly one to be remembered for his play in the defensive zone. JT made a couple of very smart plays in his own zone and hopefully showed Gordon that it's not just 4th liners that can be competent in their end. Tavares had an opportunity on a partial break late in the 3rd but could not connect. He has gone 3 games without a point.

Road trip is over at a quality 3-2-2 thanks to Roloson. Huge test coming to Nassau Wednesday night in the form of the Philadelphia Flyers.

Game Stats:
+1/ 1SOG/ 17:42 TOI/ Faceoffs:5-12

Highlights:


Pre-Game Interview:


Links:
Islanders’ Roloson frustrates Leafs shooters

No Tavares, but give Kessel his due

Maple Leafs dominate but still lose in overtime

Leafs lose in OT despite 61-shot attack

Two paths, same destination

Leafs Live: Tavares must be reckoned with, coach says

Islanders show Leafs how it's done

Roloson makes 58 saves as Isles win in overtime