Penguins routed by Islanders in debacle, 9-3
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Islanders defenseman Travis Hamonic fights Penguins forard Mike Rupp (left) of as Islanders forward Josh Bailey battles Pascal Dupuis during the second period of Friday's game at Nassau Coliseum.
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UNIONDALE, N.Y. -- There were 351 penalty minutes assessed at Nassau Coliseum Friday night.
For a while, it seemed like the New York Islanders might score that many goals.
Ultimately, the Islanders only defeated the Penguins, 9-3, but New York's margin of victory certainly seemed larger.
Not quite as high as the number of players ejected from the game, though. Eleven received game misconducts, and numerous others left early because of sundry other offenses.
There also were 16 fighting majors.
The Islanders had entered the game looking to avenge a couple of teammates -- goalie Rick DiPietro and forward Blake Comeau -- injured in a 3-0 loss at Consol Energy Center nine nights earlier, and had to feel satisfied that they succeeded.
"We knew coming in here it would be a chippy game," Penguins goalie Brent Johnson said. "Things just got carried away."
Not only did the Islanders injure left winger Eric Tangradi, who got a possible concussion on a third-period hit by New York's Trevor Gillies, and torch the Penguins for the most goals as they have allowed since Nov. 8, 2003, but the Islanders repeatedly tried to punish their primary targets, Johnson and forward Max Talbot.
Johnson had one-punched DiPietro in the waning seconds of that Feb. 2 game, inflicting facial fractures that will prevent DiPietro from playing for a month or so, while Talbot had given Comeau a concussion with what the Islanders considered to be a cheap shot.
New York not only scored seven goals on Johnson, but minor league tough guy Micheal Haley skated the length of the ice to get at him in the third period. Unfortunately for Haley, Penguins enforcer Eric Godard arrived at Johnson's side at pretty much the same time, so all Haley got to show for his trouble was an early exit from the game.
If Haley happens to still be in the NHL when the teams meet again in the next to the last game of the regular season, the Penguins figure to look for a little vengeance of their own.
"A guy who would challenge the goalie, that's kind of a cheap move," Penguins defenseman Kris Letang said. "We're going to play our game [April 8], but there will be consequences."
First Published February 12, 2011 12:00 am
