Goalie Poulin strong in relief, but too late
Photo credit: AP | Edmonton Oilers' Gilbert Brule celebrates the first goal against the New York Islanders as Islanders' Matt Moulson (26) and John Tavares (91) react during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jan. 6, 2011)
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EDMONTON - One week the Islanders receive phenomenal efforts from Rick DiPietro and Dwayne Roloson to beat the best two teams in the NHL, and the next, they are relying on relative unknowns in goal.
And to their credit, Nathan Lawson and Kevin Poulin delivered outstanding performances in relief in the past two games, although the latter wasn't rewarded for his effort as the Islanders lost to the Oilers, 2-1, last night at Rexall Place.
Replacing Lawson after he gave up two goals on three shots in the first 5:17 of play, Poulin made his NHL debut and turned aside all 19 shots he faced. But it wasn't enough to dig the Islanders out of that early two-goal hole.
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"After this game, I know I can play in the NHL," Poulin said. "We'll see if I get another start, but right now, it's just a dream come true."
"Those were obviously tough circumstances, but he's one heck of a goalie and he held us in the game, and that's all you can ask," said Josh Bailey, who picked up an assist on Blake Comeau's ninth goal at 13:00 of the second period.
Both Lawson and Poulin were splitting time with Finnish prospect Mikko Koskinen for Bridgeport when the Islanders rattled off back-to-back wins against Pittsburgh and Detroit last week.
The two goalies then were called up in the wake of two hits to the team's goaltending depth. Lawson, 27, was recalled after Roloson was traded to Tampa Bay on Saturday and Poulin, 20, joined the team in Calgary after DiPietro suffered a groin strain during the Islanders' 5-2 win Monday.
After a stellar outing in relief of DiPietro that preserved Monday's victory, Lawson gave up a goal at 3:22 of the first period last night when Gilbert Brule banged a rebound between his pads.
Less than two minutes later, Dustin Penner blew past defensemen Milan Jurcina and Jack Hillen and went to his backhand to beat Lawson for a shorthanded goal at 5:17.
Islanders coach Jack Capuano promptly yanked Lawson and sent in Poulin - who was 10-4-0 for Bridgeport and is regarded as the Islanders' top goaltending prospect - for his first career appearance. "I just didn't think he was very sharp," Capuano said of Lawson.
"That's a coach's decision,'' Lawson said. "You always want to be in there, but if that's what it takes to spark the team, then that's what a team guy will do.''
The Islanders went 0-for-7 with the man-advantage against the Oilers, including a five-on-three in the third period.
The Islanders were hurt by the absence of defenseman Mark Eaton, who needs surgery on his right hip and will be out indefinitely, and their best defensive forward, Frans Nielsen (groin strain). "That definitely hurt us,'' Capuano said, "but it's no excuse."
Eaton is only the latest loss suffered by a decimated defense corps. The Islanders have had to overcome particularly costly injuries to key veterans Mark Streit (shoulder), Mike Mottau (hip) and Radek Martinek (wrist) and recently traded James Wisniewski to Montreal.
