Kyle Okposo’s acrobatic goal similar to Bossy’s
The Islanders bench cheers right wing Kyle Okposo after his goal during the first period at Barclays Center on Sunday, Jan. 3, 2016. Credit: Joseph D. Sullivan
When Kyle Okposo scored an acrobatic goal, having stretched out and left his feet, late in the first period Sunday night, the TV crew quickly scrambled and produced a side-by-side video of that goal and the famous airborne one that Mike Bossy scored against the Canucks in the 1982 Stanley Cup Final.
Okposo obviously didn’t see that tape, which was played on the telecast. Nor did the Bossy goal come immediately to his mind. “I don’t know if I’ve seen that one. I’m sure I have. It’s just not ringing a bell,” he said after a two-goal game in a 6-5 win over the Stars before 14,054 at Barclays Center. “But it’s nice to be mentioned in the same breath as him.”
Boychuk’s status uncertain
Johnny Boychuk’s status remained unclear. Jack Capuano said before the game that the team’s medical staff is “going to continue to take a look at him today and probably tomorrow . . . We should know more, I would say, by Tuesday.” Boychuk went hard into the boards in Buffalo on New Year’s Eve and quickly left the ice with what appeared to be a left shoulder injury. Adam Pelech filled in on defense Sunday night, after Brian Strait played in Pittsburgh on Saturday.
Halak to be reevaluated
Jaroslav Halak, out since the Christmas break with an upper body injury, skated Sunday but did not dress for the game. He will be re-evaluated after practice Monday, Capuano said. The coach complimented backup goalie Christopher Gibson, who made his NHL debut Saturday with the Islanders getting beaten soundly by the Penguins. “I thought Gibby did a real, solid job for us when he went in there: 17 shots, only one goal,” he said.
