Plus/Minus: Roloson Steals Game for Islanders, Stops 58 Shots

We're trying something different to replace the old Newsmakers in the NHL posts. Hopefully you'll like it. Each weekday we'll take a look at one positive performance from the previous night (a plus), and one negative performance from the previous night (a minus). It's the plus/minus.Tell us what you think at nhlfanhouse@gmail.com.

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Plus Of The Day: Dwayne Roloson, New York Islanders

If you go by the shots on goal, Monday's game between the Islanders and Maple Leafs was the most one-sided ass kicking of the NHL season. Toronto managed to out-shoot New York by an unbelievable 61-21 margin, including 21-4 in the third period.

Fortunately for the Islanders, shot totals don't win games, and their goaltender, Dwayne Roloson, was up to the challenge and was essentially a brick wall between the pipes, stopping 58 shots (including 55 in regulation) in a 4-3 overtime win. Accoring to STATS, via the AP, it was the best performance by a goaltender (in terms of saves) since Ron Tugnutt's 70-save effort as a member of the Quebec Nordiques over 18 years ago.

The Islanders had a 3-0 lead with five minutes to play in the second period, but allowed Toronto to rally (thanks to a barrage of shots on Roloson) and force overtime. Josh Bailey tallied the game-winner at the 4:13 mark of the extra period, his sixth goal of the season, to hand Toronto its sixth loss in its past seven games.

With the win, the Islanders are now one of seven teams separated by just two points in the Eastern Conference standings. I'm still not sure how long New York can hang around, but if its goaltenders (Roloson and Martin Biron) keep playing like they have through the first two months, the Islanders will stay in the playoff race longer than anybody could have possibly imagined before the season started.

Minus Of The Night Day: Ray Emery, Philadelphia Flyers

I think it's safe to say Ray Emery has been a pleasant surprise for the Philadelphia Flyers this season, entering Monday's game with a .914 save percentage and an 11-6 record. Unfortunately, he struggled for the first time this season in a 5-4 loss to the Avalanche, getting benched for the first time as a member of the Flyers after allowing four goals on just 17 shots in 29 minutes of action.

Brian Boucher came on in relief and stopped 13 of the 14 shots he faced.

After trailing 5-2 through two periods, the Flyers cut the deficit to one thanks to goals from Danny Briere and Jeff Carter, but it wasn't enough as Craig Anderson was able to hold off the 19-shot third period effort and preserve the win.

Philadelphia has now dropped three in a row on its current road trip, which ends in New York against the Islanders on Wednesday.

The Avalanche were victorious for just the second time in its past seven games.

Highlight Of The Day: It was another nightmare performance by the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday night as they were thumped, 7-4, by the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden. Marian Gaborik and Sean Avery each scored a pair of goals in the rout as the blue shirts ripped off seven straight goals after falling behind 2-0 early in the first period. Some of the goals were kind of soft (and bizarre), and some of them looked like this tally from rookie defenseman Matt Gilroy in the second period.