The Islanders Very Like-able Clubhouse Will Change, Which Means a Retool

This is a likeable crew, these New York Islanders. Anyone who's been around them long enough realizes that there's a genuine camaraderie shared from top liners to the bottom trio.

The music stopped but the melody lingers on.

That Islanders Symphony could have been re-titled "We Made The Playoffs."

And, yes, the melody lingered on yesterday as players packed up and bade each other good-bye while taking time out to deliver cheery homilies to the media.

This is a likeable crew, these Nassaumen. Anyone who's been around them long enough realizes that there's a genuine camaraderie shared from top liners to the bottom trio.

"Our group believes in each other," said captain Anders Lee between unloading his locker for a trip back to his native Minnesota. "And we believe in what we can do."

And I believe him.

What the Islanders did was more than just commendable; it was outstanding under very trying circumstances. And they did it while respectable critics said that it couldn't be done.

Despite a spate of crippling injuries and slumps that left them far from a playoff berth, somehow they shook the blues away and made a final push into the first Wild Card spot.

Think about which Eastern Conference teams were beaten out; Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Washington, Columbus, Detroit, Ottawa, Buffalo and Montreal.

"We were still there," said defenseman Adam Pelech, noting how his mates squeezed in at the eleventh-and-a-half-hour on the last night of the season.

Then, a pause. "But we have to figure out how to come back better."

Ahh; there's the rub.

Pelech and Pals know that -- from the opening game to the sudden-death goal by Carolina's Paul Stastny -- the Islanders margin for error was slim.

It was, more or less, win by goal or lose by a goal and hope that ace goalie Ilya Sorokin can bail out a just so-so offense.

Yeah, it got them in but it wasn't enough to get them past a significantly wounded team from Raleigh.

Alas, the Hurricanes entered the series without Andrei Svechnikov and Max Pacioretty, losing a pair of elite scorers. This should have given Lane Lambert's team a huge boost, and more Canes injuries followed.

Carolina was a club there to be taken and -- darn it -- there were moments when it appeared that the Isles actually would turn the trick.

But, for one reason or another -- an egregious non-call on a high stick to Scott Mayfield in overtime is a good example -- they missed; just barely, but they missed nonetheless and that's really all that matters.

The gossamer-thin margin for error never was more apparent than in Game Six at UBS Arena. The first period goal by fourth-liner Cal Clutterbuck seemed to be the start of something big.

Over and over the Isles attacked but -- no matter how hard they tried, nor how many shots were aimed at goalie Fred Andersen -- they couldn't produce that vital second goal.

And when they did get a power play, the switch, typically, remained in the OFF position.

Brock Nelson, so hugely good during the regular season, believes that making the playoffs and taking the Canes to six games reinforces his "belief in the group."

Sure, but there's no betting that this group -- as it now stands -- can be sure of a playoff berth next season. Check out the roadblocks:

The Sabres, Senators, Canadiens and Red Wings are young and on an upward spiral. With a healthy lineup to start next season -- which they didn't have this year -- Alex Ovechkin and his Capitals will be dangerous.

Plus, one can't arbitrarily rule out Columbus, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. (Obviously both the Devils and Rangers figure to return with formidable outfits.)

All of which means that the high command in Elmont will have to make changes.

The first priority should be to increase overall scoring and more specifically, the Islanders need a game-breaker that can produce red-lamps with the extra man. 

Right behind on the "Must Obtain" list will be an established power play quarterback, and a power play genius added to the coaching staff.

"We understand why we came up short," concluded captain Lee.

So does management; which understands that to gain entrance to the promised playoff land, the Islanders must keep up with their rivals and, if possible, pass as many as possible.

The challenge is there and, I expect, the "Can Do" Islanders theme will be realized!