Coach Lane Lambert likes to say, "Good teams find a way to win," and his New York Islanders keep speeding along those happy highways.
Coach Lane Lambert likes to say, "Good teams find a way to win," and his New York Islanders keep speeding along those happy highways.
Coach Lane Lambert likes to say, "Good teams find a way to win," and his New York Islanders keep speeding along those happy highways.
The most unusual 4-3 -- fourth straight -- victory over Anaheim last night at UBS was nothing less than stunning, thanks to Simon Holmstrom.
The Isles super shorthanded specialist put his name in light with a ridiculously rip-roarin', penalty-killing goal' with only 1:33 remaining in the third period. That sealed the deal, accompanied by a thunderous ovation that could be heard in The Hamptons.
"Simon is the short-handed king," enthused Mathew Barzal, who scored the key tying goal in the third period. "There's something to be said for how he reacts defensively as well as his knack for the net."
No less remarkable is the fact that it reversed the Isles stunning trend of blowing third-period leads before breathlessly pulling out a W at the end.
"We felt in control during the whole game," said defenseman Noah Dobson who was the first star.
The Dobber not only carried the decimated blue line corps but also registered his team-leading 24th assist. "I liked our composure even when we fell behind in the third period," Noah added.
Ah, but this time, it was the surprisingly revived Ducks who blew the third period 3-2 lead when Mathew (I Come Through) Barzal beat John Gibson at 7:46 of the final frame and set things straight for the totally unexpected finishing touch applied by Holmstrom.
So many Islanders did good things that Barzy failed to make the Three-Star Selection. Those honors went to Noah (Put Me Down For The Norris Trophy), Dobson, Simon (I Did It Again), Holmstrom, and Hudson (Not The River) Fasching.
Barzal could have been included among the Stars now that he's generated 14 points in his last 11 games. Then again, so could Bo Horvat, who's breezin' along with the breeze on an eight-game point-scoring streak after his 16th assist. That's one short of his career record.
Team-wise, it was a collectively impressive evening on the following counts:
1. The home team led in shots on goal, 34-22.
2. They led in face-offs, 51-49.
3. Also in hits, 16-10.
Of all the bizarre doings on a see-saw night, the topper had to be Holmstrom's winner.
It began with the Isles shorthanded and taking the face-off in their own end. A grade-A defensive PK was the order of the moment.
Taking the draw, the Isles counterattacked with Jean-Gabriel Pageau steaming up ice on what appeared to be a mere time-killer. When J-G dished off to Holmstrom, Simon seemed too far off to the left to make hay with his shot.
"I just wanted to put it on net," Holmstrom explained. "I figured that I had a chance and decided to take it, and I did."
YIKES! It went in.
"Gibson played it wrong," said MSG Networks Butch Goring.
As usual, Butch was right. The Ducks' goalie crouched, rubbing the side of the left goal post, thinking all angles were covered, but Holmstrom found the opening, and that closed the game.
(Note: Anaheim was going to get hit with a delayed penalty on the rush.)
For Holmstrom, this was his league-leading fourth shorthanded as well as his fifth shorthanded point. The Pageau-Holmstrom duet is making beautiful PK music together.
Lambert: "When they're on the PK and there's an opening, they have a decision to make -- either go for it or play it more defensively -- when to go and when not to go. It's an important decision, and they know."
The coach -- who has been making so many right moves while his team's defense is suffering from injuries -- was challenged again last night. Scott Mayfield had to be scratched because of a "day to day" upper body injury.
Lambert returned previously-injured Sebastian Aho to the lineup and teamed him with Michael Reilly. Aho felt good about their merger on D. "Mikey and I moved the puck well," was the Aho review.
And let's not forget that Barzal's goal came on the power play, which had been one of the club's sore points, but no more.
Apart from this being the Isles fourth straight win, the club now is 4-0-1 this homestand, Boston will close the current stay at UBS on Saturday night at 7:30 p.m.
Among all the positives is the fact that Lambert's sextet has been winning without its key defense core of Ryan Pulock and Adam Pelech.
Remarkably, Lou Lamoriello's S.O.S. replacements, Mike Reilly and Robert Bortuzzo, have seamlessly stepped into the breach while Dobson continues to succeed, carrying the heaviest time load.
Meanwhile, the 1-1A goalie combo of Ilya Sorokin-Semyon Varlamov ranks among the NHL's best. Last night Varly stepped in and did his usual workmanlike job, making 21 saves on 24 shots to register his fourth straight win.
What has happened to this Islanders team since the winning streak began? Author Zack Weinstock, who co-wrote the new 50-Year Islanders History with David Kolb and The Maven, has the answer.
"The team is playing with more intensity and the power play is better than ever and now looks the best it has in two years, "Weinstock asserted. "Plus, you can't ignore that the two best players -- Horvat and Barzal -- are coming up big every night."
Running neck and neck in the playoff race, the Isles hold second place in the Met Division, five points behind the first-place Rangers, with the Blueshirts holding a game in hand.
And if you're still shaking your head wondering what's come over this Islander team of yours, it's best that you go to the top of this story or -- if you will -- check out Sir Dobson's succinct conclusion:
"We keep finding ways to win!"