Team Concept, Nothing New for the Islanders

Sure Islanders coach Lane Lambert would love to have Connor McDavid in his lineup. And -- if not McD -- I'll bet that he wouldn't mind, say, Auston Matthews nor Nathan MacKinnon.

Why, in a pinch, Lambert would even settle for Mitch Marner or Leon Draisaitl.

Ah, but, sorry, pal, the Superstar Super Market is closed for alterations. Lane, Old Pal, you'll just have to make do with what you have. As you must know, nobody likes a player hoarder, except, perhaps, Chris Drury.

Alas, the Islanders are a team without a superstar and, in this argument, goalies don't count, Sorry, Ilya!

So how are these Elmonters supposed to beat the Canes who boast headliners such as high-end center Sebastian Aho and one of the NHL's premier shutdown defenseman, Jacob Slavin?

It's not that the underdog Isles lack substance in their roster; they have an assortment of those vitamins. But, at the moment, the likes of returning rust-free Mighty Mat Barzal and kingfish scorer Brock Nelson rank below superstar status. Then again, that's nothing to be ashamed of since, in this case, it's an asset.

And -- candidly speaking -- that could very well be the key that unlocks this opening round playoff for these intrepid Islanders. Call it the power of the lunchpail filled with house money with which to play.

Check New York's lineup and even the new guys in town are more renown for their grit and not for their greatness. Bo Horvat is lauded for faceoff-winning, backchecking and leadership as much as his offense.

Pierre Engvall is more Kid Lightning than Mister Lighthouse -- as in red goal light. Hudson Fasching -- The New John Tonelli -- sure can score but he's a banger, clutch guy, much like Dynasty digger J.T.

What dramatizes my Lunchpail theme as much as anything is a point I made here yesterday in my treatise on Larrapin' Lou Lamoriello. When The Hockey News Yearbook's editor Ryan Kennedy wrote his "Top 50 Players In The NHL" essay, the Islanders were conspicuous by their absence.

You would have thought Barzal might have been squeezed in ahead of, say, the 50th slotter, Jack Eichel. Or even Ottawa's Brady Tkachuk at #46.

But as The Associated Press hockey writer Allan Kreda pointed out, "Barzal still has to find the proverbial 'higher gear' long anticipated by management."

Nevertheless, when you consider Barzal's lengthy layoff, his return should be hailed with a trio of Hallelujahs. And therein lies the key to an Islanders series victory -- the total teamsmanship of an underdog.

If Lane Lambert's first line plays to its strength it can offset the best Carolina can offer. The return of Barzal should add at least 20-25 percent to Horvat's potential. Add admirable Anders Lee to the equation and you get what I mean.

The second line, paced by Nelson, the team's leading scorer, is not too shabby either. That will be especially so if Kyle Palmieri keeps scoring.

What remains a fascinating roster puzzle is precisely what Lambert decides to do with Josh Bailey. Lane inserted the veteran right wing into the club's winning finale at UBS last Wednesday and Bails prevailed. Granted that Josh didn't score but his defensive work was flawless and in no way did he negatively affect the team. 

"The best thing about the Islanders," one NHL scout opined, "is that they've played 'playoff-type hockey' all year."

While that may be so, "playoff-type hockey" should not include a popgun power play that was so futile in the homestretch it proved a joy to penalty-killers and nearly cost New York its playoff berth.

That, however, was when the PP was minus A-1 playmaker Barzal. Now that Mat is back, there's hope that the man-advantage arsenal can become an asset once more. With the Isles being a low-scoring club, this becomes a must.

The other issue -- and it's not to be taken lightly -- is the defense without injured Alexander Romanov. Defensive "D" Sam  Bolduc, who moves well for a 6-feet-4 frame, will be pressed into action. He's shown some rookie faux pas but also knows how to hit the back of the net.

All Isles backliners will have to key on the Cane's Sebastian Aho. Carolina's versatile high-end center equally is dangerous as a scorer and playmaker. His playoff production last spring was disappointing but it would be foolish to expect anything less than the best this time around.

Other Canes forwards on the Isles super radar screen include playmaking ace Teuvo Teravainen and captain Jordan Staal, master of the shutdown. Former enigma, Martin Necas found himself this season and wound up leading Carolina in scoring.

A Isles boost will come before Game 3, as UBS Arena will be hosting playoffs for the first time after last year's lost season.

And as the AP's Kreda pointed out, the current Isles' core "reached the penultimate playoff round in each of their previous two campaigns."

This team -- as in TEAM -- did it before and can do it again!