New York Islanders Postgame Availability | NYI at BUF

I thought we really uh [sighs] we showed some character tonight. I mean, it wasn’t it didn’t go our way again early on in the game. Uh but we stuck with it and dug in and found ourselves clawing ourselves back into that game and getting that big point. You know, had our looks in overtime, you know, it comes down to a however many round shootout, those are those are kind of go up in the air a little bit. So, but for us to stick with it and and find a way to get a point here, um, obviously wanted to, but that was a big one. >> How important has a lineman been to you guys this year? >> Oh, he’s been great. I mean, he’s obviously he’s got such a great shot. He’s a mov on the forch check. He’s got speed. Uh, and he turns pucks over and creates for his his linemates. So, he’s just a great all-around player and playing some great hockey right now. Um, and obviously he’s been really good in the shootout of late, too. So, he’s been a great addition to this team and and great guy in the room. >> Just how important is it now? You only have one game over the next handful of days just to reset. >> Yeah, I mean, we had to reset. Last night was um not our best. Uh we didn’t like the way we played. Um and tonight at least, we we did what we could to get our give ourselves a chance. Really played great. Um and send ourselves into overtime with an opportunity to win the hockey game. >> What have you done this year that’s really allowed you to freak out? Uh I don’t know just throughout the whole season been taking it game by game and and want to play well. Uh for me it’s play a good 200 foot game. Uh good defensively winning pucks back, use my shot, my speed, be physical. So it’s it’s more of like a complete uh I want to be a complete player out there. Um and been playing with really good players. Um got the been playing a little bit more. So I don’t know. Uh but I feel like our team has been playing well all season. We uh lately I some some stuff we have to take care of, but um overall we we it’s a it’s been a team effort. >> 10 10 shots tonight. I think that’s a careerhigh. Just how much of an emphasis was that for you or is that just one of those things? >> Um I felt like we we haven’t been shooting a lot lately. So, uh, I figured I just, uh, didn’t want to think of it too much. Just pretty much shoot it. Um, so, uh, good feeling getting getting the the tie up there at the end. Uh, I think we showed a lot of character to I didn’t like our start. Uh, I don’t think anyone did. Um, so I think we in the second half we we really showed who we are. Um, started built towards getting back to where we were. Could you maybe point to whatever it was that changed for you guys in the first half of the game to the second half [snorts] of the game? >> I thought we we were more playing as a team. Uh it was a little bit like one guy go and stuff like that in the beginning. Uh made [snorts] a little bit simpler. Uh we started winning battles. Uh it’s easier to to create offense when when you keep winning pucks back. Um so I would say that’s the biggest part. seem to disagree with that second goal actually going the goal line. What what did you see? >> Uh me? >> Yeah, >> I see nothing. >> Okay. >> I never saw the puck in the net. So, I mean it was hard. So, the reason why we didn’t challenge it, it’s very simple. It’s because the referee said that the puck went in right at the start. >> Okay. >> Us we thought that puck went in when um Craig Craig PO poking number 19 poking to our goalies pad. >> We thought that was but they gave the goal to Thompson. So there was no way we could win that challenge. That was inconclusive in my opinion. So we would not have won the challenge. But if they would have gave the goal to 19 when he hit the pads then we would have challenged it because but the referee and I don’t know how the referee saw it at the beginning. That’s the other thing that I’m not sure. But other than this, it was not a challenge for us because of it. >> We just uh you got a little bit of a [clears throat] sluggish start, right? Um >> maybe caused by the penalties. >> Yeah. >> You know, we gave them u they score right on that first power play and and we got another one right after. Might took some momentum out of our game. Um, and obviously I mean when they made it two nothing, I’m not saying shaky, but I mean we didn’t the momentum was on their side, but for some reason in the end of the second period, we start to play more behind their D and more like um connected and and we start buzzing more offensively and then now at the end the last what five or six minute of that second period, we have five or six good really good chances and that that’s how we scored that goal actually. So, and I thought we did the same. And then it’s funny because even in the third, we started to get some momentum. We got two penalties and all of a sudden, I mean, it so it was a weird game for that. I mean, it it was but I thought that our guys did a good job staying with it, stay with it. I mean, might not have been pretty for the first 35 minute, but we gave ourself a chance to to win the game and and come back in the game actually. And and our goalie was really good. He made some great saves, kept us in. Um, and I thought that in overtime we could have won it even in shootout. >> Talk about simplifying things. I think Heinman every time he had a lane he shot it 10 shots and goal. Just how important was he >> for this game obviously to get the tying goal there and also this season for you guys. How important has he been? >> Well, that was a huge goal. I mean it was a great play by Barzi for that pass across. But I mean um it was um he’s he’s been one of our better player this year and and um we’re we’re so happy with him and the way and obviously like you said 10 shots on net. He’s doesn’t waste those shots. He gave himself a chance to score on every one of them. So he deser for the success that he has right now. >> He talked about wanting to be a 200 foot player and him just defensively. >> I feel he is I feel he is I mean he’s very reliable defensively. I mean, he’s playing his position really well and got great sick in stick in our zone. I mean, we use him at PK as well because he’s doing so well, obviously with the the injury of Paul Mary and and Orvat. I mean, um he’s been helping us a lot in that regard. So, it’s it’s it’s um he’s an important player. >> The points are coming consistently for Barzel right now. Just what have you seen from him tonight this last little stretch? >> Well, it’s a great opportunity for him to lead the team and he’s doing that. So I mean uh that’s the leadership we need from him and and and produce every night and give oursel a chance to uh to be in every game and I feel bars that’s a role Barzie wants to play as well. So I mean it’s nice to see him be successful. >> Did did you see you know you talked so much about wanting to simplify things and just kind of play north. Did you see the sort of progress with that you wanted to? >> Absolutely. Well it’s pretty easy if you look at the end of the second period and the third period in overtime. I mean, I thought that we have that compete and and then that that that energy that we that help us to to be where we are and and um yeah, it was uh it was nice that coming back in the game would have been sweet to win the game. >> What did you think of Warren and Cypov back in Atlanta? >> I thought they both playing really well other than the puck in the stand for Warren. And I thought he had a great game and and and um seems pretty confident out there and and um and Sepe did the same thing. I thought Sepe had a good game. I mean he simp kept things simple and that line did had some great moments. >> Well, you you you talked about yesterday Ridditch’s energy right that that he brings. >> Who’s that? >> Rich the goalie. You know, what did he do to kind of pull this team through that first period? Well, he’s first of all, I mean, he’s he’s very vocal out there and and I think that helps our D a lot and he’s playing the puck very well, so that helps as well. But I think that um I just like his swagger. I mean, I feel like when he’s out there, I mean, you could fel could feel his presence and and and I think that helps our

Hear from Emil Heineman, Anders Lee and Head Coach Patrick Roy after tonight’s game.

3 comments
Leave a Reply