Rattle the Islanders? Get them ‘lost in the moment’ and pounce? Psshhh…..think again.
The Tampa Bay Lightning have not lost back-to-back playoff games in the last two seasons, going 12-0 over that stretch.
The New York Islanders don’t care.
They are playing a game seven, as defending champions, for the right to advance to the Stanley Cup final at Amalie Arena, where they have gone 26-10 this season, including the playoffs.
The New York Islanders don’t care.
They have a super quick transition game, a deadly power play, smothering shot-blocking defense and arguably, the best goaltender in the National Hockey League.
Once again, louder for those in the back, the New York Islanders simply don’t care.
For the first time since 1975, the Islanders will be playing in a game seven for the right to advance to the final stage of sports greatest tournament, in what has been a condensed, frantic and thrilling season.
After struggling to the finish line of the regular season, I didn’t think the Islanders could just ‘flip the switch’ and turn their game on when it mattered most. They did. Many around the league picked the Pittsburgh Penguins to defeat the Islanders. They didn’t. Even more chose the big, bad Boston Bruins to advance. They didn’t. Some started coming around before this series began, but all in all, most thought the Lightning were just too powerful.
Yet, here we are. Game seven, tomorrow night in Tampa. Don’t tell the Islanders they are underdogs, because they won’t believe you. And they never will.
Their tenacity and resiliency under head coach Barry Trotz showed on Wednesday night at Nassau Coliseum, the old, dilapidated barn on Hempstead Turnpike that has housed more terrific memories for an incredibly loyal fanbase than any building around the league.
“That wasn’t us, you will see a much different team tonight”, said Casey Cizikas after the Islanders were embarrassed in Game 5. You did.
“We have to be disciplined. They have the best power play in the league. It’s a dangerous unit. Last game, emotions were high and it got out of control. Play 5v5 and give ourselves the best chance to win. Be physical, be hard on the puck, but walk the line”, said Matt Martin. They did, with Scott Mayfield leading the tight rope performance.
“‘I can’t tell you what Barzal has learned yet. It’s in his hands to show you what he’s learned. This is just another lesson to be that complete star player you covet in this league.”, said Trotz. Barzal was terrific, buzzing all night and leading the comeback in the third period with one of the most dynamic and dominating shifts he has had all playoffs. Lesson learned.
Down 2-0 in the second period, the Islanders never wavered and bolstered by a fanbase desperate for more memories at 1255 Hempstead Turnpike, they kept pushing. Jordan Eberle broke the shutout with a tricky backhand through a screen that breathed life into the arena and likely caused a couple more chunks of concrete to come loose.
After Mayfield lasered a snapper under the bar in the third, did anyone think the Islanders might actually lose the game? Momentum didn’t just shift, it steamed like a screaming locomotive.
By the time Anthony Beauvillier cashed in a horrendous Blake Coleman turnover and sent the crowd into delusional delirium, one could wonder how the old Coliseum was even standing.
With or without Nikita Kucherov, whose game seven status is very much in doubt, the Islanders have proven they can play with the best team in the league. Outside of the Game 5 anomaly, New York has taken their punches and delivered their own to the defending champions. They have done it by believing in themselves and the system they play, regardless if anyone else does.
They have earned the right to be here. In this time. In this moment. One win away from the Stanley Cup final.
Game seven won’t be easy, it won’t be comfortable, and it won’t be quiet. The Islanders are going to have to bring their absolute best effort yet again to continue climbing this mountain.
They don’t care. Just get it done, they’ll tell you.