Suddenly resurgent Islanders dominate Lightning: ‘The will was phenomenal’
In their first five games under Patrick Roy, the Islanders looked, understandably, like a team in transition taking to a new system well, but hitting stumbling blocks along the way.
In the sixth game, they looked like a team that had wholly embraced what the new head coach has preached.
And theygot the result to show it, beating the Lightning 6-2 on Thursday at UBS Arena in an offensive explosion for their second-straight win following the All-Star break, with the crowd chanting Roys name as time ticked down in the third period.
On a night where everything went right for the Islanders, even injury luck was in their favor with Casey Cizikas back in the lineup and Brock Nelson returning for the third period after spending part of the second in the dressing room following a hit from Emil Martinsen Lilleberg.
Just as important, they played perhaps their best all-around game of the season.
The Islanders swarmed the puck. They played up the ice.
They lived in the offensive zone. They dominated for shifts at a time.
4Mathew Barzal celebrates after scoring a goal in the first period of the Islanders’ 6-2 win over the Lightning. Robert Sabo for NY PostThey forechecked aggressively and effectively, making life hell when the Lightning tried to get through the neutral zone.
For us to get that one, to have Ryan Pulock back, Cizikas back healthy you can just feel the locker room open up a little bit, Mathew Barzal said. Shoulders more at ease. That kinda stuff. We feel good. We feel like were ready for a big second half.
This performance, by the way, came against a team the Islanders are chasing in the playoff race, a team that has long been one of the leagues measuring sticks.
The Islanders had won just seven games by two or more goals prior to this one.
On the ice from Long Island
Sign up for Inside the Islanders by Ethan Sears, a weekly Sports+ exclusive.
Thank you
Enter your email address Please provide a valid email address.
By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Enjoy this Post Sports+ exclusive newsletter!
Check out more newslettersBut Roy is not a coach who prefers to stay conservative.
My goal is to have a game that excites our fans and wins hockey games, Roy said Thursday morning, repeating a sentiment he has expressed since his hiring. That is just what the Islanders did in this one.
It took the Islanders just 4:07 to get on the board, with Noah Dobsons cross-ice feed ricocheting off a Tampa defender and in.
Nikita Kucherovs point shot at the 6:42 mark of the first one of just three shots on goal the Islanders allowed in a dominant first 20 minutes marked a temporary setback when it deflected off an Islander stick and in.
But the Islanders quickly got back to their game.
By the first intermission, it was 3-1 thanks to Barzal roofing a backhand following an offensive-zone faceoff and Kyle Palmieri finishing off Mike Reillys feed to the crease.
4Islanders fans celebrate after their dominant win over the Lightning. Robert Sabo for NY PostThis was a first period for setting the tone and unlike so many other times this year, that tone continued for all 60 minutes.
Asked whether it was the most complete game the Islanders had played under his tutelage thus far, Roy responded in the afirmative.
The commitment that the guys made: Backchecking, coming back, tracking, blocking shots. Things that dont require talent but just will and thats what we had tonight, Roy said. The will was phenomenal.
Brandon Hagels power-play goal 1:14 into the second appeared to inject some life into Tampa.
But the Islanders quickly regained momentum on a flurry of goals from Pulock, Bo Horvat and Cizikas to effectively put the game away by the second intermission.
After Pulock returned to the lineup in Toronto on Monday, it was his first goal in over two months.
4Ilya Sorokin makes one of his 15 saves during the Islanders’ victory. Robert Sabo for NY PostAnd for Cizikas, who missed the past 10 games with a lower-body injury, it had been nearly as long, with his last goal coming Dec. 13.
It did not hurt matters that Jonas Johansson had a terrible night in nets for the Bolts.
But just as impressive as their offensive output: the Islanders allowed just 10 shots on goal in the games first 40 minutes and 17 shots total.
Its a commitment from everybody, Roy said. Working as a unit of five offensively, defensively, in the neutral zone, if we continue to do this I think were gonna continue to improve as a team. Not saying were gonna give below 20 shots every night but it feels good to see that what were doing works well.
The Islanders are still below the playoff cutline, four points short of the Flyers and two points behind the Red Wings.
4Casey Cizikas accepts congratulations from teammates after scoring a second-period goal in the Islanders’ win. Robert Sabo for NY PostBut if Roy can make something of this Islanders season, that is how it will look.
He knows that as well as anyone.
Tonight, everyone was playing well against everyone, he said, at the end of his press conference. Thats what I wish would happen every night, basically.
How many decks are used in poker?
In most popular poker variants, such as Texas Hold'em and Omaha, a standard deck of 52 playing cards is used. Each deck contains four suits (hearts, diamonds, clubs, and spades) and consists of 13 ranks (Ace, 2 through 10, and the face cards: Jack, Queen, and King).
What is the bonus code for WPT Global Poker 2023?
The best bonus code for WPT Global is WPT777. By entering the bonus code, players will get a welcome bonus 100% up to $1,200 on the first deposit. The minimum deposit is $20.
What is the best WPT Global bonus code?
Use the WPT Global bonus code WPT777 when registering to get a 100% deposit bonus up to $1200 plus a $100 No Deposit poker bonus.
