Capitals 3, Islanders 2 (OT): Dignity amid loss

“It’s going to be a long season for the Islanders and their fans, but if the guys in Uniondale put forth an effort like they did tonight every night, they’re going to be a very easy team to pull for.”

Well said. I’ve been a fan of this team since I was 5 (28 years ago) and truth be told, through the ups and downs, this group is one of my favorite teams to wear the unis.

Great job with this site, guys, by the way. Joined this morning and will be reading from now on.

Does anyone here think DP has a shot to realistically help out this year?

Towards the end of the game the Caps made an adjustment, instead of their dmen carrying the puck out of the zone (with the exception being Green) they began shooting the puck up the boards as much as possible. I think the Islanders pressing was definitely getting to them.

The penalty for Nate Thompson on Green was a joke.

Maybe it sounds crazy, but THIS is the game to model after and build upon, not the Canes game. Sure we lost this one and won that one, but this was a full-on effort and an unbelievable relief to watch after that disaster in Montreal.

Im really proud of the Isles in that game. If they Isles play like that, they will win more and more. Their effort was outstanding. There was no collapse, no bumbling in the third, no skating around like idiots, just a bad break of a bounce off of Joshs skate. Without that bounce, the Caps walk away from this game with nothing… which is what they deserved given their play.

If the Isles play this same kind of game in the Habs rematch, the Isles are going to kick ass. We will see which team we get that night!

The Isles have to stop playing to the level of competition. It appears that the more good teams they play the more they will understand what level of hockey it takes to succeed in this league. After watching last night it was easy to see how they were being creative and enjoying the game for approximately 50 minutes. Once Washington went down by 2 the Isles started caved to the Washington pressure. They tightened up way too much. Rollie was right in his post game interview. Perhaps with a little more playing time against the Pens, Caps, Rangers (gulp!…I hate saying that) and a few western elite teams the youngsters can get a better feel for what it takes to finish off a team and win.

I really hate to use this over used quote as an anology but as Gretzky has said about their cup final against the Isles in 83 they had to walk past the Isles locker room to witness all of the ice bags, whirlpools, trainers at work in the Isles locker room to physically see what it took to win. This isn’t all that much different other than it is on a lower level and you many more youngsters than what were on that Edmonton team.

It will take time but that performance last night, In my opinion was the best game they have had so far regardless of the win. That is a GREAT sign coming off of the worst performance of the season. It shows that they have heart and that is the best start yu can hope for.

Well at least they are getting points out of this years’ 3rd period slumps. So even though it isn’t amounting to much so far, it is actually progress. Last year around this time they were blowing the leads and losing in regulation time. This shows they are making pains to avoid that. And again it’s not amounting to much at the moment but it’s a sign of acknowledgement that they are finding answers to some of their problems. This overspeed or whatever you call it has been around for awhile with the isles. I feel Nolan was utilizing it too. And it was pretty formidable then. Of course you had ppl like Blake constantly attacking, Sillinger cycling well, Hunter was battling, (and even thou many don’t like him) Satan was sniping. Now grant it they weren’t the best, they simply made it to the first round. But with DiP thrown in net behind them the Isles were solid.

So I do feel the overspeed can work. And if they can get over the 3rd period lag from it, that strategy can counteract the majority of other team’s strategies.

And you know what I like the optimism that we everyone is showing here because I feel it requires alot of patience and understanding to back this team these days. (or even perhaps since the days of Turgeon. Which was perhaps the last time it seemed like they could go all the way I feel. And yeah he was a personal fav of mine too!)