The New York Islanders beat the Phoenix Coyotes by what ended up being a comfortable final score Tuesday night, but coach Jack Capuano shared the sentiments of many -- including the in-game broadcast -- that it wasn't the Islanders' smoothest effort.
He cited the power play, some good fortune, and the play of Evgeni Nabokov for enabling the Isles to build a bigger lead than they perhaps deserved.
"We got some bounces, let's not kid ourselves," Capuano said. "The score didn't indicate the [true flow of the game]."
"But our guys played hard. You do that, you do get some bounces. ... The third period was a test after how we played [with the lead] the other night [in the Isles home opener shootout loss to Columbus]."
However, he was not in a praising mood: "We have to be hard on them. As a staff, there are some things we need to work on for sure. Our discipline and our decision-making was just okay."
Capuano also touched on the play of rookies Brock Nelson (1 assist) and Matt Donovan (1st NHL goal), of goalie Nabokov and work (in practice) by his backup Kevin Poulin, who we suspect will get in one of the two back-to-back road games this weekend.
Video of his post-game presser via IslesTV is below:
Via the direct link, the Isles also have post-game reaction from players like Josh Bailey, Shane Doan, and the always entertaining Nabby himself.
Nice to be at a place where staff and fans can find quibbles in a 6-1 victory, no?