It was a messy win in parts, but a win is a win and there were a few things for the New York Islanders to hang on to after their 2-1 victory in Ottawa, their third win in a row and second in as many nights.
One of the positives was the play of rookie goalie Anders Nilsson, who has had a rocky season but has shown well in his last two starts.
Among the MSG post-game videos, they talked to Nilsson and to coach Jack Capuano, who agreed it was Nilsson's best game of the year:
The way we started, I thought we'd give up 40 shots...but after the first we settled down...
I would say so [Nilsson's best game this season]. ... I thought he did a great job, especially on our penalty kill. Even on the one they got, there was a mad scramble in net...
Capuano also talked about the power play, the road success, and the power play's recent performance.
Nilsson: 'I Thought I Had It'
Nilsson, for his part, admitted he let up too many rebounds but credited his defense with clearing them away.
On the lone Senators goal, Ottawa crashed the net with a mad scramble of bodies as Nilsson literally stretched his legs from post to post before Milan Michalek found the puck and lifted it in:
Did you think you had it?
"I thought I had a glove on it, but it's tough. It happened so fast. Tough for me to even know, tough for the referee to see. Those things happen."