What a difference a few days make. We all sat here on Wednesday morning thinking the Islanders’ season was falling apart. Well, the Islanders got a little help from their friends and they now can still finish second in the Metro Division with a win tonight against Columbus. I am still ticked off after that loss in Philly, that is a defeat that never goes away, but what a difference a couple of days really make.
The Islanders weren’t perfect last night. However they worked their tails off and owned the third period leading them to a 3-1 defeat of the Penguins in Pittsburgh. With the Capitals losing to the Rangers this afternoon, the Islanders will claim home ice by closing out the Coliseum with a win.
The Penguins came at New York hard through 40 minutes, but the team held. More importantly, goalie Jaroslav Halak was outstanding and kept the Isles in the game. This was very encouraging after his error cost the Isles a point against the Flyers just a few nights earlier. If the Islanders have any chance in the playoffs they need Halak to be one of the best players on the ice and he was last night.
As for tonight, it is a bitter sweet day for all of us. The last regular season game at the old barn. Let’s not fool anyone, this place is a dump. But it was always OUR dump. One of the best venues to watch a game and when it is rocking one of the loudest arenas in the game. I will have more on this after the season, but whatever happens now…. enjoy it.. Enjoy what we have left of the Coliseum. Brooklyn will not be the same. It won’t be bad. It will just be different.
We will still have fun there, we will still be loud and we will still love our team but for one moment today take a minute to love this dump. Let’s not focus on why we are leaving or where we are going, let’s just enjoy where we are right now. One last hurrah and playoff hockey next week. No mock drafts. No obsessing over players in juniors or college. Playoff hockey at the Coliseum, does it get any better than that?