The Islanders return home tonight in hopes of eliminating the Panthers in Games Six of their best of seven series with Florida. After Alan Quine scored a dramatic power play goal in the second overtime to win game 5, the Isles are looking to advance to the second round of the Stanley Cup for the first time since 1993.
If this all goes south and the Isles do not win you can all blame me. In my history on this earth I have only seen a hockey team that I pull for get out of the first round once. The 1986 Hartford Whalers defeated the Quebec Nordiques and that was the only time I saw my team advance. I was 8.
Regardless of what happens, we don’t throw parades for getting out of the first round….. Actually that Whaler team did have a parade for winning a round and the thought of that now is just hilarious.
Sorry I digress. I just can’t help it because the thought of advancing is such a foreign concept to me. Despite the Panthers controling a majority of the series, Isles goalie Thomas Greiss has been the difference stealing game 5. The Panthers have been the better team much of this series imposing their size and speed on the Islanders. New York has not figured out how to get the puck through the neutral zone and have been suffocated at times.
With that being said, the Isles special teams and goaltending carried this team to this point. The Isles have scored 5 power play goals in five games after not scoring any in their series against the Capitals last season. In a close series that is a difference maker. The penalty kill has been big when it needed to be and the goaltending has been lights out.
That is where we are heading into tonight. Thomas Greiss will tend the crease again tonight and Isles Head Coach Jack Capuano said the rest of the lineup would be up closer to game time. I honestly don’t expect any changes. Marek Zidlicky had a solid game replacing the injured Ryan Pulock. I also understand the need for Steve Bernier and his size in the lineup. I can point out that Ryan Strome should be playing in place of some other struggling forwards but that doesn’t matter right now.
What matters is the chance to end years of failure. It is a chance to close the circus and gain some respect from the league. It is the chance for this core that has been through a rebuild to make that next step. I honestly did not feel great going into game 5 but this team has been resilient even when they are being outplayed. I hope tonight is the night where they figure everything out and carry the play. Barclays will be loud. It will be packed and it is dying for a win. It is up to the boys in the locker room to make that important step for this franchise.