Two Straight Shorthanded, Two Straight Winning Hands

The Islanders fought fiercely for the entirity of a game this season for the first time Tuesday night against our rivals. The Isles proved that they can be a competing team and threatening force in the Eastern Conference with the value meal of a BIG MAC, clutch defense with offensive sauce, and a side of remarkable penalty killing. For the thousands in attendance at the Garden and the tens of thousands viewing at home, I think they were all shocked as how the Islanders have bounced back from Saturday's destruction.

My two M.V.P's for the season thus far both had exceptional games, once again. Richard Park, a clear cut example of a two way player and leader, paved the way for the Islanders with huge penalty killing, and his second goal, this one shorthanded, in as many games. Joey MacDonald, rookie replacement goalie, now has a .500 record and nearly recorded his first NHL shutout. MacDonald made a few outstanding stops late in the third to secure another victory for the Islanders. It's almost ironic how the Islanders have set a trend this season: Score goals early, and blow games late...and... score goals late, sneak away with two points. Perhaps this is suggesting that the Islanders are explosive in first periods ( 4 goals against Montereal, 5 against St. Louis) and tend to run on "E" as the game clock wears down. I think they are finally beginning to dance to the same rhythm from Gordon's drum and are learning to consume some energy for late in the game.

The Islanders face the Trashers Thursday night in Atlanta, and if they can keep their hard work up, they can head into the coliseum Saturday night with their first three game winning streak in months. The major keys in doing so; is for the Islanders to possibly take penalties, get Park,Thompson and Streit on the ice, and generate some more shorthanded opportunities. It seems to have been working, crazy as it sounds. Being shorthanded seems to be New York's vice this season. Plus, one of Campoli's goals came with a man down Monday night and both goals by Park and Thompson were on the penalty kill as well against the Rangers. If I were Scott Gordon, I'd probably prep up the team by saying something such as this, " Guys, let's not score in the first, let's take some penalties in the second and then turn on our nitrogen boosters in the third and steal two more points tonight." And if the Islanders are able to pull away a point or two against Atlanta Thursday night, their horrible start doesn't seem so awful anymore.