Fish Sticks; The Islanders are a resilient bunch

Thursday night’s 5-4 win over the Winnipeg Jets was just another step in what has been an improbable season for the New York Islanders.  For those who fell asleep early, the Islanders went down 2-0, 3-1, and 4-2 in each period but each time was able to get the score to within one.  They then made it 4-3 with about 13 minutes in the third, tied it with 1:46 in the third and scored the GWG with 1:13 to go.

This victory was the fourth time this season that the Islanders have scored within the last five minutes of the game to win.  The other three were Josh Bailey twice, once against the Rangers earlier in the season and just a week ago against Philadelphia, and Michael Dal Colle in February against the Kings.  That’s it.  It was also the first time in Islander history that they scored two regulation goals with under five minutes to win the game.

As the saying goes, “Just when I think I’m out, they pull me right back in”.  I’m sure most people probably either stopped paying attention to the game or turned it off entirely.  I don’t blame you, considering how well the Islanders played all game and how frustrating each goal they gave up was.  However, if you did tune in you saw exactly why the Islanders have 97 points and are two points away from a playoff spot.

The Isles are who they are because they’re so resilient.  They’ve come back multiple times this season after going down 2-0 early.  Those comebacks have come against some quality teams too, including the St. Louis Blues and now the Winnipeg Jets.  Last season’s Islanders wouldn’t have had a shot in this game.  Even Barry Trotz said so, when he commented on how they’re so cool under pressure.  To quote Trotz, “From what I’m told and I wasn’t here last year, that game there would have been a lot of okay we’ll wait for the next one”.

It’s a testament to this team, considering their anemic offense, that they’re in the position that they’re in.  Good goaltending goes a long way, as does good defense, but a “we’re never out of a game” mentality is what makes this Islanders team special.  They’re a resilient bunch, and they’re going to need that come playoff time.