Islanders Forward credits team with pulling together after everyone dismissed them
The New York Islanders knew they had to win in game 82 on the schedule and that's exactly what they did, picking up a 4-2 victory on Wednesday night.
After the Penguins dropped the ball against the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday, New York was able to get the job done in front of their fans at home.
The Islanders have been without star center Mathew Barzal since February 18th when he was injured in a game against the Boston Bruins. During that stretch the team played .680 hockey. Many fans wrote the team off after Barzal's injury but they were able to reach their goal on the back of excellent goaltending from Ilya Sorokin.
Veteran forward Zach Parise mentioned how the team stepped up in Barzal's absence.
"I almost feel as if we potentially got written of a little bit when Barzal went down. And we rallied and we put together a pretty good record from then on to put ourselves in this spot. I'm sure you could point to a lot of different times in the season that got us here. But here we are."
The Islanders will face either the Bruins or Hurricanes in the first round of the playoffs, depending on the outcomes of those team's games Thursday.
POLL |
AVRIL 13 | 44 ANSWERS Islanders Forward credits team with pulling together after everyone dismissed them Do you think the Islanders can beat either the Bruins or Hurricanes? |
Yes, a chance against Carolina. | 11 | 25 % |
Yes, a chance against Boston. | 3 | 6.8 % |
No chance, they're getting swept | 5 | 11.4 % |
They'll win some games but ultimately lose | 25 | 56.8 % |
List of polls |
|
1 hour ago | By Tyler Ball Vancouver Canucks Trade Defensemen to the Nashville Predators |
|
2 hours ago | By Julien Trekker Sportsnet Analyst Links Newly Traded Mikko Rantanen to Western Canadian Team |
|
3 hours ago | By Graham Montgomery Three Players Hit the Waiver Wire Including Former First Round Pick: Per Elliotte Friedman |
|
5 hours ago | By Daniel Lucente Auston Matthews Has One Of The Worse Penalties Called On Him And Flips Out At Referee |
|
6 hours ago | By Daniel Lucente Sidney Crosby's Status For Tonight's Penguins Game Has Been Revealed |
|
8 hours ago | By Julien Trekker Vancouver Canucks General Manager Patrik Allvin Reveals His Plans To Sign Key Forward Long-Term |
|
9 hours ago | By Tyler Ball Washington Capitals Defenseman Signs In Europe After Having His Contract Terminated |
|
22 hours ago | By Graham Montgomery St Louis Blue GM Reportedly Looking for 'Mammoth' Return for Brayden Schenn at Trade Deadline |
Previously on Bladeofsteel