RALEIGH, N.C. — Was there sufficient good on this Recreation 1 loss to the Hurricanes that the Islanders might stroll out of PNC Area feeling like that they had a blueprint to win the collection?
Properly, they definitely thought so.
“Completely,” Kyle Palmieri mentioned following the 3-1 defeat within the playoff opener Saturday evening. “I feel we noticed ways in which we could possibly be profitable. We noticed ways in which we might restrict their possibilities.”
The prevailing sentiment within the Islanders’ dressing room was, in essence, simply that.
They’d performed nicely sufficient to win, hit two posts of their two finest possibilities within the third interval and misplaced.
There isn’t a lot room for silver linings in a best-of-seven collection, and the Islanders are nicely conscious of that.
But when they maintain enjoying the form of protection that noticed Carolina restricted to simply 26 photographs on web on Saturday all through the collection, then they assume they’ve received an opportunity.
“There was loads to take from the sport that we did nicely,” Noah Dobson mentioned. “Simply got here all the way down to, it was a decent recreation on the market. We didn’t capitalize on our possibilities that we received. They did. However we’re not gonna dangle our heads right here.”
The parallels to a yr in the past, when the Islanders misplaced a equally tight Recreation 1 on Stefan Noesen’s game-winner, are there for the taking after Noesen’s aim 3:44 into the third proved to be the distinction right here.
The Islanders had each probability to steal dwelling ice in that collection however ended up dropping Recreation 2 in additional time when Scott Mayfield argued a missed excessive stick, resulting in Jesper Quick’s game-winner.
They by no means led that collection and misplaced in six video games.
That’s instance of how little it could imply to be shut in particular person video games over a best-of-seven collection.
And if the Islanders drop Recreation 2 on Monday, then no matter encouragement they took from Recreation 1 might be diminished to nothing, irrespective of how good they give the impression of being.
But when they’ll steal only one recreation down South and get to Lengthy Island on even footing?
Properly, then it’s an entire totally different collection.
And if they’ll put up this sort of defensive effort once more, they count on that state of affairs to be in play.
“We’ve been enjoying nicely defensively for some time,” coach Patrick Roy mentioned. “Clearly enjoying nicely defensively offers you an opportunity to win each recreation and that’s what our guys have been doing.”
