The biggest sign of change comes with attitude, and if the Islanders can play a game like they did on Tuesday and still show some semblance of perspective, then they have grown leaps and bounds.
From the coach on down through the rookies, the 6-1 drubbing of the Coyotes at the Coliseum was put in its place, recognized as just another two points in a season that is going to get a lot tougher.
“We got some bounces, let’s not kid ourselves,” said an incredulous Jack Capuano, seemingly always putting on his best Stern Coach Face for moments like this when satisfaction would be too easy. “The score didn’t indicate the way the game was.”
What happened on the score sheet was Capuano’s best player was the game’s best player, as reigning Hart Trophy finalist John Tavares scored his first two goals of the season and nearly missed the hat trick on a third-period power play when the game already was out of reach.
“I think we should be happy with the result,” said Tavares, who combined with linemate Matt Moulson to pepper Mike Smith with 10 combined shots, the top line’s most dominating performance this season, which drove the Coyotes stellar goalie from the crease in favor of Thomas Greiss to start the third period. “It was a good bounce-back. I don’t think it was anything more than that.”
The Islanders rebounded from Saturday’s shootout loss to the Blue Jackets in their home opener, when they blew a 2-0 third-period lead. Yet add up their shootout win in the season opener in Newark against the Devils the night before, and the Islanders have started this season recording five out of a possible six points — hardly a better way to back up their breakthrough postseason performance of last year.
“We have to put it in the bank right away,” said goalie Evgeni Nabokov, making his third straight start and again playing stellar, the only blemish of the 34 shots he faced being a Martin Hanzal screened wrist shot midway through the second period which made it 3-1. “It’s a great start, but now we have a tough road trip in front of us.”
There were periods of this game when the Coyotes actually titled the ice in their favor, but the Islanders were able to hold them off — unlikely the case come Friday when they go to Chicago to face the defending Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks, or Saturday in Nashville against the Predators.
After Peter Regin opened the scoring 1:49 in with his first goal with the Isles — in conjunction with rookie forward Brock Nelson’s first NHL point for the assist — the Islanders seemed to back off a bit. Yet they then went on a decisive 5-on-3 man-advantage, and Frans Nielsen (three assists) fed Tavares for his first of the game to make it 2-0 and turn the tide for good.
The Isles ran away in the second period, with rookie defenseman Matt Donovan scoring his first NHL goal — a blast from the point on the power play — Tavares scoring his second off the stick of sprawling Phoenix defenseman David Schlemko, and Colin McDonald sneaking one past Smith’s glove, which gave his team a 5-1 lead after 40 minutes.
When Josh Bailey tied a bow on things with his third-period goal, he joined Michael Grabner (three assists) and Neilsen with three-point nights. Nine of the team’s 18 skaters had at least one point. The Isles’ power play went 2-for-6, their penalty kill went 3-for-3, and it all seemed roses.
“It’s three games,” Tavares said. “We have 79 more, and there is a lot of work to be done.”