A Team with Something to Say: New Confidence in New York

Funny how a coach only becomes visible in the hard times — yet this season the fans have gone quiet for a different reason. Roy does not need a squad for protection. He has gone from being regarded as slime to fairy godfather. 

You thought Clutterbuck was hired for his knowledge of the hockey team? Not so fast there, bucko. Who do you think is in charge of the squad? Things have changed. Clutter’s job is now an overpaid candy striper.

This is all because of the Isles’ newfound winning ways.

All joking aside, the Islanders have risen from the ashes and become a team that has something to say. What they’re saying by their actions is, “How do you like me now?” They are a fast and fun team to watch. Roy has got his players buying into what he is selling. And what is he selling? It is that a team does not have to be boring to be defensively sound. The Isles are using their speed to force teams to make mistakes, making them reactive instead of proactive. The Isles’ defensive speed is making teams second-guess themselves into oblivion. The Isles have turned that into goals at the other end.

No, I am not naive enough to think the New York Islanders will automatically win the Stanley Cup. What I am saying is that they are playing well enough to make the playoffs. I have no idea whether they can keep this up for the rest of the season. Right now, they are playing like a team that wants to make a statement.

So what has made the difference? Why couldn’t they play like this earlier? I can’t answer those questions, but what I can say is I see the difference between now and earlier in the season

They are a fun team to watch because they are sticking to the fundamentals and listening to the coaches. What worries me is that they are being led by a 19-year-old defenceman who is a wonder kid, the one and only Matthew Schaefer. 

The supporting cast is led by Bo Horvat and sniper Emil Heineman. As long as these two players keep it up and the team sticks to the fundamentals into March:

• Do not put themselves in a position to lose; 

• Continue to play to win and not to lose; and

• Do not sit on leads. Keep playing and try to add to their leads. 

If they play smart, they will be fine. 

Don’t question it, just sit back and enjoy it. Bye for now.

Randy