By Brian Bohl
Only about one-sixth of the season remains as the Islanders fluctuate between a postseason contender and an also-ran. Twice in the past month the team edged away from the precipice of irreverence, surviving a seven-game losing skid last month and winning six straight.
Just when it appeared that the magic ran out, the Islanders shrugged off four loses in five games to beat the Rangers in a dramatic shootout, compliments of strong goaltender Wade Dubielewicz.
Dubielewicz, Rick DiPietro’s replacement, already has led this team to an unlikely playoff push. DiPietro went down with a concussion last season, and the Islanders were left for dead entering April. But Dubielewicz stepped in and won four straight games, sneaking into eighth spot.
That track record should make any disparaging thoughts dissipate for the time being. DiPietro again is missing time late in the season– he’s sat out the last two contests to cope with his grandmother’s death.
His absence is understandable and hasn’t hurt the team at all, thanks to another string of brilliant relief appearances from Dubielewicz. “Dubie played fantastic again, like he did down the stretch last year,” said Jeff Tambellini after his shootout goal capped a season-saving 4-3 win Tuesday night over the Rangers at Madison Square Garden.
Sure, sometimes the Islanders look like pretenders. Entering Wednesday night, the team goal total of 168 is the lowest in the Eastern Conference and the roster likely won’t claim a single 30-goal scorer at the 82-game schedule’s conclusion. Putting the puck in the net can be an arduous task some nights; just ask any of the exasperated fans who attended Sunday’s 1-0 loss to the Panthers even as the Islanders put up 53 shots. That actually set an NHL record for most shots in a shutout defeat.
“There are no excuses,” Ruslan Fedotenko said after the contest at Nassau Coliseum. “We need to put the puck in the net. We’re trying to make too perfect plays. We’re not as hungry as we should. It shouldn’t be that difficult to put that little black puck in that big net.”
Here are some more worrisome facts. Despite his All-Star appearance, DiPietro is still ranked 30th in the league in save percentage, posting a .905 ledger.
Don’t forget the banged up defense, which was decimated by injuries to Brendan Witt, Andy Sutton, Bruno Gervais and Chris Campoli. Campoli is out for the season and Sutton won’t be back until later this month.
But don’t discard those postseason ticket invoices yet. Coach Ted Nolan continues to work behind the Islanders bench, maximizing the most from an undermanned team. In his first year on the job in 2006-07, Nolan led his group to the postseason by keeping them focused when all hope appeared lost. He’s back at it again this year, recording a performance that should warrant consideration for the Jack Adams award if the Isles can somehow make it back to the Stanley Cup tournament.
Jason Blake and Ryan Smyth departed in the offseason, depriving the Islanders of a legitimate pure scorer.
Nolan shrugged off the lack of any big free agent signings, instilling confidence in a team that consistently back-checks, blocks shots, and works hard to grind out goals.
Even after the Isles best center and Assistant Captain Mike Sillinger went down with an injury, Nolan’s group remains just three points behind Philadelphia for the last playoff spot.
Considering 10 of the final 14 games come against Atlantic Division opponents, it would be a mistake to write this team off again.