During a third period spent almost entirely in the defensive zone Tuesday night, Cal Clutterbuck took it upon himself to circle the Islanders during a TV timeout and deliver a message: bear down, keep it simple, get pucks out.
The way the Islanders hung on for a 4-2 win against the Rangers, just like the way they hung on for a 2-0 win against the Predators two days prior, did not resemble the way Patrick Roy talked about envisioning them holding leads when he came in a few months ago.
Instead, it was a veteran team doing what it needed to do and winning ugly.
The head coach, by the way, was quite all right with that.
“It showed the experience that these guys have,” Roy said afterward of Clutterbuck’s initiative. “Calmed the guys. Sometimes it’s even better when it comes from the players themselves. We had a bit of trouble to get the puck out of the zone. He just made it clear to our guys, let’s stay the agenda and make sure we do a better job getting those pucks out, and that’s what we did at the end. We were better on those clears and got it out.
“Sometimes, can’t be fancy. Sometimes it’s, just be effective.”
A lot gets made this time of year of the Islanders having been here before, and how they know what it takes to win playoff-like games. Well, maybe there’s something to that.
Everything can still change, but at least right now, it doesn’t feel like much of a coincidence that the Islanders, Capitals and Penguins — three older teams looking for another bite at the apple — are ahead of the upstart Red Wings and Flyers in the playoff race.
The Islanders are not looking to make a big deal out of Peter Laviolette’s comments Tuesday — Roy seemed a mix of surprised and annoyed that he kept getting asked about the collision between Adam Pelech and Mika Zibanejad — and they are not looking anywhere beyond Thursday’s game against the Canadiens.
Roy was asked Tuesday morning about the potential for a playoff matchup against the Rangers.
“I’m not there. I’m sorry,” he said.
It’s undoubtedly true the Islanders are a little old and a little slow. But this time of year more than the rest, what matters more is mentality and sheer force of will. And that is what this team has in droves.
The 10 points the Islanders amassed over their past five games includes some of the ugliest winning they’ve done all season.
But going into Thursday, they have a two-point cushion over the Capitals for third place in the Metro with four games left in the season.
“I think the opportunity is always a new one in front of you,” Clutterbuck said. “We can hold another one-goal lead or we can not hold another one-goal lead two nights from now, and you can have the same discussion about different parts of the year.
“I think every night is individual, and I think every time you go out for a third period, you have a task and you gotta accomplish it. That’s just the way it is.”
