The Islanders defense is still without Brendan Witt, Chris Campoli, Bruno Gervais and Andy Sutton. Against an offense like the Capitals, which consists of marquee players like Alex Ovechkin, Alex Semin and sexy [I mean that in the sense that he’s a good player for you un-hip readers] rookie Nicklas Backstrom, the chances of an Isles victory wasn’t even a bet a compulsive gambler would take. Nonetheless, behind solid goaltending from Rick DiPietro, a few goalposts and amazing defense by Radek Martinek, the Isles continued to get back into the playoff hunt.

Just to make things clear, Martinek wasn’t just great last night, he was fantastic. When he showed Ovechkin a seat in the third period, I thought I saw him smirk a little bit. Make no mistake about it, it was hit night. For years, Kenny Jonsson was the Islanders d-man that I had the most respect for, mainly because he played the way Martinek did last night. While I still feel that the Isles need Witt, Sutton and Gervais back as soon as they’re ready, you have to like the way the defense looked tonight. Well, after the first period.

Making a few mistakes in their own end, the first 20 minutes wasn’t a friendly one for the Isles. Nevertheless, the second and third periods saw the Isles play with the level of desperation they needed. The goals by Satan and Vasicek showed that this team was hustling and was getting the puck on the net when they had to. Sure, they weren’t pretty, but this team can’t be preoccupied with scoring good-looking goals. After starting off so strong offensively earlier in the season, I think they were trying to score the highlight reel goal [hence the reason why we’ve seen a toe drag from Mike Comrie in almost every game this season], instead of getting the garbage goals they were all known for. Tonight, they just played a gritty game and got the offense they needed because they shot the puck and didn’t try to do too much.

Speaking of doing things, nice blown-call by the zebras in the third, eh? Isn’t it great that the Capitals could have almost eight players on the ice and get away with it? What about the little hook move Ovechin uses every time he skates around someone near the boards? I guess Richard Park wasn’t the only one that lost a contact lens last night.

Luckily, none of that mattered as Mike Comrie ended it with a slow-motion backhand that slid under Olaf Kolzig’s pads. For a guy that I think needs to step up more, Comrie sure has been solid as of late. Let’s see how long he can keep it up though.

With the win, the Isles now have points in their last six games and are inching towards a playoff spot. With their next game against the cellar-dwelling Lightning as well, the Isles can make up the ground they lost after their recent seven-game losing streak

Isn’t it funny how a week and a half can change things?

Posted under Post Game Rants