The Islanders have started to do the “little things” during this three-game win streak.
A week ago, when the Islanders lost two straight games in Florida and talked positively about how they played, it was easy to be dismissive.
“I think the more you do the little things over and over again, maybe some of the little concepts, they become a little more second nature for sure,” Islanders coach Lane Lambert saidon Saturday night. “That’s the key is to play without speaking, so to speak, or without hesitation.” That is something that could never have been said about the Islanders last season, when their lack of speed was a death knell. This season, they seem to have figured out how to counter it.
“Just trying to gap up a little bit more,” Scott Mayfield said. “It starts with our forwards trying to get the pressure on them. We know they’re coming back so they have our back. You see the pinches here and there that probably shouldn’t have gone, but that’s learning.”