Eyes On Isles
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Islanders: Anders Lee Focused On Task At Hand

By Matt O'Leary

TORONTO, ONTARIO - AUGUST 24: Semyon Varlamov #40 of the New York Islanders is congratulated by his teammate Anders Lee #27 after his 4-0 shutout win against the Philadelphia Flyers in Game One of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on August 24, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ONTARIO - AUGUST 24: Semyon Varlamov #40 of the New York Islanders is congratulated by his teammate Anders Lee #27 after his 4-0 shutout win against the Philadelphia Flyers in Game One of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on August 24, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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While Islanders fans are daydreaming of one more win, Anders Lee has the team grounded with the task at hand.

If you look on Twitter, Islanders fans are already daydreaming about one more win. I myself have fell victim to this, it’s hard not to with the lack of success in my lifetime, but it’s important not to get ahead of ourselves.

Teams have come back down 3-1 before. Six teams since 2010 have done it and two more have come back from 3-0 down. The Islanders still have to win one of their next three games to take care of Philadelphia.

Luckily, the players seem to understand that. Anders Lee had an excellent quote this afternoon that has me reassured that the Islanders know what they have to do and that this isn’t over just yet.

Love it! Philadelphia is a very good hockey team. Yes, going into the series I liked the matchup for the Islanders and they’ve handled Philly relatively well but there’s a reason why they finished with 89 points this season.

They have a great coach in Alain Vigneault, who came back down 3-1 against Trotz’s Capitals five years ago, and some high-end scorers who can turn it on at any second.

I don’t expect the Islanders to blow a 3-1 series lead, I’m just saying let’s not count our chickens before they hatch. Yes, enjoy the ride, it’s been an absolute blast the last month watching this team but to act as if the job is done for this round already is naive.

That quote is why Anders Lee is a great captain, he gets it. The job isn’t done yet. After these games have you noticed a theme, the Islanders are rather tame with their answers.

Look at these two veterans. Thomas Greiss and Josh Bailey have been around a long time at this point. The tone, from Barry (and I’m sure Lou Lamoriello as well) is serious. Heck after the game Barry Trotz said that the team played their worst game of the playoffs after going up 3-1 in the series.

Accountability, that’s why the Islanders are in the position that they are right now. Anything less than a Stanley Cup would be a massive disappointment to these guys. They won’t reflect until the job is done.

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