3 reasons the Islanders can bounce back from a tough loss in Game 1 to Carolina

The New York Islanders lost Game 1, but this team showed it could match well against one of the best in the Eastern Conference.

New York Islanders v Carolina Hurricanes - Game One
New York Islanders v Carolina Hurricanes - Game One | Grant Halverson/GettyImages
3 of 3

The Isles could play the same game with a different result

It’s true that head coach Patrick Roy should let this team know that if anyone needs to make major adjustments heading into Game 2, it’s Carolina. New York had the Hurricanes number for most of the middle frame, and if they play that way for all 60 minutes in Game 2 and Carolina doesn’t adjust, there is a good chance the Isles will tie the series. 

This isn’t saying Roy won’t make adjustments or won’t inevitably be forced to tweak the Isles game at some point. We can’t expect the same Carolina Hurricanes team that we saw on Saturday, but Isles fans should at least exercise some peace of mind in the fact their team isn’t the one that needs to do anything dramatic. 

It’s all about making sure the puck ends up in the net and not off the post, and that Frederik Andersen isn’t in position to make quite a few of those “highlight-reel” saves. If there is one adjustment the Isles could make, it’s to get a little more physical, as they landed just 19 body checks, well under the 25.12 per game they earned during the regular season. More physical play will be beneficial for this team in Game 2 and beyond. 

(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)

Schedule