Team is playing well and had to be to overcome very shaky goal tending. Have to hope this is more than coaching change bump in terms of the way some players are improving.
Good
Pettersson - playing with more maturity and out from any shadow created by Horvat's leadership. He's not deferring to anyone now and is truly becoming the lead dog. Very good both ways. Besides the offense, he was coming back better than any other center to cover up.
Miller - becoming the horse of previous times. Played big and lot less of the loose plays that led to so many problems earlier in the season.
Boeser - most improved player on the team since the coaching change. Ups his trade value but if you could be certain he'd play consistently like this, you might rather keep him. Can't believe I'm saying that but he's showing stuff he hasn't shown much of for a couple of season. Actually giving it a much better defensive effort and that's a huge change.
Hughes - another terrific game. Like how he rotated with Pettersson on the PP giving the team a shot from the point. (maybe the all-star performance let the team realize this possibility ). Much better compete and results in his own end
DiGuiseppe - you wonder why they traded for Studnicka when this player was already with the organization. Solid game where he created offense and ground away creating a lot of ozone time. Line with Aman (another good game although needs to work on FO) and Joshua had dominant shifts and played about as good as any 4th line combo this year. Lazar should not be seen as alternative for these players.
Podkolzin - using his speed to disrupt other team and is moving the puck well. At this point finishing the season well and again providing hope he will become a bona vide NHL player. Great work ethic in this game.
Bear - playing well both ways. Getting up to support the puck in the neutral zone consistently. Been a good pick up at the price.
Not Good
Dries - not able to play a 200 foot game. Just not fast enough or anything enough. Got overpowered one on one by a big Islander team. Has some touch but not an NHL player. Not the kind of player Tocchet will keep around
Burroughs - in over his head. Was gapping poorly and losing his check. Any effectiveness he was showing early in the season now seems in the distant past. Should probably bring up someone from Abbotsford and put Burroughs down where he should be.
Delia - skittering around like a cat on a hot tin roof. Just holes everywhere as he lurched about. Sometimes tucked away in the back of his net and at others wheeling way out of his crease leaving the net abandoned. Most saves were pure luck. Was atrocious at handling the puck and on several occasions blocked of the d-men from picking the puck up cleanly behind the net. Maybe the best way to a tank is playing him although Martin might give him a run for his money.
Myers - head doesn't appear to be it at times. Late was watching the play too much and not taking people out around the net. Gives up inside position too much and has been all season. Gets tired and then looks extremely clumsy.
Others
Beauvillier - nice he scored the winner. Actually should have had a couple more. Least he goes to the net
Kuzmenko - needs to play more than half ice. Short comings not apparently acceptable under Tocchet as it should be. We'll see how this works out.
Couple of things I wonder are how long Schenn is out and, second, whether they are still giving out the belt as they did under Boudreau.
Win brutal for the the tank but conceivably might help Islanders finish just out of the playoffs.