They've stopped trying to be pretty for 60 minutes/night and are quite clearly focused on fundamental hockey.
I'm not at those practices and in that locker room, but I am finding it increasingly difficult to deny the feeling that Montgomery had at least a little bit to do with the team not adjusting to the "reality" (IMO) that they couldn't beat teams on skill as was the case a couple of years ago. Just get pucks to the net, win board battles, limit high-risk plays, etc.
I'm under no illusion that this is a team prepared for any sort of playoff run. But I am happy to see that they are showing an ability to put their collective nose to the grindstone which I wasn't sure existed through the first ~20 games of the season.
I also am aware the Islanders are far from a mammoth opponent, but it was great to see the team not revert back to old ways after they got shutout in a game the night before in which they controlled play for the vast majority of all three periods.