UNIONDALE, N.Y. - Nikolai Kulemin isn't accustomed to playing the role of hero, but he certainly grew into it on Saturday afternoon.
Playing in just the second post-season of his NHL career, the former Maple Leaf scored the decisive goal - and, perhaps, the final winning goal ever recorded by an Islander player at Nassau Coliseum - in a 3-1 New York victory over the Washington Capitals, forcing a Game 7 in the best-of-seven first round series.
The Isles are moving to Brooklyn next season, so a Game 7 loss means there will be no more Islander contests in Uniondale.