For one night at least, with nothing on the line, the Islanders performed like the team they thought they could be, a team that could compete with the division’s best when properly organized and poised.
There was no luck involved, no grab-a-lead-and-pray behavior either. Just a solidly played 4-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins, and their first win at home in over a month.
It was still a high-event shooting gallery, mind you, but the Isles had the better of play for significant stretches in all three periods. They started out on the front foot rather than flat in all three periods.