Despite a rough start Friday night in Atlanta, during which goaltender Rick DiPietro was victimized for three goals before the game was six minutes old, the scrappy crew from Uniondale rebounded to tie the game and eventually escape Philips Arena with a point in a 5-4 overtime loss to the Thrashers. They returned home the following night to top the conference-leading Buffalo Sabres, 5-3.
Trent Hunter, has been a key player, opening the Isles’ scoring on both nights. Hunter, who scored 16 goals all of last season, has already notched 11 in his first 44 games.
"We're not giving up out there," he said after Saturday's victory over the Sabres. "I think there have been games in the past this season where we've gotten down a goal or two and the wind has gone out our sails. Right now, we're battling and there's no letup in our game."
Though they can't be thrilled with falling behind early in Atlanta, they have taken particular pride in coming from behind in both games against some of the league's toughest competition.
"It's definitely huge," said Arron Asham, who scored twice Saturday, including the tying goal in the third period. "During the first half, going into the third period down, our record wasn't so good."
With captain Alexei Yashin and his linemate Jason Blake struggling of late, the contributions from Hunter, Asham and the like has been key in keeping the Islanders in the playoff hunt and as a potential buyer at the trading deadline, rather than a seller.
"I hate to categorize as first, second, third and fourth lines,” said coach Ted Nolan, when asked about the contribution of Asham and linemates Shawn Bates and Richard Park. "We could call them our first line tonight -- they played really well."
It was Nolan's first win in three tries against the Sabres, though he tried to downplay that angle.
"It just happened to be against Buffalo," he said, "but it would be a special win any time you come back in the third period and fight back."
