We Salute You: The Islanders salute Nassau Coliseum following an emotional 3-1 win in Game 6 forcing Game 7 against the Capitals. Will there be more hockey at the Coliseum?
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The chants were “Yes, Yes, Yes!” at Nassau Coliseum. In what possibly was the final home game, the Islanders lived for another day with an eye popping 3-1 win over the Capitals in Game 6 forcing a seventh game.

Nikolay Kulemin’s first career playoff goal with 9:27 left in regulation proved to be the winner. In an emotionally charged game at the only barn they’ve ever known, the Islanders dug deep to get past the Capitals. Game 7 is Monday back at Verizon Center. The winner takes on the Rangers in the second round. The loser makes early summer vacation plans.

The defining moment came on a shift from captain John Tavares. Drawing two defenders, he carried the puck deep and was drilled by Alex Ovechkin against the glass. However, the puck took a funny hop bouncing to Nick Leddy who found Kulemin all alone for the game-winner allowing the Coliseum to erupt.

”Just when I saw everyone going crazy,” Tavares said after lying on the ice in response to Kulemin’s big goal. ”I’m just happy it went in.”

Nikolay Kulemin moves around Braden Holtby to score the game-winner forcing Game 7.
AP Photo by Julie Jacobson/Getty Images

He played a little possum drawing the attention of the Caps, who were distracted enough to not pick up the trailer Kulemin. He had plenty of time to beat Braden Holtby.

”People were grabbing each other,” Kulemin said of a wild shift that also featured some pushing shoving at the benches during a line change. ”There was a lot of stuff going on that shift, and I just saw the open space in front of the net and went there.”

”I’ve never seen a play like that, playing 2-on-2-hockey,” Holtby said who basically indirectly pointed the finger at Ovechkin for chasing Tavares and going for the big hit. ”You have to keep your composure a little better, not double-coverage. You don’t plan for that stuff. It’s tough to swallow.”

The Caps still came hard and nearly forced overtime with four minutes left. On a strong shift from their second line, Troy Brouwer forced Jaroslav Halak into a difficult save. The rebound caromed back out to Jay Beagle, who sent the loose puck over Halak but off the crossbar. At first, it looked like it would go in but Halak and the Isles caught a break.

Despite Caps pressure, the Isles were able to protect the lead. A smart play by Johnny Boychuk allowed Cal Clutterbuck to score into a vacated net with 58 seconds left sealing it.

”We want to keep this thing going. We want to be able to play in front of them even more,” Brian Strait said after playing a solid defensive game. ”To not keep it going, it doesn’t matter. It’s a failure.”

Strait had made it a point that they had to win this game. There was no way the Islanders could lose at home. Not in such a chaotic environment. The capacity crowd continued serenading the Caps with the all too familiar “Can You Hear Us.” A chant that originated from MSG in a first round series the Rangers played against the Caps due to former coach Bruce Boudreau. This time, it’s been in response to Ovechkin’s commentary that Verizon Center is louder. Not from our vantage point.

Tavares got the Isles off to a good start beating Holtby at 6:56 with a quick snap shot from Ryan Strome and Leddy. On the play, he took a Strome feed and skated around a couple of Caps before firing a low shot past Holtby for his second.

Washington drew even very late. Taking advantage of a Tavares slashing minor in the final half minute, John Carlson took an Ovechkin feed and blasted one past Halak at 19:55.  It was the only goal Halak allowed in a very strong outing. He made some big saves stopping 38 of 39 shots in improving to 6-1 in elimination games. Most of that dates back to his success with the Canadiens in 2010 when he carried them to the Conference Final.

Despite 27 combined shots including 17 from the Long Island hosts, there was no scoring in an intense second.

”To me, at the end of the day, their desperation level was higher than ours,” Capitals coach Barry Trotz said. ”Now we’re both desperate.”

The difference in the third was minimal. Both teams had chances. The Caps best one came when Mike Green had Halak down but missed high from the slot. If that goes in, who knows what happens.

Islanders coach Jack Capuano got inspired play from his hard hat fourth line of Clutterbuck, Matt Martin and Casey Cizikas. As usual, they were very physical injecting energy with thunderous hits from Martin and Clutterbuck, who combined for 18 of the Isles’ 46. They also forechecked well including the opening shift of the third. A wise choice by Capuano.

In a game that featured only four power plays with the Caps holding a 3-1 edge including their only goal coming from Carlson, the refs let them decide it. They let stuff go including during the chaotic shift that resulted in Kulemin’s game decider.

It was a smart play by Tavares drawing attention. Rather than take the man in front, Ovechkin saw an opportunity for a big check. That was a big mistake because Leddy recovered a loose puck and set up Kulemin at 10:33. Tavares got an assist on it giving him six points in the series.

”If we would’ve made the right read, we probably wouldn’t have been in that situation, a one-on-one with the goalie,” Trotz said.

Following Clutterbuck’s empty netter, chaos ensued at the buzzer when Carlson fired a one-timer on Halak. Kyle Okposo immediately responded as did fellow teammates turning it into a fracas. The teams combined for 26 penalty minutes with Clutterbuck getting a misconduct.

Unfortunately, it was an ugly conclusion to a great game. That included a few idiotic fans who tossed beer on Carlson. Considering that this came after a Caps fan complained about having their car vandalized earlier in the series, it doesn’t reflect well on the Islander fans. Of course, it’s always a few dopes who spoil it. The win should’ve been celebrated without such lunacy. If they do advance to play the Rangers, such shenanigans cannot be tolerated. Security must do a better job.

A nice shot of Nassau Coliseum during the national anthem prior to Game 6.
AP Photo by Julie Jacobson/Getty Images

BONY 3 Stars:

3rd Star-John Tavares, NYI (goal-2nd, assist, 5 SOG, +3 in 22 shifts-16:35)

2nd Star-Jaroslav Halak, NYI (38 saves incl. 13/13 in 3rd)

1st Star-Nikolay Kulemin, NYI (game-winner with 9:27 left in 3rd, 4 SOG, 3 hits, +1 in 23 shifts-13:52)

Notes: Brock Nelson returned to the lineup taking 19 shifts (14:04). … Capuano inserted Colin McDonald in place of rookie Anders Lee, who hasn’t been effective. McDonald had five hits in 19 shifts (9:54). … The Isles were able to win despite playing minus half their top six defensemen. With Travis Hamonic and Lubomir Visnovsky already sidelined, they skated without Calvin de Haan, who sustained an injury in Game 5. Leddy and Boychuk each got over 27 minutes followed by Thomas Hickey (22:33) and Strait (19:22). Matt Donovan and Scott Mayfield each saw over 10 minutes. … Faceoffs were 40-33 in favor of the Caps led by Beagle, who dominated going 15-and-4. Mikhail Grabovski was the Isles’ best winning 9-of-13.

Islander fans celebrate a goal by waving their playoff towels during Game 6.
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Key Stats

Power Play (Overall) Capitals 2-13  Islanders 0-13

Hits Capitals 32 (Ovechkin 5) Islanders 46 (Martin 11)

Blocked Shots Capitals 18 (Alzner, Carlson, Green-3 each) Islanders 14 (Boychuk 6)

Takeaways Capitals 14 (Brouwer 4) Islanders 23 (Boychuk 4)