How Lambert’s Emotions Thursday Resonated With Islanders Players

Saturday night against the Washington Capitals is an opportunity for the New York Islanders to continue their winning ways, having won three straight, as well as pad their lead in the wild-card race, which currently sits at two points after their comeback victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday.

It was a game in which the Islanders found themselves trailing 3-1 entering the third period, but in the final five and a half minutes, they turned up the jets and scored two goals before Brock Nelson potted the overtime winner to send the bench into a frenzy.

READ MORE: Islanders Ebbs & Flows of 3rd Period Domination

While the players were energized, so was Islanders head coach Lane Lambert.

We don’t get to see the emotional side of Lambert often. After the game, as we were waiting to go into the room, coaching staff came off the ice and went into their office. Door closed and you could hear the collective cheering. https://t.co/MTpvkmnDq0

— Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) March 10, 2023

“We’re all in it together,” Ryan Pulock shared with NYI Hockey Now. “I mean, from the coaching staff throughout this organization, it’s a full effort every game, winning and losing, so I think when you can have an exciting comeback like that and kind of a big moment in the season playing against a team that we’re battling with, it was really important for us, so hopefully, we can take that energy and build off it tonight.”

For newcomer Bo Horvat, Lambert’s emotion reiterates everyone’s mindset.

“Everybody wants to win here,” Horvat told NYI Hockey Now. “From the coaching staff all the way to us. Obviously, the reaction on the bench…we’re pretty happy. It was just a big game. We see this every point matters, but I mean, for us to come back in that fashion and Nelson to score that one, it definitely felt good.”

Islanders defenseman Noah Dobson echoed Horvat’s sentiments.

“It just talks a lot about the group,” Dobson said to NYI Hockey Now. “I think everyone’s invested whether you’re a player or staff. Everyone wants to win, especially this time of year. It’s coming down the stretch so everyone’s into it.

“Everyone plays with emotion, does their job with emotion, and makes it fun to come to the rink every day, to see that passion from not only the players but the staff as well.”

Hudson Fasching, who has been a critical addition to this group, spoke on the group collectively moving in one direction, a winning direction.

“It’s awesome to just have everybody pulling in the same direction, your coaching staff and players included,” Fasching told NYI Hockey Now. “I mean we’re all just ecstatic. For us to be able to pull that one out, feels great.”

Simon Holmstrom added: “It’s huge. Everyone really wants to win, and we really want that playoff spot, and that’s what we’re going for right now.”

Emotion is a powerful thing. And for the New York Islanders to find a way to carry their own emotion after a monumental comeback, and to see how passionate Lane Lambert and the coaches were, only benefits their mindset as they gear up for their game against the Washington Capitals.