Maven's Memories: Dream Ending to 2001-02 Regular Season

The Islanders dream-like 2001-2002 expedition ended without a nightmare.
Rookie coach Peter Laviolette wanted to see an "X" next to his team's name in the standings and he got his wish. But not without tons of angst and more than a little help from unlikely sources named Snow and Kvasha.

A chief protagonist down the stretch was Garth Snow, who was good at stopping pucks when called upon by Laviolette.
When it counted most, down the stretch, the goaltender -- eventually to be general manager -- beat the Bruins in an overtime Beantown thriller.
"The win," said Laviolette, "brought us very close to what we had been fighting for from the get-go, a playoff berth."
On April 6, 2002, it got even better. Washington was the foe but even more than the Capitals, the fans were focusing on -- once and for all -- making it.

Just about everyone, starting with the original first-year ticket-holders to Islanders MSG Networks broadcaster Howie Rose was focused on the club finally getting over the hump into the promised playoff land.
In Matthew Blittner's book, "Unforgettable Islanders -- Games & Moments From The Press Box, Ice & Front Office," Rose pointed out that the 2001-02 campaign was his favorite of the 21 years during which he covered the club.
Rose: "The season was so important to everyone because the team had been out of the playoffs for seven years in a row. And now, with the Caps at the Coliseum, the losing, non-playoff skein could be over."
For sure, the Isles had the elements in proper order. 1. They were motivated; 2. They were hot; 3. They turned a slumping Oleg Kvasha into a rollicking scorer and, 4. They had a roaring audience behind them.
MAVEN'S MEMORIES
WRITTEN COVERAGE
The Amazing 2001-02 Season
Explosive Trades Launch 01-02
Denis Potvin's Breakout vs Rangers
The Sutter Brothers
Kelly Hrudey Origins
How The Trio Grande Happened
Chico Resch's Unforgettable Game
Denis Potvin's Road to the Isles
Ziggy Palffy, Underrated Islanders Hero
Maven's Haven
And if the lads needed a wake-up call, they got it when the Visitors rifled home the game's first goal. Right then and there, "The Unlikelies" took over.
First, the suddenly-hot forward Kvasha and then defenseman Eric Cairns secured first period red lights.
"There was unbelievable, pent-up excitement," broadcaster Rose recalled with a fond memory. "I mean, for the fans, having their team getting so close to making the playoffs after being out for so many years.
"Plus by 2002 it had been nearly 20 years since the last Stanley Cup year. So, the fans who remembered the Cup seasons were a little hungry. The ones who didn't were overjoyed at maybe getting their first taste."
Defenseman Ken Jonsson and little forward Jason Blake added goals in the middle frame. And for those Nervous Nellies who feared the "Dreaded Three-Goal Lead," Michael Peca scored early in the third. 5-1, Isles.
And a good thing, too.
Unfazed, the loosey-goosey Capitals rebounded to narrow the lead to 5-2. Whoops! Now it's 5-3. Yikes!! Washington is only one goal behind. 5-4!!!
Meanwhile, GM Mike Milbury had left the Coliseum soon after Peca's goal. The Boss figured he'd take a 15-minute drive to his home and watch the celebration in front of the living room television set with his wife Ginger.
"When I walked in," Mike mentioned, "it was 5-4 for us, but scary close. Ginger and I watched the seconds tick off until the buzzer sounded. That's when I began breathing easier again."
So did just about everyone in the crowd who had awaited the clinching moment. And if anyone needed a reminder that hockey is a team game, the point was underlined when the "Three Star" selection was revealed.
Not Captain Peca, nor oft-hero Yashin. None of the marquee names.
It was all foot soldiers: Hustling, rambunctious Steve Webb, tireless utility forward and penalty-killer Claude Lapointe and unobtrusive but ever dependable defender Ken Jonsson.

Hahn and Botte summed up the accomplishment with many well-placed words in their "Fish Sticks" after Newsday had done so with one word: FINALLY!
Fish Sticks: "You had to imagine a majority of those countless former Islanders littered throughout the league wore a grin when they checked the newspaper the next morning and saw that 'X' next to the Islanders in the standings."
"X" marked the spot; playoffs at long last.
Once the euphoria had subsided, coach Laviolette reminded his troops that they had, yes, moved to the post-season, but, no, they had not won The Stanley Cup.
"One challenge has been met -- we're in," Peter enthused, "but now we have more tough work ahead; beating the Toronto Maple Leafs."
The series would open in Canada and ultimately be regarded by historians, media types and fans as one of the all-time, colossal thrillers.
Howie Rose: "The intensity was at a peak. From the opening face-off at Maple Leaf Gardens, it would be an enormous battle. A battle for space. A battle for the puck. A battle in every facet of hockey!"