Defense Brings Offense in Game 7

There was no shortage of heroes in this Game 7.
Ahead of the decisive Game 7 between the New York Islanders and the Philadelphia Flyers - and the third do-or-die game of the Second Round - Head Coach Barry Trotz marveled at the variety of circumstances that could unfold once the final puck of the best-of-seven series dropped on Saturday night at Scotiabank Arena.

"Someone is going to be a hero tonight," Trotz said on Saturday afternoon. "The great thing for the fans, for the coaches and the guys is, you don't know who it's going to be. There's going to be a hero tonight, no question."
True to the Isles identity, there was not a single player whose valiance propelled them to their bullish 4-0 victory which kept their season alive and sent them to their first trip to the Eastern Conference Final in 27 years. Rather, the joint effort stitched together an execution so meticulous to their game plan, one would have thought they were overlooking an open-heart surgery from a gallery window.
The win featured the unlikely, but timely incisions from defensemen Scott Mayfield and Andy Greene who provided the Isles with an encouraging 2-0 lead at the first intermission. It was backed by the undaunted, and steady pulse from Thomas Greiss, who was stellar in his second start of the postseason that earned his first-career playoff shutout.

"Game 7, you never know what you're going to get," Brock Nelson said. "Everyone wants to be on their game and be a difference maker. You never know who it's going to be or who is going to have the opportunity. Those are big goals by Greene] and Scotty, getting us going. You can't say enough about [Greiss] stepping in there in Game 7 and pitching a shutout."
The victory was also attributed to the collective buy-in from the Islander bench, who dissected the game's tempo shift-by-shift, held the Flyers scoreless, completed a perfect penalty kill and sealed off any hope as they held Philadelphia to a just 16 shots - the fewest they'd allowed in a game in the playoffs.
"We stayed to our identity," Trotz said postgame. "We wanted to play well and be on the right side of people. We got contributions through the lineup - obviously, two defensemen scored. We had some really good plays. We got some good goaltending, and our special teams were pretty good. You have a chance to win when you play like that."
**[READ: GM 7 NOTEBOOK: ISLES ADVANCE TO ECF AFTER 4-0 WIN**
For Mayfield, justice was restored as he potted the game-winner and his first-ever playoff goal 9:27 into the opening frame. Game 6's double overtime heartbreak unfolded off a sequence when Mayfield's stick snapped at Philadelphia's blueline. The unlucky instance provided an easy turnover and counterattack on a rush, which the Flyers capitalized on to force Game 7.
Unforeseen? Maybe. But it was fitting that Mayfield would have the chance for redemption. And like the 1993 Game 7 Second-Round series between the Isles and the reigning Stanley Cup champs in Pittsburgh, it was a Wild Card who sealed the 'W.'

"I was kind of down the past couple of days after breaking my stick there in overtime," Mayfield said. "It's a confidence boost. A game-winner in Game 7 to go onto the Eastern Conference Finals, I don't think anyone would think I'd be scoring it. I had a lane and was just happy that I could put it away."
Greene doubled the Isles lead 3:45 after Mayfield's icebreaker. The veteran and trade-deadline acquisition from back in February, became the third blueliner in franchise history to score in a Game 7 - along with Mayfield and Isles legend Denis Potvin.
While February feels like an eternity ago, the former captain of the New Jersey Devils and 37-year-old is relishing in this coveted opportunity he knows comes few and far between.
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"Obviously, I controlled the situation with the No-Trade [clause] and was only going to do it for certain situations," Greene. "This was the team that I thought we would be where we are today. I honestly did believe that. It was an easy decision for me. I couldn't be prouder of this team. How hard we've battled and everything we've had to go through since February. It's exciting."
Mayfield and Greene opened scoring, while Nelson gave the extra cushion in the second period and Anthony Beauvillier rounded out the final 4-0 score with an empty net goal, all backstopped by a perfect showing from Greiss between the pipes. The 34-year-old goalie was sharp, stopping all 16 shots he faced and excelling with the opportunity to lead his team out of a Game 7, while only having started one game prior.
"I found out last night," Greiss said. "It was an unreal game. It was the best defensive game I've ever seen the team play."

Semyon Varlamov has been nothing less than superb for the Islanders during this run with his 9-4 record, 2.00 GAA and his .921 SV%. But with 14 starts condensed over the taxing span of a month and anticipating the Flyers' desperation in Game 7, Trotz opted to utilize his luxury of having two capable netminders.
"[It was] Game 16 for us and we've played that really over a relatively short time," Trotz explained of his decision. "The last two game they got to Varly a little bit in terms of that - and he's played a lot of great hockey for us - but I wanted the freshness. We wouldn't be at this point without both of those guys. I was looking for some freshness. I also knew that Greisser - with his demeanor - he'd be a good choice for us. We've been blessed with two goalies."
While Mayfield, Greene and Greiss were the unlikely heroes that helped return the Isles to this generation's franchise milestone, there were a multitude of little plays here and there that championed together the full 60-minute victorious showing.
From the opening puck drop until the sound of the final buzzer, It was a night of heroics.
"I liked the fact that we recognize when we're at our best," Trotz said. "When we're at our best, there's a real sharp focus, there's a way that we play, [and] an understanding. The bench was great in terms of support. It's the commitment that when you need to block a shot, block a shot. Don't go halfway. Be all in. To me, that says a lot about your team. We didn't get small by the moment, we got big by the moment. It was a big moment, Game 7 and we got big."