Santacapper
Pretty much a regular
It was 10 years ago that Ted Nolan was named NHL coach of the year after leading a hapless Buffalo team to the playoffs. His reward was a ticket to exile for the next nine years until Islanders owner Charles Wang hired him this season.
Now Nolan has another team from the scrap heap in the playoffs, and sweet poetic justice: The opponent is the Sabres on Thursday night at HSBC Arena.
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Buffalo won the Presidents' Trophy as the top team in the NHL, but Nolan and the Islanders might have a little emotion on their side.
Reminded of the personal nature of the matchup, Nolan diplomatically spoke about the best part of his Sabres experience. "I was very fortunate to get a start in this league and to get to know the people of Buffalo," Nolan said. "Buffalo is always a special place in my heart, but now we've got to try and beat their hockey team."
When the Devils' John Madden scored with nine-tenths of a second left to send the game to overtime, Nolan told his team the only thing they could control was their reaction. "I don't think I was breathing for the last five minutes of overtime and the shootout," Nolan said. "It seemed like time stood still. You watch it, and you see the last shooter miss, and it's a big relief off your shoulders."
Nolan can take pride in getting a team to the playoffs that was an immediate throw-out for most preseason prognosticators. "It's very gratifying, especially with the early polls," Nolan said. "I think they picked us for 30th."
Nolan said no decision has been made yet on goaltender Rick DiPietro's availability.
Now Nolan has another team from the scrap heap in the playoffs, and sweet poetic justice: The opponent is the Sabres on Thursday night at HSBC Arena.
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Buffalo won the Presidents' Trophy as the top team in the NHL, but Nolan and the Islanders might have a little emotion on their side.
Reminded of the personal nature of the matchup, Nolan diplomatically spoke about the best part of his Sabres experience. "I was very fortunate to get a start in this league and to get to know the people of Buffalo," Nolan said. "Buffalo is always a special place in my heart, but now we've got to try and beat their hockey team."
When the Devils' John Madden scored with nine-tenths of a second left to send the game to overtime, Nolan told his team the only thing they could control was their reaction. "I don't think I was breathing for the last five minutes of overtime and the shootout," Nolan said. "It seemed like time stood still. You watch it, and you see the last shooter miss, and it's a big relief off your shoulders."
Nolan can take pride in getting a team to the playoffs that was an immediate throw-out for most preseason prognosticators. "It's very gratifying, especially with the early polls," Nolan said. "I think they picked us for 30th."
Nolan said no decision has been made yet on goaltender Rick DiPietro's availability.