Brooklyn Boro

Andrew has been quite the Ladd in Isles playoff push

First-Half Bust Flourishing During Islanders’ Second Half Run

March 23, 2017 By John Torenli, Sports Editor Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Andrew Ladd continued his second half surge and boosted the Islanders’ playoff hopes by scoring the game-winning goal Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden. AP photo
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Andrew Ladd was a scapegoat for a lot of what went wrong for the New York Islanders during the first half of their second season here in Downtown Brooklyn.

But general manager Garth Snow’s most expensive free-agent purchase of the offseason has been just as instrumental in resurrecting what once appeared to be a lost campaign for our borough’s NHL franchise.

Ladd continued to pay second-half dividends Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden, scoring the game-winner in the third period as the Islanders edged the arch rival Rangers, 3-2, to fortify their pursuit of the final Eastern Conference playoff spot in front of a sellout crowd of 18,006 at “The World’s Most Famous Arena.”

The 31-year-old winger was in perfect position to snap a 2-2 tie with 7:24 remaining in regulation.

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With the Isles on the power play, team captain John Tavares’ initial shot on Rangers goalie Antti Raanta was deflected to Anders Lee, who deftly slid a no-look back-pass to Ladd for a quick wrist shot into the net.

The goal was Ladd’s 20th of the season, 16th in the last 32 games, and 12th since the team let go of long-time head coach Jack Capuano back on Jan. 17.

In fact, more than three quarters of Ladd’s goal production for the season has come after he managed only two tallies and two assists during his first two months here following the inking of his eyebrow-raising, seven-year, $38.5 million pact.

“It’s always nice to get to that [20-goal] mark,” said Ladd after reaching the plateau for the fifth time in his 13-year career.

“Especially after the start that I had. But at this point, the good feeling is coming away with two points, and on to the next one.”

Lee also scored for New York, his career-best 27th, and Nikolay Kulemin caught a fortunate deflection off his skate for the game-tying tally earlier in the third period as the Isles fought from behind for their seventh victory in the last eight meetings with the Blueshirts.

Much more importantly, New York moved within two points of Boston, with a game in hand, for the second wild-card spot in the East with 10 games remaining.

“This is playoff hockey for us,” noted Lee as the Isles prepared to travel to Pittsburgh to take on the defending Stanley Cup champion Penguins on Friday night.

“There’s no looking back, we can’t take any game for granted and we have to get two points almost every night. You look around the league the teams in front of us are winning as well and that’s what makes a game like tonight so important.”

Thomas Greiss stopped 34 shots for New York, which also received three assists from the fast-emerging rookie combination of Anthony Beauvillier and Josh Ho-Sang.

“Your goalie at this time of year has to be your best player and we have the confidence in him that when we have a breakdown he can come up with a big save and bail us out,” Ladd said of Greiss.

If they get out of Pittsburgh with points, the Isles may have an opportunity to retake command of their playoff destiny here on Saturday, when they host the Bruins.

“I think that’s what matters most,” Tavares said. “I think going forward, we just know we have to be a lot better in some areas. We just keep believing. There’s still 10 games to go, and you play 82 for a reason.”

 


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