Maven's Memories: The 2002-03 Homestretch

The fallout of the 2001-02 playoff series wafted across Islanders Country like a whiff of Chanel #5 perfume.
"Refreshing." That's the word that best describes a season of revival and a thunderous seven-game series with Toronto that featured thrills on top of thrills.
Now it was Autumn 2002 on the Island and thoughts turned to the What Next? Department. For starters there was good news on the medical front.

Michael Peca, who had been torpedoed-but-not-sunk by Toronto's Darcy Tucker, now was in drydock and began skating on his own in September. Meanwhile, an ever-improving Dave Scachard would fill in for the Captain.
With Chris Osgood and Garth Snow manning the pipes -- plus Rick DiPietro waiting in line -- the Isles were secure in the crease. Rick even accepted his demotion to Bridgeport with unexpected grace.
"They have two great veteran goalies," DiPietro opined, "and I'm still a young guy. I can wait my turn."
The Isles plan to catapult themselves into an comfy early season lead just wasn't to be. After seven games, they sat at a flat .500 (3-3-1) but nobody was terribly upset -- until they plunged through a six-game losing streak.

Osgood, inexplicably, was bad.
Perhaps he was hoping for a new contract or was hiding an injury. One scouting report stated that, "Chris was getting beat by seemingly harmless shots. He was putting his team behind barely a minute into the game."
The maestro, Mike Milbury threatened trades but before doing so, he convened an in-the-team-bus meeting and assured his players they were capable of a rebound.
Peter Laviolette followed up with a light-hearted practice the next day. It turned out to be the perfect prescription since a five-game winning streak followed. Even the captain was back in the lineup..
Peca: "Mike was very encouraging and very demanding of us but very fair. What he said really inspired us."
MAVEN'S MEMORIES
WRITTEN COVERAGE
John Tonelli Five-Goal Game
Isles vs Leafs in 2002
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
Maven's Haven
Although his club's record was a lackluster 8-13-3 Peter received news that Milbury had picked up the following year's $500,000 option on his contract.
Refreshed and newly confident with his bonus pact, Lavvy challenged his players to reach the .500 mark by New Year's Day. On New Year's Eve, the Nassaumen were one W under .500.
A Jason Blake overtime goal produced a 1-0 victory and Ossie's second straight shutout. "We feel like a playoff team again," said Scatchard.
If nothing else, Lavvy's sextet remained ahead of the boys from The Big Apple but the homestretch run most likely would decide which of the rivals would make the post-season.
Up until the trade deadline, Milbury did all he could to make life more comfortable for Laviolette. A couple of players had disappointed Peter and now Mike tried to alleviate the anxiety.
One of the biggest moves was Brad Isbister whose size and skill suggested potential stardom that never was realized.
Mister Isbister was dealt -- with a second-round pick -- to Edmonton for solid defenseman Janne Niinimaa.
A bigger shocker was management's decision to cut ties with Osgood. Mike dispatched him to St. Louis for prospect Justin Papineau and a second-round pick.
Ossie took it well. He loved the Island and Islanders fans loved him. But business is business.
"Ricky's got to play sooner or later," Chris averred. "He's going to be a really good goalie."
DePietro: "It's settling for me. It's good to have solid ground here and start to become part of this."
By "this" he meant the riotous charge to the Finish Line. It wasn't only the Rangers they were fending off; the Canadiens also were nipping at their heels. (Shades of the Belmont Stakes!)
With nine games remaining, the Isles invaded Montreal and -- with Alexei Yashin leading the way -- dumped the Habs 6-3. Yash produced two goals and three assists.
"I have no doubt we're going to make the playoffs," Alexei added with finality.
As the Blueshirts campsite across the East River, they didn't believe the Isles' Russian ambassador. Why should they. After all the Rangers were a mere two games gossamer string behind Lavvy's lads.
Alas, the final week of the season had arrived and neither of the New York teams had cashed in their chips on the one remaining playoff berth in the Eastern Conference.
The answer would be supplied in the final Battle of New York, April 1, 2003 at the Coliseum.
"We win and we're in," said Captain Peca.
True enough but a tie or even an overtime loss would do the trick. Losing to Glen Sather's sextet was a No-No non-option.
"It felt like a 'playoff' game," wrote author Zach Weinstock in Rivalry, "because, in essence, it was one."

Yashin, the self-appointed seer, made his playoff prediction look good when he thrust the home club ahead, 2-0, with a power-play goal early in the third.
The Blueshirts had a right to sing the blues but they were not dead; at least not yet.
Part One of the Rangers rally was a Brian Leetch goal. Part Two was Alexei Kovalev's red light at 16:01. All Glen Sather's chaps needed was one more goal and -- Yikes! -- they're in!
Then, it happened. Islanders Grade-A defenseman Roman Hamrlik was whistled off for interference with 1:32 remaining; plenty of time for the Rangers power play to set up and score.
One press box regular got on his feet and studied the crowd through until the final buzzer sounded. "The entire arena stood for the remainder of the third period, too nervous to even chant."
Hustling over the ice like water bugs on a pond, the Isles' PK-men frustrated the Rangers PP. It was 2-2 in regulation. As Weinstock quipped, "Overtime was a party; the Isles were in for the second straight year."
Considering all the trials and tribulations of a turbulent season, the Islanders had two valid reasons to feel good about themselves.
For one thing they had made the playoffs twice in succession.
And for another they disposed of the Rangers who now had missed the good stuff for the sixth consecutive year.
"We're one of 16 teams that gets to the Cup," Milbury concluded. "It's a new day."