The Islanders top the Hurricanes in shootout for first win of the season.

In what can only be called a miracle, the Islanders were able to hang on in the shootout to win the game, off the end of John Tavares' stick to be exact.

The kid has been everything Isles' fans could have hoped for, he never gives up on the puck and has a nose for the net. While I'm sure it was wearing on the entire team to be winless through their first six games of the year, the Isles have played with the desire to win, and I haven't seen them giving up on the game. Actually, the Isles have taken a lead into the third period in most of the games, it seems like they just burn out by the end of the second. Scott Gordon's "overspeed" system is obviously tough to maintain for the kids, most of whom actually would be AHLers on any other team, tonight they gave up 2 goals to blow the lead in the third. Tavares didn't register any points in regulation, but he did score the shootout ending goal, all three Islander shooters scored in the shootout, their line up was Jeff Tambellini, a fresh off surgery Frans Nielsen, and the aforementioned number one draft pick, John Tavares.

While I'm sure Islander fans have become somewhat accustomed to the shootout already this year, what they haven't gotten used to is Dwayne Roloson's incompetency in the shootout. Roloson before tonight made zero saves in six attempts, and even after tonight he only made one save, putting all the more pressure on Tavares to put the game away. The shootout maybe the most glaring issue to Islander fans, especially since their oft-injured number one goaltender, Rick DiPietro is one of the BEST goalies in the shootout. Dwayne Roloson, I've said it before is a positional goaltender and his style doesn't lend itself very well to shootouts, which has been shown throughout his career, not just this season. Say what you will, he's a step above Joey MacDonald and Yann Danis.

The real hero of the game tonight was surprisingly, Andy Sutton, whom has actually been under fire by a lot of fans for not using his big frame at all, well, tonight he did. We also got to see some of the scoring ability he had prior to joining the Islanders, he earned himself a goal and an assist, and he was close to getting a Gordie Howe hat trick after Andrew Alberts hit Tavares rather late, Alberts declined Sutton's invitation to dance, and Sutton had to settle for a roughing penalty.

Matt Moulson has continued to be a story for the Islanders, he picked up his fifth goal on the season tonight, all of which were more or less on the goalie's doorstep. Tim Jackman picked up his first goal of the season and has been a MUCH better option for the Isles in place of Joel Rechlicz. Brendan Witt was the only player to drop the gloves tonight against Scott Walker, and while the fight was even to a point, it was Witt in the end who ended up on his back, advantage goes to Walker in that one.

The Islanders still need work, particularly in their own defensive zone late in the game. The penalty killing thusfar has been somewhat of a strength and their 5-on-5 numbers are hardly anything to write home about so far. I think they need to consider adding more grit, and maybe slowing down to a more defensive pace for the third period, then the Islanders may be able to return to past glories. Also, stop putting pressure on Tavares and comparing him to Mike Bossy, got it?