BPort took two wins this weekend, 3-2 and 1-0 (in the shootout). Not bad when you think about how Toews is gone for the season and Aho, Fritz, Johnston, and DalColle are up on the Island.
Gibson got the 3-2 win, Gudlevskis the 1-0 win. Pretty impressive.
All in all, the team has won 4 of the last 6 games and every single game - even the losses - was decided by 1 goal. The Tigers mustered up no more than 3 goals in any of those games.
For a team that already wasn't an offensive giant, the loss of their top two offensive Dmen as well as their topscorer Fritz is a tough blow to face.
In the 3-2 win the other night, Ho-Sang had 1-1-2. Everyone knows that if he'd decided to really get his act together, he could still make a serious impact for the Islanders.
However, the game against Chicago showed us that both Fritz and Johnston are really willing to keep the game simply, get their bodies involved, and make the smart play with the puck. And honestly, right now the Isles need that more than anything else from its lower line players.
And I'm betting Johnston IMMEDIATELY earned respect from his teammates while guys like Chimera would likely say they like playing with Fritz.