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Michael Peca's steely stare and rugged look were still etched on his face after he left the ice.
Not surprising for the New York Islanders captain, except this was just after noon and followed an intrasquad scrimmage in front of some 10,000 screaming school children thrilled to be free from classrooms.
Hardly the intense
atmosphere of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
But these New York Islanders wanted a change in attitude and direction, and
got it after their second straight appearance in the postseason ended in sheer
disappointment.
Fingers were pointed, complaints were lodged and heard by general manager Mike Milbury, who fired coach Peter Laviolette after New York's first-round playoff flameout against Ottawa. Ticketmaster
``We blew it,'' defenseman Roman Hamrlik said. ``We were ahead 1-0 and then lost four straight. We have to find out how to win hockey games.''
Laviolette got the Islanders to the postseason in each of his two seasons, following a seven-year playoff drought, but the players and the coach were far from the same page.
So Milbury brought in Steve Stirling, who coached the Islanders' top minor league affiliate the last two seasons, and did very little tinkering with the roster that stumbled into the eighth playoff spot.
``From Day One of training camp there was a difference,'' Peca said. ``There's a new coaching staff, so automatically you have something to prove. If you want to play more you've got to work harder and show what you can do. That starts it off but there's been good communication. Ticketmaster
``There's been a lot of upbeat days.''
The onus was placed on the players, who were ready for a new start from the very beginning of training camp in Wheeling, W.Va.
Stirling, 53, had separate meetings over the summer with Milbury and the players. For the most part, the focus was on what's to come as opposed to what went wrong.
There is a new system in place that concentrates on playing as a five-man unit. It is centered on defense and being responsible in your own zone, and incorporates elements of the trap that often isn't exciting, but when played well can produce results.
``I think that's what it's all about,'' forward Alexei Yashin said. ``I mean it's nice to play great, beautiful hockey but in the same way it's most important to get results.'' Ticketmaster
New York, 7-0 this preseason, is loaded with speed up front with players such as Yashin and Jason Blake, who had a career year last season under Laviolette. Forced turnovers can lead to odd-man breakouts and scoring chances.
Just watch the Stanley Cup champion New Jersey Devils and Western Conference finalist Minnesota Wild, under former Devils tactician Jacques Lemaire, for proof.
``It's a business of winning,'' said Stirling, an NHL head coach for the first time. ``I'm sure everyone would like to win versus being exciting and lose. Doesn't sound like fun to me.''
Nor was last spring.
When the Islanders packed up following the loss to Ottawa, there were many dissatisfied players. Ticketmaster
Laviolette, 15 years younger than Stirling, tried to rally his club when the postseason began. He said his club was every bit as good if not better than Ottawa, the team with the best record in the NHL.
The positive feeling lasted for one game -- a 3-0 stunner. But things quickly came crashing down again.
``I think we should look forward and correct some mistakes that we did in the past,'' Yashin said.
And if Stirling is able to get the enigmatic Yashin to buy into a plan of defense first and not always look for the offensive breakout, a major battle will have already been won. Ticketmaster
It is a system he played under in Ottawa and one Peca is also familiar with from his days with Buffalo, which reached the Stanley Cup finals in 1999.
``There will be some chances and if we can really get it going with that, then we have some speed,'' Stirling said. ``If we didn't have that speed, then yeah it could get somewhat boring.''
If 22-year-old Rick DiPietro wins the No. 1 goalie job from Garth Snow, then it will be anything but boring in the nets.
He is a brash, excitable, aggressive stick-handler itching to be another New York lightning rod.
Snow is also feisty at 34. He took over as the No. 1 goalie last season when Chris Osgood was dealt.
``It's a real nice mix, it might be ideal,'' Stirling said. ``I'll let it play itself out and they'll both continue to play hard.
``I think they're both going to push one another the whole year and that's how it should be.''