Just take away a little bit of all the context: injuries, the Islanders' record, the desperation inherent in calling up a player who has played in only four professional games. That's because Isaiah George was there Tuesday morning, about nine hours before his rookie lap. The beam didn't stop.
He didn't need to say anything as he counted down to his NHL debut and the joy of being here was written across his face.
After George called with the news Monday night, his mother and father came to watch the Islanders' 4-3 shootout win over the Penguins.
“I didn't understand very well. [of their reaction]” he said. “I think they were a little shocked, just the shock of the moment and that sort of thing.”
For a player who only made his AHL debut last month, no one had planned for this to happen so quickly.
What's more, this haphazard call-up meant George skated in 15 minutes, 41 seconds, made only one glaring mistake, and played so well that Patrick Roy trusted him to be on the ice in overtime. In some cases, the results were good.
“Great,” Roy said. “Aside from that one turnover, I thought he had a solid game. He's skating and moving well. The more he plays, the more comfortable he feels outside. Dew.
“I was very happy with his performance. He played in extra innings. Come on. Good job, kid.”
All of the aforementioned contexts must be considered here.
The Islanders are missing the entire left side of the defense.
They entered Tuesday with a 4-6-2 record. George got this opportunity in part because of Samuel Bolduc's impressive performance at Madison Square Garden on Sunday.
He is only 20 years old, has very limited professional experience, and did not have the benefit of a full practice with the team on Monday because the Islanders had not decided what they would do before practice. said Roy.
“The way I think about it, he's still 20 years old,” Roy said. “But like I told Lou, [Lamoriello] During our conversation, my teammates probably kept their pants on because I was also 20 years old, and I'm sure they knew how nervous they were the first time I played a game. ”
still. It was an incredibly difficult situation to make his NHL debut.
George stood up at that moment.
“You know, once the game starts, it’s just hockey,” George said. “I was pretty focused and giving it my all. I felt ready. Just another day of hockey.”
Alexander Romanov and Mike Riley are still living hand-to-mouth with upper-body injuries, but neither has ever skated on their own, Roy said.
Roy said he still believed Noel Acciari was offside and asked the league for an explanation for the manager's failed challenge for offside in the first period.
