2nd period felt a lot better than 0.6 to 2.0.

Didn't seem like TBL created more than 2x as much in 2nd than they did in 1st.

Scoring chances weren't too bad, though. Isles did hit the post three times.

Isles need a statement game or two vs Hurricanes for me to really get excited.

Except on wing. Isles pretty much started the season with all middle-6 wingers, and I'm not sure any are 1st or 4th liners, outside of MacLean/Cizikas and recently Gatcomb.

On defense, it's definitely Schaefer, Pelech, and then pray when neither is on the ice.

Blackwood looks rough tonight, but he was something like .978 in his previous four games.

Some of them he's in space that opponents don't expect.

Hooks and trips seem somewhat sustainable, with his shiftiness.

I'm almost as impressed with NYI's effort each of these past seven road games as I am of the quality of their rookie class. Every time they went down a goal, they picked up their play.

Hope they can keep it up for home games, because they have enough quality to win when they outwork opponents.