Fourteen Islanders were out there on the ice for an optional practice Wednesday, feeling good about themselves after a win over the rival Rangers the night before and a 4-0-1 run over the last five games. After slipping so often over the first 20 games, the Isles have finally been skating in the right direction.
“Things are easier when you’re winning,” defenseman Thomas Hickey said. “You wake up, you’re not as sore the next day. Morale is better. It’s more fun to come to the rink. That helps. That sort of breathes a little bit of new energy into it.