NASHVILLE, Tenn. _ Doug Weight did not quite break into song or dance on Tuesday morning, but he did articulate the goal for the Islanders with a musical reference in Music City:
"Yeah, "Saturday Night Fever," stayin' alive," the interim coach said. "We have to win a game."
Such was the state of their extremely precarious playoff prospects entering their game against the Predators.
But alive they are after winning, 2-1, in overtime Tuesday night, by the barest possible of margins. Victories by the Senators and Bruins on Tuesday night left the Islanders on the brink of elimination.
Still, it's not over yet.
It was 1-1 in the third period when the Senators' 2-0 victory over the Red Wings went final, which meant the Islanders had to win to remain in playoff contention.
The Islanders, clearly and understandably desperate, put the heat on the Predators in the late minutes of regulation time.
Thomas Hickey won it 1:25 into the extra period by snapping the puck past Pekka Rinne's blocker side for his fifth career overtime goal.
