"Scott Gordon had been a bit agitated Wednesday night.

And rightly so.

Gordon, the New York Islanders' coach, had just watched his team ring up one shot in the third period of what became a 2-1 loss to Philadelphia at Nassau Coliseum.

He did not kick over tables or launch into a rant that became an instant YouTube classic, but Gordon made it known that he was not happy, and that he expected more from his players.

And even though he spoke mostly through clenched teeth, Gordon's players obviously understood his message. Absorbed it. Did everything but tattoo it on their foreheads.

And they made a commitment to upgrade their third-period performance the next time out, which just happened to be against the Penguins yesterday.

And the Islanders did. Radically.

By 17 shots. By two goals. And by one victory.

John Tavares knocked in a rebound from the edge of the crease at 13:48 of the third period to break a 2-2 tie and account for the winner in the Islanders' 3-2 victory.

And while that goal, coupled with one by Sean Bergenheim 84 seconds into the third, gave New York the offense it needed to transform a 2-1 deficit into a 3-2 triumph, the play of Penguins goalie Brent Johnson might have been the only reason the Islanders' margin of victory did not flirt with double figures."