from Allan Kreda of the New York Times,
Colin McDonald personifies the resolve of the resurgent Islanders as much as any player on their young roster.
McDonald, 28, was a second-round pick by the Edmonton Oilers in 2003, but his road to his first Stanley Cup playoffs was tinged with disappointment after being let go by the Oilers and the Pittsburgh Penguins before signing with the Islanders last summer.
McDonald, a wing, had 7 goals and 10 assists in 45 games this season after playing in only seven N.H.L. games combined with Edmonton and Pittsburgh. He knows the mind-set of the Penguins, the Islanders’ first-round opponent starting Wednesday night, who finished atop the Eastern Conference, 17 points ahead of the Islanders.
“I know first-hand how strong the Penguins are top to bottom, that’s why it was so hard for me to crack their lineup,” McDonald said. “But if we play our game, we know we can play with any team in the league.”
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