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Isles Lose More than the Hockey Game

April 8, 2014, 10:53 PM ET [11 Comments]
Dee Karl
New York Islanders Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
I seriously expected an Islanders win tonight. It was a meaningless game, the Isles HAD been playing well, it was the last home game of the season. Really, a win for the fans would have been wonderful.

It didn't happen. It could have. The Isles out shot the Senators by a wide margin at times, and they did have their chances, but Jason Spezza scored at 12:45 of the second period on the power play. The Isles had given up 101 second period goals, the most in the League.

Anders Nilsson was screened on the play and the puck went five hole on him. That would be one of the goals that Jack Capuano said he would have liked to have back. It was only one goal, it wasn't insurmountable.

Frans Nielsen scored his 25th of the season 22 seconds into the third to even things up, but that would be the only goal the Isles would get past Anderson. The Sens would score three more times and Spezza would have had a hat trick had he not passed off to Kassian. That was so nice of him.

Brett Gallant was the 13th rookie in the line up for the Isles this season and he made a big impact tonight -- on Matt Kassian's face. He dropped him with one punch. There are plenty of of posts about it. Welcome to the NHL kid.

Cal Clutterbuck suffered an upper body injury and slammed the bench door a few times before heading off to the trainer's room -- where he stayed and did not return and will most likely be out for the balance of the season.

Jack didn't have an easy time of it with a young defense corps and a shortened bench. Scott Mayfield was asked what he felt the difference was between Columbus and the Senators and he said they were fast and had "big names up front." He said they'd have to get more shots on net. They did. They just didn't go in.

So, the Islanders end with a home record of 13-19-9 which is equal to Buffalo. It just seems worse because -- it's ours. Capuano said he had some ideas about why they had problems at home, but he can't blame this group of kids because they didn't start out there and he didn't want to seem that he's forgetting they still have three games to play, but when it comes to playing at home, "We get healthy, have a good summer. We'll be focused, prepared and ready to go."

On a lighter note, the team named John Tavares "Islander of the Year," which is like me being named Head Chef of my house. It's a given.

The Jumbotron announced the June 27th Draft party, so there's that to look forward to. If you think that's something we should look forward to. However, the end of the game seemed to lack something important. There were complaints that no one from the Isles addressed the loyal fans who had been there through thick and thin. That was a missed opportunity to let the fans know they are appreciated.

It was a mistake.
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