Face it, we knew the western road trip was going to be brutal. We should have been prepared.
A late night game that interrupts normal sleep patterns is one thing, but one that is as upsetting as that one is cause for insomnia. The Isles looked as if they could pull off a win in the first period. The scored first, they controlled the first 20 minutes.
John Tavares showed his skills and Matt Martin took on ex-Islander tough guy Tim Jackman. There was a good chance the Isles were going to leave Anaheim with at least a point, maybe even two.
And then -- the wheels fell off again. Art Staple had the best line of the night to sum up what happened.
Coming up with a stunningly new way to lose every night. 4-2 end of 2, 2 Ducks goals in final 32.7 seconds of period.
Yes, stunning. Turnovers, bad defensive moves and poor rebound control doomed them once again.
#Isles franchise record winless streak is 15, longest road losing streak is also 15 -- both set in inaugural 1972-73 season.
Anyone having flashbacks?
And then Eric Hornick tweeted out this fact: …
Barring a comeback, #isles will fall below all-time #NHL .500 and will go pointless in 10 on road for 1st time since 1972-73 ssn
So, welcome to the 70's. Last night's 5-2 loss will be fresh in everyone's minds as the Isles face the Sharks tonight. The only differences may be the return of Nabokov and the addition of Ryan Strome. Maybe.
Everyone thought that placing P.M. Bouchard would wake the Isles up, but the seconde and third lines are still unproductive leaving only the first and fourth line giving the Isles a chance.
Something else has to give. Ex-Islander beat reporter Katie Strang told Jeff Marek on his radio show that she didn't know how Garth Snow still had his job. With another loss tonight, there should be lots of jobs on the line.