Back to back losses mark yet another history making 24 hours as the Islanders have given up third period leads 18 times this season alone. And we’re not even done yet.
But as bad as the stats may be, does it matter? Points no longer matter for a team in the basement. What matters now is development of players still on the roster and how those who are under contract for next season handle the adversity of losing.
In Thursday’s loss to the Oilers, Frans Nielsen scored a short handed goal at 9:58 of the first period. In Friday’s game against the Flames, Granlund scored on the Isles with a short handed goal at 2:01 of the first. Hockey Karma pay-back.
Anders’ Lee scored his fourth NHL goal for the season at the 18:21 mark of the first period Thursday. But penalties would hurt them as Ryan Smyth scored a power play goal at 8:28 of the third to cut the Isles lead in half. The Isles took five penalties and were 0 for 4 on the power play. Once again, they let the opposition tie the score in the last few minutes of the third period as Larsen scored the tying goal at even strength at 16:53 leaving Hall to win the game in overtime.
Okay, so the Isles got a point out of Edmonton, but the power play is still abysmal. Cal Clutterbuck is really growing on me as a player on the Isles. He tied Matt Martin with five hits in Thursday’s tilt. Michael Grabner is also gaining confidence with a team leading five shots on net for the night. Okay, no goals in that one, but five shots.
In Calgary, after letting up that short handed goal, Colin McDonald evened it up at 15:26 of the first. Considering how some fans were saying McDonald was useless, he has been useful when called upon now. Both Kyle Okposo and Brock Nelson scored at even strength in the second period giving the Isles the lead heading into the third.
Once again, the wheels came off the bus beginning at the 11;29 mark of the third when Colborne scored, followed by Monahan at 14:22, followed by Colborne AGAIN at 15:41. Anders Nilsson faced only 23 shots and the Isles only took four penalties. Okay, actually really two penalties. Matt Donovan took a hooking penalty in the first and a roughing in the third at the :57 mark, but Kyle Okposo was awarded two penalties at the closing second of the third. The Isles did stay out of the box most of the night.
Frustration? Ya think? Kyle had the most shots; four on net, four blocked and two missed, but he wasn’t very good in the face-off circle. Call-up Mike Halmo lead the team in hits on Friday with four. Matt Martin was probably a little tired after Thursday.
Jack Capuano is a little tired as well. “Tough to explain… is what he told Peter Ruttgaizer. “If it’s structural, we’d correct it. Maybe they can learn from it.…
Or not. How many times do you have to listen to the same lesson? Jack also echoed the same sentiments everyone has said screaming at the TV; “When you give up a short-handed goal or don’t score five on three, it’s going to come back and bite you.…
The power play needs more than work, it needs a miracle.
“We had some chances. I don’t have an answer for you right now. We just got to find a way as a group, those guys in there, to get it done when we have to.…