Stop me if you have read this story before; The Islanders headed into the second intermission with a 2-0 lead against the Edmonton Oilers. Everything was coming up roses as the team was playing fantastic hockey. We all know how this story ends. The Islanders squandered yet another two goal lead in route to a 3-2 overtime loss at the hands of the Oilers.
What happens in the opponent’s locker room during the second intermission? Why is it that the opposing team always seems to be able to make adjustments that this Islander roster has no answers for? Teams blow leads, it happens all the time in this league. But when a team blows double digit third period leads you can only look at one possible explanation; the coaching staff.
I can’t say that the team has tuned out the entire coaching staff but the execution with the lead is appalling and downright laughable. We all know it is coming. It has gotten to the point that nobody is even surprised anymore. When a team continually makes the same mistakes I have to look at this staff. We all know that this roster is full of holes; some the size of pot holes on the LIE. With that being said this team shows the ability to take leads, they are just incapable of holding them.
There is no accountability in this organization though so why should we expect anything to happen now. With the news that there were better offers on the table for Thomas Vanek but Islanders General Manager Garth Snow was not allowed to retain part of Vanek’s contract just sums up this organization.
Charles Wang is nickel and diming everything. Any corner that can be cut to save money is being done. It is visible with the management staff, the coaching staff and it is clear as day with the roster on the ice. That’s why screaming for a coaching change is pointless because nobody is held accountable. Everything is fine as long as they are saving as much money as possible.
I’m at the point where I don’t know what to say to you fans. The die hard; the fans who live and die for every shift. All I can recommend is you hit Charles Wang in the wallet. Do not renew your season tickets. Make the Coliseum even more of a hopeless morgue and stay away. As a fan that is all you can do. I’m a glass half full person but I’m incapable of finding any positives in this organization right now. Any talks of sunshine and rainbows would be lying to you and as a writer I simply can’t do it.
The Islanders return to the ice tonight in Calgary as they take on the Flames. The game will not start until 9:30 as the Flames have a ceremony prior to puck drop. Let’s hope the kids continue to show they belong in this league because right now it is all an Islander fan has to hang their hat on. We have to hope that the likes of Nelson,Strome, Lee, Halmo, deHaan and Donovan continue to grow and mature because there is no external help on the way. As always for more on all things hockey please follow me on twitter and Instagram at @DanDanNoodles78.