A game against the Flyers and the All Star break appear to be the cure for a midseason funk. Just ask the New York Islanders.
After a three game losing streak, the Islanders easily disposed of the Flyers heading into the break, and since then have gained at least a point in the six games since. A total of 9 of a possible 12, including 3 against the Thrashers, a big win against Buffalo, and a big point against Washington with two of their top six defensemen out. Not to say the points have come easy. Islanders’ third periods have been something else to watching during this impressive run. In a game vs. Atlanta, where they were down 3-0 less than 10 minutes into the game, they surged to tie the game twice in the third to get to OT. When the Red Wings were in town, the Isles started the third up 3-0, yet some undisciplined penalties and some poor penalty killing quickly erased that third period lead and the Isles had to settle for one point when they should’ve had two. Last Saturday in Montreal, the Islanders won their first game in Canada in almost 3 years when they took advantage of opportunities to score 3 times in the third and beat the Canadiens 4-2.
This weekend’s games were especially tough for the Isles. Back to back contests on Saturday and Sunday afternoon against the Habs and Caps took their toll on the club. The biggest casualty was defenseman Radek Martinek’s gruesome looking ankle injury. A freak fall after a check will cause Martinek to be out 4-6 weeks, luckily not season ending. Martinek has arguably been the Isles best defenseman, a smooth skating player with a good, hard shot, he is most valuable on the rush and smart with the puck. It is his second major injury this year as a broken foot forced him out of the lineup in late December. Coincidentally or not, after his injury, the Isles proceeded to go on their longest losing streak of the year. With two other of their regular dmen out, Tom Poti and Bruno Gervais, the Isles were forced to play Ovechkin and the Caps without 3 of their regular defenseman. A tired and battered team, they played to a 2-1 shootout loss and held Alex the Great pointless in the process.
With Poti expected to be back in the lineup Wednesday, this week sees the Isles home against the Flyers Wednesday, and in New Jersey for a test against the Devils to kick off a three game roadtrip before starting a 7 game homestand. With their recent point streak putting them 2 points out of the eighth spot in the East, keep getting the point(s) will be key to the Isles playoff push.
