To panic or not to panic? That is the question on the minds of Islander fans.
For a team that was heading full steam towards the post season, things on Long Island have dramatically changed in the last two weeks.
The Islanders have made a lot of headlines lately. First by snagging Ryan Smyth to bolster their offense and most recently receiving a lot of bad publicity for Chris Simon’s stick swinging incident with Ryan Hollweg. It hasn’t been hard to catch an Islander headline, even if it’s for all the wrong reasons. I haven’t said much about the Simon incident, and I won’t go into it right now either since I think it’s been hashed out enough. All I will say is that it was a terrible use of judgment by Chris which I’m sure he regrets and I think the suspension is more than fair.
Indeed though, things have come crashing down in Islanders Country since Smyth came aboard. In his first game with the Isles against the Blues, he recorded an assist on the game’s first goal. However, the Isles would proceed to blow a late 3rd period lead to lose in OT. Including that game, New York has played 7 games, managing to earn a meager 6 points and currently have lost their last 3. They’ve managed to win only twice in that span, and both were against the Capitals.
What’s spurned the downward spiral surrounding the Isles? Perhaps we need to look no further than a home and home tilt with the Rangers almost two weeks ago. The first game at Madison Square Garden on the 5th was one for the ages. Rick DiPietro faced a barrage of Ranger shots for three periods and in overtime, 56 total. When all was said and done, DiPietro let one slip by, marking a save total of 55 that was the most in a game when the opponent scored 1 goal or fewer in over 50 years. While the Islanders lost that game a shootout, the next game was in their house. With the emotions high, Simon scored the game’s first goal. Penalty trouble would ultimately be the Isles undoing as a bad penalty by Brendan Witt led to a Ranger power play goal, and Simon’s aforementioned stupid act eventually led the game winner. After a trouncing of the Capitals, the Isles set out on a four game road trip that started on a very sour note.
Arguably the team’s most valuable player, DiPietro would be lost to injury halfway through the first period in Montreal. Despite taking a lead into the third period, the Isles surrendered 3 third period goals to lose a crucial conference game to the Canadiens. Looking to rebound two nights later in Ottawa, a lackluster performance led to an embarassing third period meltdown, and the Isles lost 5-2 that backup goalie Mike Dunham didn’t even finish. Dunham looked to right the ship last night in Florida, but instead surrendered some questionable goals. Add in some shoddy defense and it’s was a recipe for disaster. Despite scoring three power play goals and holding two leads early, the losing continued as the Panthers won 8-5.
With 11 games left to go, 9 of them are against teams that have solidified their playoff spots or are competing with New York to get one. 6 of the last games will be at home, 2 against the Rangers and 1 with Toronto. Things don’t get any easier when the roadtrip ends in Tampa on Tuesday. DiPietro is listed as day to day, and for the Isles, hopefully that day is soon. DiPietro has stolen more than a few points for the Isles to be in the hunt, he’ll be needed to steal a few more down the lane for there to be hockey on Long Island past April 8th.
