One of the few bright spots of the season hits the deck in the latest “good effort, close” loss.
The Islanders reran the script Thursday night with a good 5-on-5 effort again undermined by their flailing special teams in a 2-1 loss to the Leafs achieved thanks to a late Toronto power play goal.
The crowd thought or at least hoped the Isles had tied it in the final minute when Anders Lee banged Joseph Woll’s paddle to send the puck over the line, but the whistle had blown and the refs, in this case, reasonably judged play to be dead.
Not so reasonable was how they ignored a Max Domi reverse elbow — not reverse “hit” — to Isaiah George’s head, which knocked the 20-year-old out of the game and led directly to the Leafs’ first goal.
But that’s how it goes for a team with no margin for error or bounces and little reason to think things will get better, despite overall efforts (non-special teams, that is) that please the coach.
Islanders News
- The George injury adds injury to the insult of loss. [Post]
- The Isles were pissed about the hit afterward, but didn’t show that much on the ice. [THN]
- Spirited effort, but same result. [Newsday]
- Three takeaways: “We had looks. I thought the effort was there all night.” [Isles]
- Future Wild and Brock Nelson and future Devil Kyle Palmieri are trying to just focus on their game. [Newsday]
- WJC: Eiserman and Nelson The Younger are headed to the semis with USA while Canada has been ousted by Czechia again. [Isles]
- Bo Horvat was asked about the gossipy Petterson-Miller rift in Vancouver, and he was diplomatic and not gonna go all TMZ or Laine on it. [THN]
Let’s leave it with another quote from Arthur Staple’s piece the other day in the Athletic on where the Isles are:
They have had three coaches in the last three-plus seasons and the only direction things have gone is down, with a few highs sprinkled in.
That tells you the time has come. If Lamoriello can’t see it or won’t see it, Malkin must find someone who will. This isn’t a teardown, there’s no need to tank and try to win the draft lottery — the way this season is headed they’ll have more than a few ping-pong balls without any changes being made. But change they must.
Yep.
Elsewhere
Last night’s 11 other scores included Ovechkin scoring again in a loss, and the Rangers finally getting a win — against the Isles’ next opponent.
- Thatcher Demko left the Canucks’ game with back spasms — concerning, but at least not a re-aggravation of his troubling knee. [Sportsnet]
- Brady Tkachuk and ol’ friend Gutless Puke blasted the Senators’ effort after a loss to the Stars. Come on Ottawa, you guys need to finally take that wild card spot so one of these terrible Metro teams doesn’t fall into it again. [TSN]
- How a former player, a GM and player agent (and Stan Fischler! who of course references 1946) would try to fix the Rangers again. From the GM: “I’m not sure they were ever really that good to begin with. They always struck me as being the kind of team that’s reliant on elite special teams. I don’t worry about them [against our team] at 5-on-5. They have a lot of players who fundamentally aren’t that great at even strength.” [E$PN+]