Close Is No Longer Good Enough For Fading Islanders
The Islanders let another point slip in a 4-3 loss to the Sabres, as defensive breakdowns and special teams struggles prove costly in a tightening playoff race.
BUFFALO, NY — The New York Islanders were within reach of a point — maybe even two — against the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday night.
At 13:39 of the third period, Anders Lee tied the game at 3-3, a massive goal given how the out-of-town scoreboard was looking.
But it unraveled quickly.
A defensive breakdown — sparked by a Carson Soucy whiff after the Islanders failed to get the puck deep enough into Sabres territory — led to Buffalo reclaiming the lead just 3:20 later, a backbreaker in a game the Islanders had finally wrestled into their control:
The Islanders did get one back, with Brayden Schenn scoring with one second left on the clock in a 4-3 loss.
“This was a tough one tonight. This one stings,” Lee said postgame. “It’s tough, the last two nights to come up with no points. With the way we played tonight, it’s too bad we let it slip.”
The Islanders played a much closer game than they did against the Pittsburgh Penguins. “We can’t forget, last game we gave up big goals,” head coach Patrick Roy said. “We wanted to make sure to play well defensively, and our tracking was outstanding tonight. We played playoff hockey — a tight, hard-fought game.”
But tracking ultimately broke down on Buffalo’s go-ahead goal, and defensive-zone miscues paved the way for a no-point night. The penalty kill, which had gone five games without allowing a goal, surrendered two on four Buffalo opportunities.
Offensively, the Islanders were anemic — especially early — managing just six shots in the first period. The fourth line was the only unit consistently breaking into Buffalo’s zone with speed.
The Islanders are seriously missing Tony DeAngelo, who sustained a lower-body injury in a loss to the Blackhawks on March 24.
His loss seems to have impacted the defensive side of the puck more than one would have thought.
The defense pairs are scrambled, and I think that’s playing a key role in breakouts, where I don’t think the forwards are doing a good enough job making themselves outlet options. And when you can’t break out, you can’t get rush chances, and these failed zone exits are stifling their offense.
Close is no longer good enough for these fading Islanders, who dropped both games of their back-to-back. On the surface, it may look like the Islanders control their own destiny with six games to go, especially after the Philadelphia Flyers, Ottawa Senators, Detroit Red Wings, and Columbus Blue Jackets all fell in regulation.
However, Columbus sits just one point back of the third-place Islanders with a game in hand. Ottawa, Detroit, and Philadelphia are three points back, each with two games in hand.