FROM FRIDAY NIGHT: The Islanders are collecting points and hanging around the wild card race with reinforcements in the form of Adam Pelech Mat Barzal, and Anthony Duclair on the way. Reasons for hope? We'll see. Peter Baugh of The Athletic joins Sean & Stefen to talk it all over!
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Good Morning, Islanders Country.
I feel foolish. I had talked myself into feeling positive headed into Sunday’s late afternoon game with the Chicago Blackhawks. The Islanders had imperfectly weathered the storm with Mathew Barzal and Adam Pelech out of the lineup, posting a 9-7-5 record without their star forward, and were only a point out of a playoff spot, something almost every fan would have signed up six weeks ago.
Yes, Bo Horvat was out with a lower-body injury. Yes, Anthony Duclair was still not ready, but it felt like yesterday could be the start of the next chapter of the season. They had a chance to go over NHL .500, move ahead of the New York Rangers in the standings, and wake up on Monday in a playoff spot.
Listen to a Quick Fix recorded after the game with Chris Botta:
Instead, the Islanders gave us more of the same mediocrity we’ve endured this entire season, regardless of who was in the lineup. They came out flat and allowed the opening goal for a seventh straight games. Their power play was inept; they had defensive breakdowns, made mental mistakes, and finished it by allowing a final goal to leave Chicago without a point in the final minute. It was a predictable and yet somehow surprising end to a game, given the circumstances and the changing narrative we thought there was before the face-off.
For those fans looking for a reason why the next 50 games will be different, Sunday was the type of performance that prevents you from believing that this team is anything other than what they’ve repeatedly shown.
