New York Islanders: Four Games That Sunk The Season

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Mar 22, 2017; New York, NY, USA; New York Islanders left wing Andrew Ladd (16) leads his team after scoring a goal during the third period against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports /

As I sit and watch Henrik Lundqvist shutout the Canadiens or Melker Karlsson score the overtime winner against the Oilers – listening to the voice of New York Islanders very own Brendan Burke – I can’t help but to feel a sense of jealousy.

Before losing in game seven to the Washington Capitals in the first round of the 2014-2015 NHL playoffs, the the New York Islanders had missed the playoffs six of the previous seven seasons. I had grown accustom to watching spring hockey without the Islanders being involved.

It was always a few months of rooting for whoever played the Rangers and hoping the Islanders would land a good pick in the draft lottery. After getting a taste of success last year, I need it back. I want to be nervous all day on game day.

I want to watch three hours of hockey and remind myself to breathe and I certainly want to feel the way I did when the Islanders defeated the Panthers in the first round last season. I no longer feel satisfied watching quality playoff hockey if the Islanders are out on the golf course.

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They missed the playoffs by one measly point. There are 82 games in a season, each game a chance to earn two points and they missed the tournament by one stinkin’ point.

After having a couple days to digest the season and the final outcome, I can’t stop thinking about that one point separating the Islanders from the offseason and what could have been a first round series with the Capitals.

Throughout the season the Islanders had more than their fair chance to earn that last point and maybe even more. Yes, the Islanders played great down the stretch and earned the right to fight for the final wild card spot. But that in no way excuses the poor play from the first 40 games.

The Islanders had numerous chances to lock up a final point for a playoff spot. Whether that chance came in a weekend matinee in November, or a Tuesday night in January, every point in a season matters. When I think of securing that final point, four games to mind.

Nov 25, 2016; San Jose, CA, USA; San Jose Sharks defenseman Brenden Dillon (4) and New York Islanders right wing Cal Clutterbuck (15) race towards the puck in the third period of the game at SAP Center at San Jose. The San Jose Sharks defeated the New York Islanders with a score of 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports /

San Jose Sharks 3-2 New York Islanders, October 25th 2017

This game was a black Friday matinee right in the middle of the Isles early season struggles. I remember sitting at home watching with a stomach full of turkey. Thomas Greiss was in net for the Isles as they took on the defending Western Conference Champs at the end of their west coast road trip.

Anders Lee got the Isles on the board just four minutes into the game. It was only his fourth goal of the year. It’s hard to remember, but Lee had such a slow start. He would finish the season with a team leading 34 goals. That would be the only tally in the first and the Isles led 1-0 at the break.

New York Islanders

The second was all San Jose. During this early season stretch of games, the Islanders would have single periods that took them out of games, and this felt like the one. Goals by Joe Pavelski and Brent Burns put the Sharks on top and the Islanders looked out of place against a superior team.

Down 2-1, the third didn’t show much promise. They lacked a sense of urgency and not many thought they would tie the game. With 58 seconds left in the game, Jack Capuano pulled Greiss. Tavares made an all-star feed from behind the net finding a wide-open Nick Leddy in front of the net. Leddy would score his fourth of the year to tie the game at two.

I couldn’t believe it. The Islanders were going to steal a point against one of the leagues best. Anything positive they did in overtime was going to be a bonus…well that’s if the game got to overtime.

With 23 seconds to go, Patrick Marleau threw a shot from the point that beat Greiss to give the Sharks the lead right back. What a deflating moment for such a struggling team.

The Isles would lose the game 3-2 in regulation. If they just could have held on for another 23 seconds, maybe that overtime point would have been enough to get them into the playoffs.

Feb 3, 2017; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Red Wings defenseman Niklas Kronwall (55) checks New York Islanders left wing Anthony Beauvillier (72) into the boards during the second period at Joe Louis Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /

February 3^rdNew York Islanders at Detroit Red Wings

This was one of the Islanders final games at Joe Louis Arena. At the time, the Wings were still in the playoff hunt and this was a big game for both sides.

Josh Bailey struck first for the Islanders just four minutes in. The Isles had been extremely hot of late under the reign of new interim head coach Doug Weight. After the Red Wings tied the game, Andrew Ladd would add one of his own and the Isles led 2-1 at the first intermission.

This was only the 11^th goal of the season for Ladd, who started a hot streak to end the year with 23. Darren Helm and Anthony Mantha would get the first two goals of the middle period for the Wings.

Down 3-2 the Islanders would call on the captain and John Tavares would answer, trying the goal with under three minutes to play. Henrik Zetterberg would answer right back as the Wings regained the lead. It was an offensive happy game in Detroit, and the Islanders trailed by a goal after two periods of play.

The Islanders had all the chances in the world to tie the game in the third but Peter Mrazek was doing everything in his power to keep the Wings on top.

Finally, at the 17:34 mark of the third Jason Chimera banged home his 11^th goal of the season to tie the game at four. This was the 1000^th game of the Chimera’s career, and a big goal for his team with his family and friends in attendance. A much-deserved goal for the Islanders and it seemed as if this game was going to overtime.

With 28 seconds to play in the game the Red Wings would win an offensive faceoff. Danny DeKeyser would throw a shot from the point and Greiss was completely screened. He never saw the shot and it whistled right passed him.

It was déjà vu from that Sharks game of late November. The Islanders were down 5-4 and came away with no points in a game that seemed destined for an extra frame. This was a key game for the Islanders to grab AT LEAST one more point. You never know, that could have been the point that kept them out of the playoffs.

Mar 3, 2017; Chicago, IL, USA; New York Islanders left wing Anders Lee (27) tries to tip a shot against Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Michal Rozsival (32) in front of goalie Corey Crawford (50) during the second period at the United Center. Chicago won 2-1 in s shoot out. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports /

March 3^rdNew York Islanders at Chicago Blackhawks

The Isles took their only trip to the United Center at the end of their historic nine game road trip. They were coming off a huge win the night before in Dallas, and it was second career game for rookie Josh Ho-Sang.

The Blackhawks came into his game having won ten of their previous 11 games. Certainly not an easy task, but the Islanders were riding as much momentum as a team could. They were back into a playoff spot and peaking at the right time.

It was a crazy back and fourth affair between Thomas Greiss and Corey Crawford. Both goalies stood on their heads but the Isles finally broke through in the second period. Brock Nelson led a shorthanded odd man rush and snapped a wrister passed Crawford to put the Islanders on the board. The Isles took that 1-0 lead into the second intermission.

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The Isles held on for dear life in the third. Greiss stood tall and was doing everything he could to make sure they left Chicago with two points. The Hawks had numerous power plays and couldn’t capitalize.

With less than two minutes to go the Hawks pulled Crawford. With the shutout near complete and 1:14 on the clock, Artemi Panarin beat Greiss with a wicked wrist shot. It looked like the Isles would steal two points but they still could finish the job in overtime.

This was probably the Islanders most entertaining three on three overtime of the season. It was nothing but pure back and fourth.

Crawford was amazing, stopping Bailey on a breakaway and Tavares on a two on one. The two teams would head to the skills competition where it was obvious the Hawks simply had better goal scorers. The Blackhawks took his game 2-1 in the shootout.

With not much time left on the clock and a one goal lead the Islanders should have won his game. That second point would have been huge for the team moral and very well could have been that one point that pushed them into the playoffs come April.

Apr 8, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Curtis McElhinney (35) makes a save on Pittsburgh Penguins forward Sidney Crosby (87) at the Air Canada Centre. Toronto defeated Pittsburgh 5-3. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports /

April 8^thPittsburgh Penguins at Toronto Maple Leafs

At the end of the season the Islanders slim playoff chances needed some help. You never want to have to get outside assistance but a cold stretch put the Isles in a hole. They needed to win their final three and have Toronto lose their final three. It turns out that this was the only game of that stretch that kept the Isles out.

New York won its final three games (they ended the year on a six game win streak) and Toronto lost two if its last three. The Maple Leafs dominated this game but couldn’t put pucks in the net.

Thanks to Phil Kessel and Sidney Crosby the Pens and Leafs were tied at two heading into the final intermission. It was a weird sight, but Islander fans had strapped on their black and gold for the third period.