New York Islanders: Goalie Issues Continue In Columbus

The New York Islanders poor goalie play has continued after Jaroslav Halak showed flashes of figuring it out in net.

After back to back solid starts for the New York Islanders, where Jaroslav Halak let in three goals in two games, things came crashing back down to earth on Wednesday. Against Dallas, he let in four goals on 20 shots.

Thomas Greiss had to come in relief that night, his first action since his six-goal disaster against Tampa Bay. Greiss followed up his relief appearance with a stinker last night in Columbus.

Greiss let in five goals, despite having some nice saves, and had a save percentage of just .853. I’m sorry, but that’s not good enough. In about 30 hours the Islanders let in 11 goals. You’re not winning many games when giving up 11 goals over a two-game span.

Just for some context the last time Thomas Greiss had a save percentage over .900 was before Thanksgiving. In that game against the Flyers, he still let in three goals, despite the good save percentage. The last time he let up anything less than three goals in a start was Veterans Day. t’s been a while since we saw a productive Greisser.

Thomas Greiss has the third worst goals saved above average in the league with a -10.08. Halak’s goals saved above average isn’t much better with a -3.75.

The only other starting goalies in the Metropolitan Division who have a minus goals saved above average are Matt Murray and Scott Darling. One of those guys was hurting from an injury and is a two-time Cup champion before turning 24 years old, he gets a pass. The other is the starting goalie for the worst team in the Metro.

Can the Isles make the playoffs with this kind of play coming from their netminders?

Yeah, they can probably still make the playoffs but it is going to be a challenge. Once they make the playoffs it’ll likely be an early exit with this kind of play in net.

Remember when Evgeni Nabokov was rocking a .842 save percentage and a 4.44 goals against average in the Penguins series? It’ll look a lot like that come April if this kind of play continues.

The problem is the Isles don’t have a lot of options. Acquiring a goalie in a trade that’s better than what they have is impossible. Neither Chris Gibson or Kristers Gudlevskis have done anything in the AHLso it’s not worth calling them up.

Next: Let Ho-Sang Play Through The Struggles

They’re just going to have to wait it out and pray that one of these two guys figures it out somehow. But for now, it puts the Islanders in an awful position.