New York Islanders Offensive Failure Again in 4-0 Loss to Blue Jackets

The New York Islanders offense doesn’t show up again as they lose 4-0 to the Columbus Blue Jackets. The shutout was their third in five games.

A regulation win for the New York Islanders would drop their magic number to one. They’d just have to go through the Columbus Blue Jackets at home to do so.

With all of the trade deadline acquisitions made by the Blue Jackets, you’d expect them to be performing better then they are right now. Over their last five games, the Blue Jackets are 2-2-1.

This should have been an intensive game as both teams needed a win. For the Isles, a win brings them inches from the playoffs. For the Blue Jackets, it keeps those dwindling playoff hopes alive.

First Period

Within six minutes the New York Islanders were down 1-0 thanks to a bad line change which led to a penalty for too many men on the ice. Ryan Dzingle converted on the man advantage with a minute and 43 seconds into the power play.

But with a 10-7 shot differential and a 57.69 Corsi-for, the Islanders had a good period.

Second Period

If you were watching you might not have made it through the second period awake. Neither team generate much, there were no penalties, and no drama what so ever. Onto the third with the Isles still trailing 1-0.

Third Period

With how tepid the second period was the third period was bound to liven up. Unfortunately, it was through an Artemi Panarin breakaway goal to make it 2-0.

Bjorkstrand would make it 3-0 from the top of the faceoff circle to effectively kill the game. Cam Atkinson would add an empty netter to make it 4-0.

Bobrovsky played well, but he didn’t have to be great on the night. The Columbus Blue Jackets did enough to stifle anything the Islanders tried. The Isles didn’t show up for this one. They absolutely deserved to be shut out.

On a night that could have put a serious dent in a division rival’s playoff hopes, the Islanders had no fight, no jump, no effort. No excuse.

This was now the third shutout in five games for the Islanders.

With two wins over Philadelphia and Arizona, the New York Islanders still have to sort out a few things.

Three Stars

1. Sergei Bobrovsky: 26 saves

He stopped everything he saw. He did his job.

2. Matt Duchene: 2 Assists

He got two assists in the game, but I’m giving him the second start simply for the way he set up Artemi Panarin for the breakaway goal.

3. Butch Goring: 6 Cannon Blasts

Butchie does no like the Columbus Blue Jackets goal-cannon. He had to hear six times tonight. I feel bad for Butch for putting up with that.