Thinking back over the 68 games of the 2019-20 season, on what three occasions did the New York Islanders look absolutely foolish?
This season had its share of blunders. The New York Islanders just haven’t been able to reproduce that consistent form that saw them put up 103 points last season.
Looking back at the 68 games played so far in the 2019-20 season, here are three times the New York Islanders looked absolutely foolish.
6-2 Loss to the New York Rangers
It was January 13, 2020, and it was the first time the Isles were going up against the rival Rangers. Islanders fans had been waiting months to confront their cross-town rivals and we finally got the chance halfway through the season.
The Rangers might have been able to land Artemi Panarin in free agency, at our expense, but we had a better team. And we wanted to show both Panarin and Rangers fans.
It all started off well. Jordan Eberle scored 18 seconds into the game. The Isles were all over the Rangers for the first few minutes into the game until Ross Johnston decided to fight Micheal Haley at 2:13.
Then before the puck can even hit the ice after Johnston’s scrap, Matt Martin and Brendan Smith got into it. Both would be done for the game after receiving a game misconduct for their fight.
That’s when the game would turn.
The Rangers would score six unanswered goals on the Islanders. Artemi Panarin would net himself five points with two goals and three helpers.
The Islanders looked completely lost against the Rangers. With Matt Martin being forced to sit out the rest of the game, the Islanders fourth line (the identity line) was completely missing. Prior to the meeting, both Cal Clutterbuck and Casey Cizikas were sidelined with injuries.
The Isles got absolutely embarrassed by their rivals and looked absolutely foolish for it. The Isles were supposed to be the superior team but that team absolutely didn’t show up on this occasion.