Islanders bad season ends badly with loss to Lightning

An awful season is over for the New York Islanders. The goal entering the season was to hit not just the post-season but fight for a Stanley Cup. After 82 games, we know that won't happen. And the 6-4 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning didn't help us feel better about it.

The Isles were up 3-1 going into the third period against the Lightning. And were easily the better team on the ice. Being up by two has been a position of strength for the Isles. When up by two goals at any point in a game this year the Isles are 30-0 according to the MSG broadcast.

New York Islanders bad season ends badly with loss to Lightning

Maybe the Isles got too comfortable with that position or something because they completely fell apart in the third period. And not because the Lightning somehow became a much better team. Unforced errors sunk the Isles in the third.

Ten minutes into the third Andy Greene and Robin Salo have a hard time exiting the D-zone with the younger Islander coughing up the puck at the defensive blue line. Tampa recovers and within a second or two it's in the Isles net.

A minute later Josh Bailey makes just stands in Noah Dobson's way as the defender is carrying the puck through the neutral zone. Dobson falls over, gives up the puck in the process, and Steven Stamkos scores his second goal of the night. Tie game.

And it wasn't done. Josh Bailey again, at the center of a goal against, can't keep up with Steven Stamkos on a Tampa 2on1, and the Bolts captain scores his hat trick to take the lead.

Just like the Islanders season, it started off with hope (as in before a puck was ever dropped on the year) only for it to end in disappointment. With a 37-35-10 record the Isles end the year with a .518 points percentage, the third worst in a ten year span only 217-18 (.488) and 2013-14 (.482) were worse.

Sad noises.