Islanders' losing streak reaches seven
Mark Eaton #4 of the New York Islanders collides with Mike Richards #18 of the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday, November 6 2010 at Nassau Coliseum in New York. Credit: Photo by Jim McIsaac
Bad bounces and bad luck can sugarcoat the Islanders' most recent loss, but nothing can mask the reality of a very dire situation.
When the Islanders lost to the Flyers, 2-1, at Nassau Coliseum last night, it was their seventh straight defeat.
Yes, they played well for most of the game - much better than they had in last week's 6-1 rout in Philadelphia. They generated chances, skated hard and moved the puck. They also outshot the Flyers 32-26.
But with the score tied at 1 late in the third period, it was Philadelphia that found the answer and left with two points.
"It was almost like we found a way to lose instead of finding a way to win," Josh Bailey said.
With the score tied at 1, Islanders goaltender Dwayne Roloson took Eric Wellwood's shot off his mask. The rebound fell to winger Andreas Nodl, who buried the rebound for the go-ahead goal at 14:35.
After Flyers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky's delay-of-game penalty with just over a minute left, the Islanders had a six-on-four advantage but couldn't convert.
"It looked like we had opportunities, but we missed the net a couple of times," coach Scott Gordon said. "We were in retrieval mode and couldn't get to those opportunities."
The Islanders gave up the first goal for the seventh straight game when Flyers captain Mike Richards deflected Chris Pronger's point shot at 18:52 of the first period.
Before Richards' tally, the Flyers made two exceptional plays to prevent the Islanders from taking an early lead.
Defenseman Matt Carle swatted Matt Moulson's backhanded attempt out of midair and Andrej Meszaros robbed John Tavares at 15:59, pouncing on a puck that squirted through Bobrovsky's pads.
The Islanders entered the first intermission facing a daunting stat. Entering the game, they were 0-6-1 when trailing after the first period.
"In the beginning of the season, when we would get behind by a goal, we knew we'd come back," center Frans Nielsen said before the game. "We've got to get that feeling back."
The frustration continued through the second period as the Islanders had a plethora of quality chances but still no luck.
It wasn't until Moulson's wrister from the left circle at 7:31 that the Islanders had any success. Moulson's sixth goal of the season came on the team's third of four power-play opportunities in the second, tying it at 1.
But after a superior first two periods, the Islanders didn't generate enough offense in the third and the Flyers took advantage with Nodl's late goal.
"When things aren't going your way, they're not going your way," defenseman James Wisniewski said. "When it rains, it pours."
Notes & quotes: Flyers center Danny Briere served the last of a three-game suspension for his cross-check to Nielsen's head during the third period Oct. 30.
