Isles' Tavares says next step is playoffs

There are plenty of reasons to justify the Islanders' underachieving season and plenty of reasons to believe their outlook should be rosier in 2011-12.

But after missing the playoffs for the fourth straight year, the Islanders know that a postseason berth in 2012 is what ultimately will separate them from being either a team perpetually stagnating at the bottom of the standings or a team making progress.

"It's time for us to put it together for 82 games and find a way to get into the playoffs," said John Tavares, who finished his sophomore season with 29 goals and 38 assists. "We want to get there and be there consistently. Obviously, that's our next step."

Blake Comeau, one of five Islanders to finish with at least 20 goals, said: "If we stay healthy, I see no reason why we shouldn't be a playoff team . . . And not just a playoff team, but one that can go deep."

Neither general manager Garth Snow nor coach Jack Capuano was made available Sunday to discuss the Islanders' 27th-place finish, but one reason is painfully obvious.

The Islanders' stunning misfortune with injuries was debilitating. They led the league with 611 man-games lost (586, not including suspensions), lost two of their best players -- defenseman Mark Streit and forward Kyle Okposo -- in training camp, and played with a defense so depleted that veteran Radek Martinek entered Saturday night's season finale with 312 more NHL games than the other five defensemen combined.

But the Islanders will return veterans Streit, Mark Eaton, Mike Mottau and Milan Jurcina on the back end, as well as young blueliners Andrew MacDonald and Travis Hamonic. In addition to the depth they hope to have on defense, the Islanders also have two capable goaltenders -- Al Montoya and Kevin Poulin -- to challenge oft-injured Rick DiPietro for the No. 1 job.

DiPietro bristled when confronted with questions about his place on the goaltending depth chart, but Montoya and Poulin are expected to push him for the starting spot next season.

DiPietro feigned confusion when asked about his competition in training camp -- asking "Who are we talking about here?" -- but the numbers make it abundantly clear.

Montoya led the team in wins with a record of 9-5-5 and finished with a .921 save percentage and 2.39 goals-against average. Before a freak injury in warm-ups ended his season in February, Poulin posted a GAA of 2.44 and save percentage of .924. DiPietro finished last in the league in GAA (3.44) among all goaltenders with at least 25 games and was second to last with an .886 save percentage.

Adding to a solid defense and netminding trio, the Islanders have a strong set of young forwards emerging. Michael Grabner (34) and Matt Moulson (31) surpassed 30 goals, Tavares improved on an impressive rookie season, and Comeau, PA Parenteau and Frans Nielsen finished with career highs offensively.

"We're pretty close to turning the corner," gritty fourth-line center Zenon Konopka said. "It's going to be fun on Long Island in the future."