It looked like it was going to be smooth sailing this time around for the New York Islanders.
Last night, the Isles — with a chance to sweep the Washington Capitals out of the bubble and move on to the second round of the postseason for the second consecutive year — got off to a fast start.
J.G. Pageau and Mathew Barzal scored in the first 9:16 of the game for an early 2-0 lead. At one point even, the chances were 16-1 in favor of the home team.
Then it went downhill from there.
And just as it was the culprit in the previous round — against the Florida Panthers in another possible closeout game — special teams were what doomed the Islanders last night in a 3-2 loss.
Let’s start with the power play, which went a dismal 0-for-5 in the defeat.
The Isles’ man-advantage deserves some credit, though, as they looked much more aggressive for the last night as compared to Sunday and really the rest of the series. They accounted for 12 of the 26 shots the team mustered.
But with a chance to bury the Caps early in the contest, they once again failed to convert. Even scoring on one of those five opportunities and this blog is probably about the Isles strolling into the next round.
“We had looks tonight,” Barzal said after the game. “We gotta find a way to put one into the back of the net. Coming into the series, we knew special teams was going to be the deciding factor in some games. We just have to make an adjustment.”
Now the Islanders a dreadful 1-for-24 when they are man up in this series and only converted five of 35 times in the playoffs thus far.
“We need production from it,” head coach Barry Trotz added. “I thought our power play was better than it was Sunday.”
To add to the struggles on the power play, taking bad penalties ended up costing the Isles dearly.
Three uncharacteristic minors in the first 3:46 of the second period allowed Washington right back into the game. Once Alex Ovechkin’s rocket from his office evened the score, the Islanders were on their heels the rest of the night and honestly, the first time the entire series.
The series now takes on a whole new dynamic as the teams get set for a pivotal game five tomorrow night.
The Isles are still in a very favorable position up 3-1. But cause for concern about the special teams is now staring them dead in the face.
They need to be better, not only if they want to finish this series off, but if they’re going to have any chance at going much deeper into the summer.
Last night it was their undoing again. An all too familiar sight this postseason