New York Islanders Suffer Disastrous Loss, Playoffs and Home Ice Still in Doubt

The Islanders can blame a lot of things for their loss in Philadelphia last night: Possibly the softest goal in NHL history with 2 seconds to go, allowing Philly to go up 2-0 to start the game, allowing them to go up 3 goals in the third, or not staying home to protect a point with under 30 seconds to go.

The fact remains, they lost, again, in regulation, no points, once again.

One point would have meant clinching a berth now, they remain still with the playoffs up in the air, and just 2 points up on Pittsburgh with 2 games to go.

They had a cushion of 2 points headed into their showdown with the Penguins in Pittsburgh on Friday, they still have that cushion, but it could and should have been at least 3 and maybe 4.

The Islanders had a 5 on 3 power play early in the game that they wasted.  They nearly killed off a 5-3 until the Flyers found a goal to go up 1-0.  The penalty that sent Philly up two men was a soft one and realistically, the Flyers ought to have been called for simulation for a dive that would have made Luis Suarez proud, but that didn’t even remotely become the story.

The story was a near comeback of epic proportions to clinch the playoffs going south with 2 seconds to go.

Anders Lee scored what looked to be the Islander goal of the year completing a remarkable comeback of 3 goals in the third, but just seconds later, Halak had perhaps his worst moment as a professional goalie, whiffing on an easy chance that sent the Flyers to dreamland.

The Isles have 2 games left and need one point to clinch;  A task that is growing harder and harder each day

(Via ESPN)

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