Isles Fall Below .500 With Loss to Panthers
March 13th, 2008 by Tom
And so it goes. Another game, another loss for the Islanders. Last night, the Panthers were the better team and skated to a 4-2 victory over an injury-plagued Islanders team that is showing the physical, emotional, and mental wear and tear of an up and down season.
The loss kept the Isles entrenched in lowly 13th place, eight points behind the Flyers for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. It also moved the Islanders under the .500 mark for just the second time this season.
The team that had started the season out so well surprising almost everyone, that was ranked #8 on ESPN’s Power Rankings the sixth week of the season, that was in the Top Eight teams in the East for most of the year, is bottoming out at the worst possible time. The Isles have lost six of seven. Coach Ted and Rick DiPietro might not be getting along. Injuries are piling up.
The Isles certainly haven’t quit but I don’t think they believe any more either. Ten games to go, eight points out, they know the deal.
fauxrumors Says
1) Unfortunately looking at the schedule the previous 2 games were the most ‘winnable’ remaining. Not saying the isles will finish by losing 14 strait, but a 2-10-2 string wouldn’t surprise, especially with so many key personnel out
Mar 13th, 2008 at 11:15 am
Tom Says
Good point. Some quick math shows the combined record of the Islanders’ remaining opponents is 223-152-50. Not one team on the schedule has a losing record.
Mar 13th, 2008 at 12:21 pm