The other albatross hanging around this club’s neck is the 15 straight losses to division rival Philadelphia. In a word, embarrassing. The most recent loss, last Tuesday in Philly, was vintage, as the Isles coughed up a third-period lead by surrendering two power play goals, the last of which was the result of a foolish Trevor Gillies roughing penalty late in the third. Sorry, but you have to wonder what the kid was even doing out there in a tie game, late in the third, on the road, against a team you’ve lost the last 14 to.
The other head scratcher from Gordon of late has to be the amount of ice time he’s giving Bruno Gervais on the power play. What are we missing here? For a unit that is currently operating at 15.6 percent, 28th in the league, let’s just say that Gervais’ skill set doesn’t exactly seem like a match here.
Call it progress if you like, and the Islanders surely will, but it all adds up to another bad season of hockey on Long Island.
Enjoy the soon-to-be-blooming tulips and be sure to pick up your beach pass because you can, once again, scratch Islanders playoff tickets off your spring list of things to do.
ICE CHIPS
Okay, so two impressive victories over the weekend have breathed a bit of life into the club’s sagging playoff hopes. Too bad the effort in those two hasn’t been apparent over the last four weeks. If there was a game this season that really did them in it was the pre-Olympic break collapse against Ottawa, blowing a two-goal lead late in the third in a 4-3 loss. That one was killer.
Doug Weight’s season, and quite possibly his career, ended this week as the team announced that their captain and 18-year veteran will have shoulder surgery later this week.
It’s a shame Isles’ fans never got to see how truly terrific a player Weight, 39, actually is. His entire time here was marked by one ailment after another. A great player (1,024 career pts) and even better person. We wish him nothing but the best if his time here on Long Island is indeed done.
Nice to see struggling John Tavares finally nail one in Philly this past Tuesday. Seems to have lifted a huge weight off his shoulders as his play looks a bit more relaxed ever since.
Hope Isles take a good look at left wing Matt Martin in these final few weeks. The kid’s size and style of play is exactly what is missing up front and he certainly hasn’t looked out of place in the few games he’s played. Had a great camp too.
Also—kudos to Freddy Myer who’s play these last few weeks might be putting him back in the mix on defense for next season—though thankfully the club is beginning to finally develop some depth on the blue line.
Lastly, have to also salute a great second half from Blake Comeau who is emerging as a possible top six forward for next season. Showing confidence with the puck and some snarl without it, Comeau’s play has been a pleasant surprise over the last six weeks.