Despite the Islanders' best showing just two days ago, here comes the thump that served as the metronome for the first 35 games of the season.
When there were signs that the Islanders were turning a corner, when they played their best game of the season, when they were healthy, when the Rangers might be relegated to the bottom of the Metropolitan Division on Christmas, and all when they What they had to do was beat the worst team in the league at home?
Thud.
At this festival, the islanders fell like George Costanza in a feat of strength.
Their best game of the season was followed by their worst play on Monday night, sliding off the ice at UBS Arena against the 32nd-ranked team in the 32-team NHL, as the Sabers ended their league losing streak at 13. Ta. It was a close 7-1 game, and fans chanted for the general manager to be fired throughout the second half of the game.
That meant the Islanders were in last place thanks to Columbus beating Montreal, instead of the Rangers sitting in the basement of the Metropolitan on vacation.
And instead of putting together a neat little story of finally coming into its own, all the same problems that have plagued the Islanders all season came here.
Just two nights ago, the Islanders played with clear purpose and relentless physicality in Toronto, only to fall flat and leave Ilya Sorokin out to dry.
Sorokin, starting his 11th consecutive game, stopped just 15 of 20 shots in the first two periods and inexplicably held back in the third to see the end of the disaster.
Against a faltering Buffalo team, the Islanders were unable to take the initiative, couldn't establish a forecheck, were stripped without making a finishing hit, and conceded in front of their own net.
And the penalty kill was, as expected, terrible.
Sound familiar? It should. Only this was worse.
The Islanders had an abysmal 16 shots on goal in the first 40 minutes, but only scored after falling 5-0.
There wasn't enough lipstick in the building to cover this pig.
By the end of the first period, the Islanders had already surrendered two goals to Beck Marenstin and Jiri Klich, both at the net, the latter coming seconds after the Sabres' power play ended. , the goal fell on the penalty kill. Spirit even if it's not on the score sheet.
Jason Zucker's outburst defeated Sorokin 5-4 to take home the point, with a penalty that ensured another penalty and the Islanders have allowed just 15 power-play goals on 32 tries at home this season. Ta.
Zach Benson and Jack Quinn added two points for the Sabers less than three minutes later in the second period, and boos and chants calling for general manager Lou Lamoriello to be fired rippled through UBS Arena.
The chant continued in the third, with Tage Thompson and Kulich adding two more goals.
To add insult to injury, Scott Mayfield was hit in the face by the puck with 2 minutes, 14 seconds remaining and was seen by a trainer before returning to the locker room.
Just as all of the Islanders played great on Saturday, all of the Islanders struggled on Monday night. From top to bottom, this was an embarrassing and unacceptable performance.
The Islanders have been playing footsie at NHL .500 for the better part of a month, but they haven't been able to get over it and are currently two games back during the holiday break.
Thirty-five games into the season, they're healthy.
They just lost badly at home to the worst team in the league.
There are no excuses left. For Lamoriello, the four days between games are time to think about what's next.
Is maintaining the status quo really the answer?
