That probably sums up the Islanders’ season in one word.
It was a play that could easily have been on SportsCenter’s “Outside Top 10” list from Sunday’s loss to the Devils.
Already down 1-0 at UBS Arena, the Devils took the puck out of their own half and began charging toward neutral ice.
The three Islanders on the ice tried to interrupt the play, but instead appeared to reenact a scene from the “Three Stooges” skit.
Forward Bo Horvat collided with Islanders defenseman Noah Dobson, and Kyle Palmieri, who was also skating, was also involved in the collision.
To add insult to injury, the Devils ended up scoring on an odd-man rush from Jack Hughes, giving New Jersey a 2-0 lead early in the second period.
It was a disastrous second period for the Isles, who are desperately trying to make the postseason and avoid a second straight run.
The Islanders allowed three goals in the second period, including a goal by Hughes, and captain Anders Lee was also sent off for taking a hit on Nico Isier.
Alexander Holtz scored New Jersey’s second goal of the period to make it 3-0, and Timo Meier scored on a power play early in the middle for the first goal of the game.
Chris Tierney scored a goal into an empty net in the third to seal the victory.
Washington’s win over Winnipeg leaves the Islanders four points out of the playoffs, with the Islanders playing the final 11 games of the season.
Every game going forward is important for the Isles, and mistakes like Sunday’s don’t help their cause.
The Islanders have not missed the playoffs in consecutive seasons under Lou Lamoriello, the last time the team missed the playoffs in 2016-17 and 2017-18.
