Just a month ago, it seemed unimaginable that the Islanders’ successful season would end so abruptly.
Since early December, the Islanders were in playoff contention and even made moves at the trade deadline. Although not seen as heavy favorites for the Cup, the overall vibe was positive with Matthew Schaefer steering the team. But now, the thought of them being eliminated before the season’s end has turned from a distant worry to a stark reality.
The Islanders’ recent 4-1 defeat to Montreal marked the official recognition of a painful decline that’s developed over the past few weeks. Since a loss to Ottawa on March 19, the Islanders have struggled, holding a dismal record of 4-9-0 in their last 13 games and a scoring percentage that ranks last in the league.
For the first time since the New Jersey Devils relocated in 1982, every team in the tri-state area will miss the playoffs this season.
If only the Islanders had been less than terrible—perhaps just average—they might have secured a playoff spot or even home-ice advantage in the first round. Instead, they continued to stumble. Following their loss in Ottawa, they faltered again in Montreal, played poorly against the Penguins, and failed to show urgency in crucial games against the Flyers and Hurricanes last weekend.
This past Saturday, with Pete DeBoer at the helm, the Islanders faced an unfortunate 3-0 loss to Ottawa, pushing their playoff hopes further into despair.
Had they turned a couple of those misfortunes around, they might be looking forward to the playoffs instead of this grim outcome.
The specifics of Sunday’s game hardly matter anymore. The Islanders allowed three goals in just 55 seconds during the second period and struggled offensively, only managing to briefly celebrate Casey Cizikas’ third-period goal before the Canadiens solidified their lead with a fourth goal from Zach Bolduc.
There’s still a final game scheduled for Tuesday against Carolina, a contest that holds little significance, though it could become intriguing if Victor Eklund is called up for his NHL debut. The focus will soon shift to summer plans.
General manager Matthew Darche’s acquisitions of Ondrej Palat, Brayden Schenn, and Carson Soucy didn’t result in a playoff berth, but he has set the stage for change by letting go of both Roy and DeBoer with four games remaining.
Now, the pressing question is whether captain Anders Lee will play his final game as an Islander on Tuesday. More broadly, how extensive will the changes be this summer, especially considering the busy free-agent market ahead?
After two consecutive seasons devoid of playoff action, getting it right is essential.
