If a hockey game could be sent to a shrink for analysis, last night's 4-3 overtime loss to the Detroit Red Wings at UBS Arena would be a perfect study of zany on ice.
If a hockey game could be sent to a shrink for analysis, last night's 4-3 overtime loss to the Detroit Red Wings at UBS Arena would be a perfect study of zany on ice.
If a hockey game could be sent to a shrink for analysis, last night's 4-3 overtime loss to the Detroit Red Wings at UBS Arena would be a perfect study of zany on ice.
And The Maven would pay the psychologist's fee.
Nobody puts it better than Zachary Weinstock, co-author of the New York Islanders 50-year history book, who piles irony on top of irony with his capsule comment:
"The Isles 'stole' a point!"
Ah, but THAT is the point.
Our heroes got goals from Casey Cizikas (late second period), Brock Nelson (early third), and a power play point-saver from Bo Horvat at 15:49 of the third, just when all seemed lost.
My hockey shrink would shake his head trying to explain Ilya Sorokin being a star in defeat, but The Man delivered yet another lesson in Goaltending 101, 102, and 103.
"Sorokin made it all look easy," concluded MSG Network's Brendan Burke.
Except, of course, for the OT game-winner by Lucas Raymond at 1:25 of the extra session.
Incredibly, the Isles netminder preceded that with what had to be the save of the game.
Foiling Alex DeBrincat, Ilya went post to post to at least give his buds one more chance for two points.
"We gotta be better in front of Ilya," added Horvat, who blamed what he considered his defensive shortcoming on the winning goal.
Or, as MSG Networks Butch Goring so aptly summed up the hockey-shrink visit: "The Isles are a work in progress."
Or, as The Maven puts it; here's a case when a "loss" is not exactly a loss.
This is especially true considering that the home club added a point to its standings.
Meanwhile, playoff competitors Florida, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Columbus all were defeated; plus, the Flyers, Blue Jackets, and Penguins all lost at home in regulation time.
But let us not kid ourselves: Subtracting for a moment the fact that Cizikas, Nelson, and Horvat produced red lights, the Blue and Orange did not distinguish themselves apart from wearing their sweet white jerseys.
"It's not acceptable, losing that way at home," said defenseman Noah Dobson, "to give up
three unanswerable goals in the third period."
Coach Lane Lambert: "We had a couple of mistakes in the D-zone in the third period, and Detroit made some good plays."
Matters to fix:
1. Don't blow a 2-0 lead in the third period -- at home, no less.
2. Cal Clutterbuck's misconduct penalty during a penalty kill also is known as a NO-NO!
3. The club cannot expect magician Sorokin to pull a pair of points out of his hat every game.
4. Coach Lambert wisely called a third-period "time-out" when Detroit tied the game, 2-2, in the third, but the Isles did not respond with enough energy.
Now for the really good news: Over the last three games, the Elmonters collected five points. Five out of six ain't bad.
And the even better news is that you can't be arrested for "stealing" a point.
Ergo: I'll take it!