New York Islanders head coach Lane Lambert is in the toughest of spots. His team has dropped three straight games and has been a horrific third-period team up to this point when the final 20 used to be his squad's bread and butter. There's two big elephants in the room.

New York Islanders head coach Lane Lambert is in the toughest of spots. His team has dropped three straight games and has been a horrific third-period team up to this point when the final 20 used to be his squad's bread and butter.

And it's not like it's been one issue each third period that's plagued New York. It's been the same three issues game in and game out, from not making the little plays to not getting that extra goal to racking up penalties at opportune times.

"We are right now having trouble for whatever reason sustaining a 60-minute game, and we've got to find a way to do that," Lambert said following the Islanders' 5-2 loss to the Boston Bruins. 

Lambert tried to make a statement, healthy scratching Pierre Engvall for what we believed to be his turnover against the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday night that led directly to their fourth goal.

Lambert wouldn't divulge the reason.

"No, I can't tell you that. I had a conversation, and we'll just leave it at that.

Like the lineup change Lambert made against the Detroit Red Wings on Oct. 30, this latest decision ultimately backfired. 

With Anders Lee joining the Brock Nelson line, the line that's been New York's best so far, that line fell apart. 

When that line was on the ice, 12:28 TOI, the Islanders were outshot 11-4 and outscored 2-0. That doesn't include the Bruins empty-net goal, in which all three members of that line were on the ice. 

Lambert thought that against one of the best teams in the NHL, sitting a player who essentially quarterbacks the second line, given his speed and transitioning ability, was worth it to make a point.

"They're a minus three, all of them," Lambert said. "They know it. I thought they would be better."

Now the question becomes, does Lambert continue to make statements, or was this a one-time thing?

Regardless of what Lambert decides to do Saturday night, there are two elephants in the room. And Lambert is well aware, despite people taking every word he says to heart. 

Lambert is trying to find the right place for Lee, but every line he puts him on has struggled. 

The Islanders' captain started on the third line alongside Jean-Gabriel Pageau, but that line struggled to play their role. 

Then, on the top line, where Lee did look better, he's still struggled to do what he does best and has just one goal and one assist on the season through 12 games after a 28-goal campaign.

With the way the Islanders' top line of Mathew Barzal-Bo Horvat-Oliver Wahlstrom played against Boston, Lambert should likely keep them together.

So, unless Engvall's healthy scratch stay is going to be more than just one game, he'll be back in his usual spot on Nelson's left.

The Simon Holmstrom-Pageau-Hudson Fasching line has been strong, with Holmstrom and Pageau building chemistry at a rather strong rate. 

The fourth line is the line that has the highest chance of being broken up at this point, as Matt Martin has played limited minutes, Casey Cizikas has struggled to be disciplined, and Cal Clutterbuck hasn't been in his true self despite not playing as bad as people think.

Would Lambert place Lee on the fourth line for Martin or Clutterbuck?

Once Lee goes down to the fourth line, which seemingly seems likely at some point, even if it's not in the immediate future, there's no coming back from that.

He's the captain, and yes, he's struggled, but then the discussion will be about buying out his contract in the summer, a captain not leading, and a whole set of narratives that will become a distraction to a team that really doesn't need that at this moment in time. 

Saturday morning's skate could be one for the ages. 

The other elephant in the room is defenseman Samuel Bolduc. 

This one's a tad different because it's not on Bolduc. Well...okay...yeah, he hasn't been the best when being on the ice, but should he have been up with the Islanders to begin with to start the season?

It seemed that the thought was Bolduc would beat Sebastian Aho out for the sixth and final spot, and Aho would then serve as the seventh defenseman.

Aho blew Bolduc out of the water through training camp and preseason, but the young blue liner has played due to injuries to Scott Mayfield and Adam Pelech.

Lambert hasn't shown trust in Bolduc, cutting him out of the rotation, taxing his other defenseman, and ultimately losing hockey games.

The reason Bolduc isn't in Bridgeport now is due to a few reasons. The first is that he has to go through waivers, and the Islanders likely don't want to risk losing him, given that the potential is there. 

The other is because the Islanders don't have any other defense prospects that are ready. In his limited NHL minutes, Robin Salo has shown to be a liability. 

One name that comes to mind that could likely help New York, given his ability to not stand out in games for the wrong reasons, is Grant Hutton, who played NHL minutes for New York during their COVID-19 outbreak.

But again, the Islanders would need to waive Bolduc, and that's very unlikely. 

With Adam Pelech still "battling" back from his hip injury sustained last Thursday against the Washington Capitals, who knows how long he will be out of the lineup this time? 

The good news for the Islanders is that through this lackluster play over this skid, the Blue and Orange sit in fourth place in the Metropolitan Division.

The bad news is that there have been no signs that their third-period debacles are coming to an end anytime soon.

Decisions...decisions...decisions.