A Breakdown of the Islanders' Catastrophic Start, Here's What Has to Happen Now

There's no question that the New York Islanders care how their season ends. But a few mistakes early had them in a hole that they were unable to overcome. Now they must deal with that result and hope for help. 

A lack of intensity from puck drop has been one of the reasons the Islanders' season outcome is out of their control with a game to go. 

But that did not seem like the reason for their downfall on Monday.

It was just a few mistakes -- costly ones.

The outcry on social media following the 5-2 loss to an AHL-filled Washington lineup was justified.

How could a team, still in control of their destiny, come out so out of sorts with so much on the line?

The question needed an answer, and the players had none.

Islanders Stunned Locker Room: Question Mark Surrounding Slow Start

Lambert did.

"It's tough to explain. We made some mistakes right off the hop. We had the puck on our stick, we gave it to them," Lambert said. "We lost a face-off, they scored...tripped over our own stick. So some errors were made, and that put us in a hole.

"We ended up in our own zone, and we didn't get the puck out, so we have to deal with it. We have to move on to the next game, but it was disappointing for sure."

As expected, the "Fire Lambert" chants spread like wildfire over social media, a mindset that fans fall back on after every wrong turn.

And to be fair, Lambert hasn't been innocent through all the failures this season and very well may be on his way out if the Islanders do fail to make the postseason. 

But that's a conversation for another day with there still being a pulse, no matter how faint. 

Lambert can answer as many questions as he wants. But at some point, the onus has to be on the players.

If you need a coach to get you ready to go in a game that not only did the Islanders need but a game where the Capitals were essentially giving the Islanders a leg up, playing a man short with regulars out of the lineup, then that's a serious problem.

It's one that likely puts a dagger on their season.

A talent-issue excuse works against elite teams, like a healthy Tampa Bay Lightning team or a Boston Bruins team. 

It's a mindset, an inability to take care of business if you will.

To further shut down the "lack of talent" excuse for the inexcusable start, let's roll back the tape.

The New York Islanders won the opening face-off, dumping the puck in an effort to establish their forecheck immediately. 

However, the Islanders ended up getting caught as the puck bounced off Zach Parise along the left boards in the Capitals' zone. However, Hudson Fasching was strong enough in the neutral zone to force a dump-in, which netminder Ilya Sorokin turned over. 

The Capitals were able to cycle, but the Islanders allowed Sorokin to see the Capitals' opening shot, with him leaving a rebound.

The Islanders were there for support, but shutdown defenseman Adam Pelech made a questionable decision allowing Dylan Strome a prime shooting lane. 

Albeit a clean look, Sorokin was there and waiting. He just got beat. 

Here's a snapshot of Sorokin's positioning. 

It's a save the Islanders needed, but there were a few opportunities to win puck battles and get the puck out. Sorokin, a Vezina-worthy goaltender, and Pelech, a top defender in the NHL, made mistakes. 

That's not a talent issue.

After Sorokin bailed the Islanders out on a breakdown, Bo Horvat lost his defensive zone draw, and Rasmus Sandin found himself with a quick shooting lane from the top of the left circle.

Like the first goal, this one just beat Sorokin.

Here's the snapshot:

While it's one Sorokin has to have, especially with the Islanders down one early, Horvat allowed Capitals forward Nicklas Backstrom to get behind him. Although Backstrom failed to get his stick on the shot, it certainly impacted Sorokin's ability to track the puck.

Not a talent thing. 

After Ryan Pulock lost the puck inside the Capitals' blue line, Washington came the other way. However, Pulock and Pelech collapsed on Capitals' centerman Joe Snively -- Pulock lost his stick in the process.

Unfortunately for New York, that errand stick tripped Pelech, who was going back to retrieve the puck.

Defenseman Martin Fehervery scooped up the loose puck, and there it back towards the top of the crease. Pulock, stick-less, tried to get a skate on the pass but couldn't. 

Simon Holmstrom tied up Snively, but no one else was back in support to follow the "high guy' as Anders Lee and Bo Horvat never made it into the camera shot, well after Craig Smith potted the puck from right in front of Sorokin. 

Not a talent thing. 

Now What?

The Islanders have one more game left in their season as they host the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday night. 

With the Florida Panthers earning a point in an overtime loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs Monday, they now lead New York by a point, with one final game against the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday. 

The Pittsburgh Penguins, who now control their own destiny, host the Chicago Blackhawks Tuesday night before heading to Columbus to face the Blue Jackets Thursday. 

The Islanders can still make the playoffs if...

-Florida wins their final game, and Pittsburgh wins out, the Islanders miss the postseason regardless of Wednesday's outcome against Montreal.

-Islanders beat the Canadiens, and the Panthers lose to Carolina in regulation.

-Islanders win, Penguins drop one of their final two games.

-Islanders win in regulation, and Panthers lose in overtime.