Islanders Fall 4-2 to Jets Winnipeg's Canada Life Center seemed like a good place for the slumping New York Islanders [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/game-day/new-york-islanders-anders-lee-goal-tip-mike-reilly-winnipeg-jets] to show some life, unlike their lifeless performance on Monday night in Minnesota. There was, however, an obstacle. The hometown Jets happen to be the best team in the league, as we speak. Moreover, they won a 3-2 game and added an empty-netter in a contest that the Isles could have won -- given a break here and there. Actually, it literally was a "break" that directed them to defeat. Sort of a 1,000 to 1 shot when you think about it. So, let's think about this crazy-crazy happening. Winnipeg is on a late second-period power play when Ilya Sorokin loses his skate blade. The Maven asks you -- can you believe that? (Guess they don't make goalie skates the way they used to, my friends.) Did you ever try to make a save without a skateblade? Ilya tried on a Neal Pionk shot but couldn't regain position, and that made it a 3-1 game going into the third period. "A broken skate blade cost us a goal against," said coach Lane Lambert, "and we potentially could have won the game." That's because Anders Lee played like a captain, scoring two goals, including one in the third that brought the Isles to within one red light of a tie. Lee: "We had chances throughout the game. Guys were working; guys responded. It was a step in the right direction." His pair of red lights could not green light a win against the win-win-win Jets, who got just enough solid goaltending from Connor Hellebuyck, who made 35 saves. As usual, Sorokin had more work to do, finishing with 40 stops. Mind you, Jets GM Kevin Chevedayoff has crafted an impressive lineup backed by the excellent coaching of Rick Bowness. Hellebuyck's goaltending is steady, and Laurent Brossoit is a competent backup. That said, the good citizens of Islander Country were hoping for some kind of miraculous reawakening after the lesson in Sleepwalking 101 we got in St. Paul. "It was a better response," defenseman Scott Mayfield allowed, "but we've got to dig deep and find a way." The next stop is Chicago, and if a "way" is to be found, The Windy City is THE place, especially since whiz kid Connor Bedard will be out of action, recovering from a broken jaw. So, what did we get out of The Peg that offers hope? 1. Certainly a better effort. 2. Hope for a win against the Blackhawks. 3. A realization that there's still time for a turnabout as there was last season. 4. Captain Lee's two goals were encouraging. "Our line played a good game," Lee concluded. "I happened to be at the right end of a couple of good shots." Now we need the other lines to contribute, and this slippage can be reversed, and wins can return once more.
