New York Islanders Drop Three in a Row After a Solid Road Trip

Recently, the Islanders had won two consecutive road games in overtime shootouts for the first time since March 2006—literally half a decade since the last time such a feat occurred. 

Isles fans were treated to some of the best hockey the team has played recently after a heartbreaking loss to the Canadiens and Stars. 

Coincidentally, these two away games were two of the best defensive games the Islanders have played this year.  Minnesota lost 2-1 in a shootout, and Winnipeg lost 3-2 in a shootout.

Time and time again, the Islanders show these flashes of how the team is truly capable of playing, but the problem is consistency. 

Every team has off nights, losing streaks, etc., but not every team can get so down on themselves that they drop a huge string of consecutive games like the Islanders. 

They now have dropped three games in a row—twice to the Rangers, and a hard-fought game against Toronto in which they gave up three goals in the first period and battled back into the game. 

Yet, again, the Islanders suffered some questionable calls. 

John Tavares was crosschecked in the face, fell down and was called for diving, essentially sealing the Isles' fate after it had become a decent game.

Perhaps the biggest difference in the two-game road trip for the Isles has been their entry into the offensive zone.  Too often, they dump and chase lazily, not moving with any urgency to the puck, resulting in turnovers. 

A world of difference is made when the team holds onto the puck and enters the zone with speed, or dumps it and goes hard after it. 

Frequently, we see the Islanders becoming their own worst enemy.  When the Isles are down, they have a tendency to fall back on these habits of poor entry and little effort. 

In Monday night's Rangers game, the Isles looked flat until the very end of the second period when they applied serious pressure and had some excellent chances, only to be robbed by Henrik Lundqvist. 

They came out in the third looking very flat again, and stayed that way until the waning moments of the game. 

Nabakov looked strong and, at times, was the only player on the ice holding the Rangers to a close lead.

We have yet to see much of an adjustment in systems from the Islanders, and their offensive zone entry has been an issue all season long, which begs the question: Is it time for coach Jack Capuano to move on if these issues cannot be addressed in the near future? 

Cappy has said that the Isles have worked on their entry into the offensive zone, but truth be told, the results haven't been seen.

The upcoming schedule is much more difficult than their December schedule, featuring a few back-to-back road games in different states.  They go to Anaheim, then Phoenix the next day, and then Nashville to Washington. 

They also have a home and home with Toronto.  It's a full schedule; if the Islanders can't walk away with points in January, it'll be nearly impossible to make it to the offseason.