Captain Guerin Nets Two, But It's Too Little, Too Late

Islanders 2 : Senators 5

You know when you just want more time to a game? Like an extra five, or ten, or twenty minutes (wouldn't the players love that?)? Inexplicably, that was how I felt watching the Isles stumble against the Senators last night in Ottawa- not because they were good, by any means, but because Bill Guerin was their scoring machine, surprisingly. I just wished he would have gotten a hat trick.

As it was, Guerin scored two goals and was the only offense the Isles could offer last night against a conference-leading Ottawa team that was faster, smarter, and simply better than the Isles last night. At least, it seemed that way- or perhaps they got away with two points, seeing as Radek Martinek and Rick DiPietro, two integral parts of the defensive success of the Isles, were both injured and out of the lineup. At any rate, the Spezza line that had been stymied last match against the Isles, thrived last night, with Spezza and Alfredsson both scoring along with Nick Foligno, Antoine Vermette, and Mike Fisher. Backup goaltender Wade Dubielewicz, who got the start in DiPietro's stead, of course, was solid in the first but ultimately couldn't hold up forever against a speedy and persistent Sens offense, which struck early and often and dazzled the Isles defense, especially on the last two goals of the night. Mike Fisher seemed to be a big part of that, with an assist on Spezza's goal and then a goal of his own to seal the deal in the third.

As for offense, frustration is the word , as Josef Vasicek had some great chances that hit the side of the net, and as of late Mike Sillinger has become practically nonexistent. Only the captain could find the net, and he has been producing as of late, becoming the leading goalscorer with 12 goals (and before you laugh, look at the Rangers' stats- for all their offense, Brendan Shanahan is team leader with that same number of goals), as well as putting together a three-game goal streak. Maybe he's trying to increase his vote numbers for the All-Star Game, but at any rate let him keep it up.

- The Sens scored their first 5-on-3 goal of the season at the hands of Jason Spezza, as well as a Vermetter SH goal and three even strength goals. If you had a penalty shot and an empty net thrown in there, it would have been every type of goal you could score in one game.

- Islander quote of the week comes from the Daily News, from Wade Dubielewicz, about Brendan Witt: "If a couple of pucks would have gone past Witt, they would have gone in if they didn't hit me. You gotta give that guy credit- he's a warrior... I don't know what his quote is. It's something like: 'Pain lets you know you're alive.' He's crazy, man, but he does his job really well." Even Yoda loves Witter. You gotta love it.

- Radek Martinek looks to be out two weeks with his leg bruise, but Rick DiPietro reportedly might be back as early as Saturday night against the Devils. I wouldn't like seeing him in net only because I'd rather him take some time to really rest, as well as getting Dubielewicz to see some more ice time. The Devils are a good offensive team as well, but the defense has a chance to redeem themselves with a solid game against them.