Isles Falling Flat and Falling Fast Into Unlucky 13th Spot

Islanders 0 : Ducks 3

Let's hope this is rock bottom for Ted Nolan and his squad, who were shut out 3-0 on home ice against the defending Stanley Cup champion Anaheim Ducks despite the addition of youth (callups Jeff Tambellini and Frans Nielsen) and a solid first period.

Teemu Selanne, in his first game back in the NHL since winning the Cup, notched an assist, and Scott Niedermayer scored a power play goal, and Jean-Sebastien Giguere made 25 saves, as the Ducks didn't skate all over the Isles, but patiently waited for the Islanders to make mistakes- and in the form of penalties and complete breakdowns, the Islanders eventually granted them opportunities. Rick DiPietro was good early on under a flurry of shots by Anaheim, but couldn't help his team, whose fans were chanting "Refund" and booing them off the ice by the end of it. Meanwhile, the struggling Ducks, losers of 6 straight prior to this game (shutout two games in a row), were only too happy to end their own skid against the reeling Isles.

The only thing that was missing from this game was goals. Countless chances went astray, including one from Bill Guerin on a wide-open net, that epitomizes just what the Islanders are going through in regards to scoring woes. Tambellini and Nielsen, who were kept apart for most of the game up until the third period, didn't get quite as much ice time as I would have liked, but showed some smarts on the ice (especially Tambellini, who was just as good defensively as offensively and had some good chances).

Either way, however, the Islanders find themselves in 13th place in the Eastern Conference and at .500 for the first time in a long time (24-24-6), and in dire need of help and rejuvenation. No offense, struggling defense, and an All-Star goaltender who has made big saves but doesn't look to be the same as he was prior to the break... it all adds up to this- something has to give.

My solution? Bench guys who aren't playing full out. Plain and simple. Comrie showed me nothing last night except for some ridiculous penalties- bench him. Get some players in that will play smart and play determined, and will try their best to pull out a win. This is not the time to breakdown, not when it is February and the conference is getting tighter, and not while we are on the wrong end of it. I don't think this has anything to do with age- it has to do with who wants to play here, and who wants to give it their all.