Misery Loves Company... And Not Talking About the Isles This Time

Islanders 3 : Penguins 4

On a professional level, perhaps the worst thing about last's night loss to the Penguins- the Islanders' sixth consecutively- is that this is perhaps the toughest one to get over, seeing as the Isles were playing their type of hockey- hard-working, physical and tough- and they very well could have won this one.

The worst thing about it personally? I'm finding it harder to maintain a positive outlook, seemingly wallowing in the same type of criticism and knee-jerk reaction that I am not a fan of. I guess that old saying is true, that misery loves company- it can take your mindset and twist it to fit theirs.

I can't even blame my recent reactions on frustration, which is no doubt what this team is feeling times ten today after dropping last night's game 4-3 at Mellon Arena. A controversial non-goal on account of a quick whistle by the refs with 2 seconds remaining in the third would have tied it for the Isles, who are now sub-.500 for the first time this year, having gone 4-9-4 in their last 17 games. Mike Comrie, however, finally scored his 15th (300th NHL point) and 16th (PP) of the season, and Fedotenko also added one on the PP, to make it a typically close one for the Isles, but a struggling Rick DiPietro (23 saves) couldn't hold up, letting in Chris Letang's backbreaker late in the third as he was tight to the post, looking more like he was preparing for a wraparound attempt than the goal that ensued. Later, on the bench as he was pulled for an extra skater, he threw down his water bottle in disgust, no doubt angry with himself for his performance. That outburst says it all- as Christine kindly reminded me last night, our own worst critic is ourselves, and no one is harder on us than we are. So yes, Islanders fans, there is a way to not be so critical, because these guys are hard enough on themselves.

Pittsburgh notes: Ryan Whitney scored two PP goals, Ryan Malone also scored, and Chris Letang's aforementioned game-winner was the tally for the Penguins, and goaltender Ty Conklin (first match against the Isles since January 8, 2004) made 29 saves.

- Ted Nolan had a great-looking tie on last night, didn't he? Unfortunately, it didn't get us a win. But we'll get them next time.