Shortcomings on "O" Lead to Another "L"

Thrashers 5: Islanders 1

This time, the Islanders got the fast start that they wanted. With an almost immediate power play in their hands, it couldn't have been faster- a sharp goal in the first minute of the game.

And then they simply stalled.

In the end, Bill Guerin's goal at :51 was all the Coliseum crowd could cheer about, as Joey MacDonald was lit up for 5 goals (through limited fault of his own) and bad offensive shifts outweighed the good ones, resulting in the Isles' fourth loss in five games, a 5-1 drubbing by the visiting Atlanta Thrashers.

Atlanta, coming off of a losing streak, had been outplayed for much of the game, but despite the lopsided shot totals (only 17 shots to the Isles' 29), struggling Ilya Kovalchuk and Co. slipped five goals past MacDonald (12 saves) for the win, after a frustrated head coach John Anderson vowed; "If we're going to be a doormat, I want us to be an ugly doormat... We're not going to be an easy mark anymore."

The first period was a good one for the Isles, as they got the first goal and were creative with the puck early on. The feistiness was very evident, as a lively scrap between Tim Jackman and Chris Thorburn transpired. The second period, however, was all Atlanta, as they scored twice on three chances- Kovalchuk slipped a flukey shot past MacDonald, who was already committed, at 10:04, and then Eric Boulton scored on a wrist shot at 15:23. The team that had been regularly outscored by a wide margin in the second period managed 2 goals against the Isles, and went into the third hungry for more; Kovalchuk confirmed to CJ Papa, "We need one more."

They got two more before the night was over- Eric Perrin and Thorburn both capitalized, showing that quality was and is much better than quantity, as the Isles shot everything but the kitchen sink at Johan Hedberg and could only manage a couple of post shots (both Mark Streit and newly recalled Blake Comeau manage to hit metal at least once). Comeau's callup came with unlucky Jeff Tambellini being sent down on a conditioning stint in Bridgeport, and he seemed to thrive on it, showing himself in the play more often than he had been last season.

However, besides that, no one really stepped up for the Islanders, and no one was able to finish off any chances that were made available. All they could do was show frustration in the closing minutes, and out of the two teams coming into last night's game to make a statement, only the Thrashers could get the job done. For the Isles, it's back to the drawing board.

Notes: Brendan Witt led the Isles in hits with 8, and also recorded 5 blocked shots, including 3 in a row late in the third... Doug Weight came within seven points of reaching 1,000 with his secondary assist on Guerin's goal... every Isle recorded at least one hit save for Streit and Mike Sillinger.