So Much for Getting a Streak Going

Islanders 1: Flyers 2

Okay, so the score was tight. And yeah, when you compare it with the 6-2 beating the Islanders got the last time they squared off against the Flyers, it looks somewhat respectable. But this is the 13th straight time that Philadelphia's beaten them. What gives?

Okay, so Mike Richards is quite good, and Daniel Briere's not incredibly easy to beat. And Jeff Carter's a certified Islander killer no matter what his recent stats are. But are the Flyers really that tough of a team to play against, for crying out loud? This is bordering on the absurd. And quite frankly, it was not for lack of trying tonight- the Isles managed to get a few good chances on offense; it was unfortunate mistakes leading to odd-man rushes and the continued spottiness of one Martin Biron in net that made this loss possible. Penalties didn't help, either.

In the end, only Jon Sim was able to get anything past Michael Leighton, the goalie picked up on waivers by Philly after Ray Emery went down with injury and Brian Boucher, I suppose, proved to be unreliable. In any case, Leighton made 28 saves on 29 shots and outplayed Biron.

There's not much more I can say about this game, except that after an emotional and well-deserved win over the Rangers on Saturday, this is definitely a deflating loss. It wasn't a problem with effort, just with execution in some places, and unfortunately the Isles could not rebound. So it goes.

Next game against the Blue Jackets, on the 29th, which is Tuesday.