It was coming sooner or later, that the New York Islanders would be mathematically eliminated from playoff contention.
The elimination hammer was dropped following Sunday night’s 4-2 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs as this hectic, nightmarish season nears it’s end.
QUOTES
What could have gone wrong this season, did go wrong. But there’s not just one factor to blame for missing the playoffs for the first time in three seasons.
People blame the 13-game road trip, but the New York Islanders, through the first 10 games of the trip were 5-2-3. It was the final four games of the trip which defined it, which included a 4-0 loss to the New Jersey Devils and two blowout losses in the state of Florida.
Not only would COVID-19 rear its ugly head following that trip, but the loss of Ryan Pulock on the backend would leave a hole not easily filled for months.
Then COVID-19 took control with the Islanders being forced to play with a handful of missing players in order to open the brand new UBS Arena.
That opening night loss to the Calgary Flames was followed by six-straight losses (three in overtime), a total of 11 straight losses (0-8-3).
The Islanders finally put an end to their losing streak, with a much needed 5-3 win over the Ottawa Senators.
Sure, COVID played a part, but New York Islanders head coach Barry
The Islanders were playing a bit better, with a 3-2-0 record in the month of December, as Noah Dobson stepped up to the plate and came through in more ways than one.
But then COVID-19 hit again forcing the Islanders to stand pat for over a week and a half.
