TAMPA – As stunning as the Islanders’ four-game winning streak had been, it ended just as outrageously last night.
After blowing a one-goal lead with 24.2 seconds left, the Isles never recovered, as Craig Millar’s goal with 2:14 left in overtime gave the Lightning a 4-3 victory.
So ended the Isles’ seven-game unbeaten streak – against the worst team in the Eastern Conference,
And yet, the Isles (5-4-2-1) moved within two points of the Devils for first place in the Eastern Conference, though that didn’t exactly make them feel any better.
Captain Kenny Jonsson was the first player to leave the locker room, storming to the bus without comment. It was Jonsson who made the crucial turnover that led to Mike Johnson’s short-handed breakaway goal to tie the game at 3-3.
“It’s a shocking ending,” coach Butch Goring said. “It looked like we had the game in the bag.”
That is, until the bag was punctured, despite another strong game by goalie John Vanbiesbrouck (29 saves), who ended his own 2-0-1 unbeaten streak.
“We have to put this behind us,” said Brad Isbister,
Isbister continues to play a major role in the Isles’ revival. With a goal (on the power play) and an assist last night, he has six goals and three assists in his last seven games.
Garry Galley and Tim Connolly each tallied their first goals of the season, with Connolly’s goal giving the Isles a 3-1 lead at 13:13 of the second period.
But then the Isles dried up. And their streaks were parched along with them.
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Isle GM Mike Milbury said that 19-year-old rookie LW Taylor Pyatt needs to get more ice time.
A healthy scratch last night, Pyatt is averaging 5:22 in nine games. He has no goals and one assist.
“I’m not going to have him here if he’s not playing,” Milbury said before last night’s game. “Five minutes is not enough.”
Milbury said Pyatt might best be served by playing in the World Juniors Championships in December with the Canadian National Team.
Milbury said he is concerned about sending Pyatt to his junior club, Sudbury, because it is having a bad season.
By playing another game with the Isles, Pyatt would be considered to have played a full NHL season. According to NHL rules, if an 18- or 19-year-old plays at least 10 games, his contract would slide. In Pyatt’s case, his three-year deal would have two years remaining, moving him closer to restricted free agency.
Milbury, however, said Pyatt’s contract situation has no bearing on the team’s decision whether to keep him in the NHL.
Isles recalled C Jesse Belanger from Chicago (IHL).