The Islanders searched for words to describe how bad they were last night against the Panthers.
Defenseman Mark Streit’s final ones did nicely: “We were just awful.”
During the 7-1 loss to Florida at the Coliseum, the Isles looked like a team that should be in the running for the top pick in next year’s draft — again.
“I think we were a team that forgot we were playing tonight,” said Dwayne Roloson, who was pulled in the third after giving up five goals on 23 shots. Coach Scott Gordon thought “he had seen enough breakaways.”
Worse, Roloson added: “We were looking forward to the Ranger games and just from the beginning to the end, it was one of those games.”
The result? A season high in goals allowed and their worst showing of the season.
Horrendous defensive miscues led to Florida chances that Roloson had little chance on, and though the Isles out-shot the Panthers, 31-26, they generated few real opportunities.
Trailing 3-1 heading into the third, the Isles surrendered a pair of goals less than a minute into the final period. Nathan Horton notched a hat trick for the Panthers.
“I don’t think we had anybody going tonight,” Gordon said. “Hopefully, we can walk away from this game knowing we played our worst and be ready.”
They’ll have to be, since they have back-to-back matches with the Rangers starting tomorrow, with both teams on the fringes of the playoffs.
“When it’s 7-1, it’s tough just to turn the page,” Streit said. “This is a big week and we wanted to get the right start and this is just the opposite.”
⇒ Rick DiPietro’s comeback has stalled again. The goalie, who was supposed to play the first full game of his comeback on Friday night for AHL Bridgeport but left after two periods because of leg stiffness, was held out of practice yesterday and will miss his scheduled start tonight for the Islanders’ affiliate.
“Ricky has been seen by the team doctors and most recently a specialist,” GM Garth Snow said. “To make sure we are taking the proper steps in his rehabilitation, we will seek an additional opinion and should have a timeline by the end of the week.”