The ceremonial curtain on Kyle Okposo’s NHL career was raised last night, just as the door moved another inch closer to shut on the Islanders’ season.
Okposo, the heralded 19-year-old right wing, wore No. 21 and saw significant minutes against Toronto at the Coliseum. But his inclusion into the lineup couldn’t cure the Isles’ season-long scoring woes in a 3-1 defeat that extended the team’s losing streak to six games.
The Maple Leafs scored three goals in the third period, more than negating Rob Davison’s miraculous 175-foot bouncer into the goal during the first period as he was clearing the puck on a Toronto power play.
Okposo, an arrival from Bridgeport who played nearly 15 minutes last night, is the future. The present doesn’t look so promising, with the Islanders (32-35-7) 13th in the Eastern Conference and 11 points removed from the eighth and final playoff spot.
After early jitters, Okposo said he found his footing.
“Just kind of in between the first and second periods I was like, ‘It’s no different than what I’ve played,’ ” Okposo said. “Obviously the guys are better, but hockey is hockey anywhere you go.”
Wade Dubielewicz stopped 23 of 25 shots in place of Rick DiPietro, who had an MRI exam performed yesterday on his ailing hip. The team is expected to know the results of the test today.
“The outlook that out hockey club has right now is just to go out and play for pride,” Richard Park said. “It’s not like we’re in the top eight holding on, and to tell you the truth we haven’t talked about the standings.”
The Islanders are hoping the influx of young talent – six rookies were in uniform last night – might bring a certain energy to the situation. Still, nobody can put the Islanders in a playoff fight. With eight games remaining too much still has to happen even for the Isles just to reach the periphery of the race.
“Seven or eight weeks ago we were sitting in that sixth spot,” Bryan Berard said. “Things happened where we lost some games and some key players. You don’t make excuses.”
Could the Islanders, a playoff team last season, ever have envisioned such a slide at this juncture of the season?
“We expected [the playoffs] right from Day 1 this year and you really can’t soak your thoughts up in that approach now, because you just come across disappointment,” Park said.
The bad news tour for the Islanders will continue with games at New Jersey and the Flyers in the next week before they face Pittsburgh in consecutive games.
“It’s a good opportunity for some young kids and guys to get more ice time, and you never know,” Berard said. “Definitely weirder things have happened. We’re just going to look at every game and be professional and go out and play as best as we can.”
mpuma@nypost.com
Maple Leafs 3 Islanders 1