Ted Nolan has shifted lines and changed personnel. And still, the Islanders just can’t score.
For the 13th consecutive time, the Isles failed to get more than two goals in a game. And while they rode Rick DiPietro to a few wins early in that stretch, after last night’s 3-1 loss to the Bruins, the Islanders have dropped three straight as they hit the road for four in a row.
“What’s wrong with the offense?” said Nolan, who put the recently recalled Jeff Tambellini on the first line and scratched Bruno Gervais. “A lot.”
The Isles gave away approximately 1,500 tickets to kids under 16 last night at Nassau Coliseum. Hopefully, they didn’t come to see a lot of action.
One game after being shut out, it took the Isles until 18:09 of the third before Chris Campoli finally got them on the board, notching only the Isles’ sixth power-play goal in their last 66 chances.
“We got a power-play goal,” Bill Guerin said. “Campy shot the puck and it went in. Amazing.”
But even that came too late, as Boston had the game well in hand by then.
“We all wish it happened a little earlier,” Guerin said. “I guess it’s baby steps.”
The Isles will need more than that to turn around this season that began with such promise. They surrendered two power-play goals, and worse, practically gave Boston its second goal when Andy Sutton whiffed trying to clear the puck and former Islander Petteri Nokelainen capitalized.
“I shouldn’t be making those [plays] at this point in my career,” Sutton said.
That miscue came after Glen Murray put the Bruins up 1-0, while Chuck Kobasew all but iced it with another goal at 16:35 of the third. That was more than enough for Tim Thomas, who made 33 saves, joining a growing list of goalies who are padding their stats against the Islanders.
And the Isles can’t figure out why. A win would certainly help the Islanders erase the memory of their recent play. And a few goals.