SUNRISE, Fla. – As the Islanders approach the quarter pole of this thus far forgettable season, amid a five-game road trip that continues tonight against the upstart Lightning and ends at the Garden Saturday afternoon against the Rangers, jobs are on the line.
If the Isles continue to coast, not live up to expectations, win six of every 18 games, the playoffs are out of the question. But if something doesn’t give by the time the Isles return home, management will have no other choice than to shake up this team.
And we’re not talking sending a couple of rookies down to Bridgeport and recalling journeymen or other young players from the farm, as has been the case in previous weeks. We’re talking paint mixer-type shake-ups that would surely involve a trade for the sake of doing something, anything.
Unfortunately, this is not a business where it would be prudent to cut players loose and send them back to where they came from. In addition, the economics of the game have hampered general managers around the league from making trades as they have done before.
Mike Milbury would rather not have to get rid of anyone, but should this road trip serve as only a continuation of the vicious cycle this season has been, he’ll have no choice but to pull the trigger.
The importance of last night’s game here against the Panthers, as well as tonight against the division-leading Bolts and Saturday’s war against the Blueshirts, wasn’t lost on anyone.
“We’re in a situation where now every point is so valuable,” coach Peter Laviolette said.
In the early going, the problem was the goaltending. But lately, the play of Chris Osgood has been up to par and has given the Isles a chance to win games, rather than being the cause for losing some. So the attention was turned to special teams, where the Islanders are among the worst.
“Both have been disappointing this year because special teams plays such an important role,” Laviolette said of the new rules changes that have resulted in more penaltiesThe power play has been predictable, with the world knowing power-play ace Alexei Yashin’s going to get the puck in the left circle. Assistant coach Kelly Miller’s unit has taken too much time to set up and players known for their extra-man tenacity – Shawn Bates, Mark Parrish, Adrian Aucoin and Roman Hamrlik – have not been creative enough to find open teammates and cash in on the plethora of penalties being whistled.
