The Effort was Good. The Scoreboard was Not.

photo credit:

sports.yahoo.com

Now the tide turns. This is the turning point. The end of a streak. Two great comebacks in one game. An unfortunate loss. Cass it whatever you want, but the Islanders season is about to change. 

After a supreme goaltending effort by Rick DiPietro last Friday against the Devils to end the long losing streak, the Islanders played arguably their best game of the season last night against the Rangers at the Coliseum. Yes, they did lose the game, but look at the positives. 5 different Islanders scored goals, including Zenon Konopka (above, right) who scored his first goal as an Islander. 11 different Islanders had at least 1 point. The Islanders also showed that when they are down, they are not out. Coming back from a deficit of 2-0 early in the game, the Islanders scored 3 goals, including one during the last minute of the first period to give them some momentum going into the second period. After the Islanders scored their third goal, former Islander and current Ranger, Marty Biron was pulled from the game. The Rangers would soon take over the game, or so it would seem. Down 5-3 in the 3rd period, the Islanders got 2 more goals on lucky bounces, the second of which only went about 6 inches behind the goal line and behind Henrik Lundqvist. This sent the Islander fans into a frenzy at the Coliseum. Even though the Islanders got many positives in this game, there are plenty of negatives to make a list. Let's make a list:

• 2 Ranger goals were stupid goals, because they deflected off or Islander players and went in behind Rick DiPietro. 
• Speaking of Rick DiPietro, his save percentage in the game was only .769. That will not win games. Not at any level, not anywhere, not ever. 
• Since DiPietro played so badly in the first game, veteran Dwayne Roloson will get the start in the second game of the home-at-home. 

Let's hope something different happens tonight. The tide is changing. 

Lets Go Islanders!