If the Islanders ever need a reminder through the rest of this regular season and whatever playoff run they have of how they absolutely cannot play, they provided themselves a prime example in Buffalo.
They concluded a two-game series against the NHL-worst Sabres on Tuesday night at KeyBank Center. It opened with a dispassionate 4-2 loss on Monday night as they blew a two-goal lead against a 28-year-old journeyman goalie making his NHL debut just two nights after the Islanders clinched their third consecutive playoff berth with an emotional 3-0 win over the Rangers at Nassau Coliseum.