The New York Islanders have enjoyed a little Bo Horvat trade boost, and there is already evident potential for years of chemistry between the new guy and Mat Barzal. But Thursday’s sloppy loss to the Vancouver Canucks is the kind of slip-up they simply can no longer afford.
True, those times will happen in a long season, as Lane Lambert alluded to yesterday. The problem is the Islanders have already burned through a lot of mulligans this season. They are playing from behind in the wild card race, so nights like that hurt.
Thursday’s loss is also the kind of night that has plagued the team most of the season, even back when they were fully healthy and on the upswing in the first third of the season.