Panthers 5, Islanders 1: Well that wasn’t very fun

Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images What it feels like to give up 11 goals in 2 gamesCan we go back to the playoffs? Those were more fun. In two games this season, against foes we haven’t seen since the 2019-20 season, the Islanders have given up 11 goals and scored just 4. Ilya Sorokin has struggled, the defense has struggled, and the offense, especially the power play, has struggled.

It’s not all doom and gloom though. The Isles are relying heavily on Sorokin now, but Varlamov should hopefully be back soon and able to pick up the slack. The newly constructed Barzal line has looked good so far. Matt Martin is still out, so TBFLIH is incomplete, but he should be back soon to help that line…