The Islanders chased the game from the opening puck, often pinned in their own zone and giving up too much time and space as they were disorganized defensively. Yet they were still weak enough to draw level with the more dangerous Metropolitan Division leaders Rangers midway through the second period, although they always looked a step behind.
Suddenly, it felt good to plan about a month ahead and wonder if that long-desired playoff series between the New York rivals was finally on offer. Madison Square Garden was buzzing for a St. Patrick’s matinee. The postseason in April would be better.
Pffffttt. The air appeared to be out of that bubble after the Rangers turned it up even more in the third period and the Islanders had no extra gear to go down 5-2.
“The energy was good,” Rangers coach Peter Laviolette said of the raucous sellout crowd of 18,006. “Probably the New York rivalry. Probably the funny hats they wear. And then any drink that can go with them. But there was definitely some juice in the building.
The Islanders lost their fourth straight (0-3-1), two-thirds of the way to snapping a season-high six-game winning streak that preceded that slump, while the Rangers, playing on back-to-back days just as the visitors have won two straight won five out of six.
“It’s got to be better,” Islanders defenseman Noah Dobson said. “The last few games here have not been enough at all. We all know where we are. The desperation level should be as high as possible at this time of year and in our situation. We’ve been fighting all year to get back into the picture and we can’t just let this opportunity pass. I think it’s just gut check time for everyone.
The Islanders are still in playoff contention for third place in the Metropolitan Division or the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference. But that’s mainly because neither they nor the Flyers, Red Wings, Capitals or Sabers — the other teams in the mix — are particularly good either.
“We know what time of year it is, how important these games are,” Islanders right wing Kyle Palmieri said. “Talking is one thing. You can’t get into the playoffs with conversations. I think we, realistically, just have to look in the mirror and point the ball the other way.”
The Islanders and Rangers could meet in the first round if the Rangers can finish first in the division and the Islanders are the right matchup as a wild card opponent. Or if the Hurricanes pass the Rangers for first place and the Islanders pass the Flyers for third.
The teams haven’t met in the playoffs since 1994, when the Rangers’ first-round victory over the Islanders, powered by Ron Hextall, sparked the franchise’s only Stanley Cup between 1940 and now.
The Rangers won the first two games of a four-game regular-season series with the Islanders after a 6-5 overtime win at MetLife Stadium on Feb. 18 in their Stadium Series showcase. The Islanders led 4-1 in the second period and 5-3 in the third period before Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider made it six on four power play goals at 15:52 and 18:31 of the third period, respectively.
There was much less drama in the Electric Garden on Sunday. Right now the Rangers are good, the Islanders are not good enough.
Beau Horvath’s second goal tied the game at 2-2 at 13:55 of the third period, but Johnny Brodzinski deflected defenseman K’Andre Miller’s shot from the left circle over the pads of goaltender Ilya Sorokin for the winner at 15:01 of the second period.
Later, in a quiet corner of the loser’s locker room, dejected defenseman Alexander Romanov was asked to explain why the Islanders seemed so disjointed. The defense pairings alternated throughout the game, but Romanov was on the ice for four of the Rangers’ goals.
“I remember four goals I gave up tonight,” Romanov told Newsday. “This is embarrassing. Mistakes cannot be repeated. It’s just like junior hockey.”
Romanov was quick to clarify that his “junior hockey” comment was solely about his game, not his teammates.
Still, the truth is, with 15 games remaining, the Islanders just aren’t good enough right now.
