Isles Fall in Ottawa as Trade Deadline Looms

The New York Islanders lost to the Ottawa Senators in Kanata, Ontario on Sunday by a score of 5-2. After starting off extremely well with a John Tavares goal just 49 seconds into the game, the Isles gave up three unanswered goals and could not come back.

The game keeps the Islanders eight points back of the final playoff spot, but with such little time in the season, a comeback seems almost impossible. Because of that, Garth Snow's trade deadline strategy may have become a little clearer. The Islanders enter Monday's trade deadline with some tough decisions to make on unrestricted free agents such as Mark Eaton, Milan Jurcina, Evgeni Nabokov, PA Parenteau, and Steve Staios. They will undoubtedly be looking to sell more than buy, but Snow's MO has always been to stand pat unless he gets the most optimal offer.

Sunday's game brought some changes to the lineup, with David Ullstrom taking the place of the recently waived Brian Rolston, and Mike Mottau subbing in for the mildly injured Steve Staios. Ullstrom fit in just fine playing on a checking line with Matt Martin and Casey Cizikas, a line that could easily be looked at as the 2012-13 fourth line. They provide size, speed, skill, two-way play, and some grit. All in all, it's a good complement of style and skill, which could lead to a very productive fourth line soon.

Mottau did not have the same luck, as a backhanded clear up the middle lead directly to an Ottawa goal, giving them a 3-1 lead, which proved insurmountable for the goal-challenged Islanders.

Once again, the Islanders did not receive any scoring outside of the first line. Without structure and any form of systematic strategy, many Islander players seem confused and lost. Jack Capuano has not made many adjustments in his gameplans, and the team panics and crumbles when the other team finds their legs. Capuano has been resistant to changing his lines as well, assuming that old chemistry will magically reform, turning Kyle Okposo and Michael Grabner into the players they have been in the past. With the team all but out of the playoff race, the time may have come to experiment a little with the lines. Maybe Kyle Okposo is best served with John Tavares. We know PA Parenteau can play with Frans Nielsen, but a bigger body on their left wing would help - maybe David Ullstrom deserves a look there. The time to try and accurately evaluate the players on this team needs to be looked at now, so needs can be identified for improvement either at the deadline or over the summer.

Failure to adjust and adapt leaves the Islanders spinning in circles, or worse, moving backwards as another season winds down. And that is what is most unacceptable of all.