TAMPA, Fla. — The Islanders’ performance on Saturday brought to mind Cal Clutterbuck’s words on MSG’s postgame show Thursday night, after a similarly lacking performance against Vancouver.
“What’s surprising to me is [coach Patrick Roy] mentions details sort of in a passing way,” Clutterbuck, who played for the Islanders as recently as last year, said. “And I think this time of year, that’s what wins you hockey games.”
The Islanders teams that went to consecutive conference finals — which is to say the Islanders under Barry Trotz — were “detail-oriented,” Clutterbuck pointed out.
Forty-eight hours later and he looked prophetic.
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The Islanders approached details on Saturday as if they had the talent and playoff odds of the Lightning, for whom the only jeopardy left is in their first-round opponent.
They finally showed up to put forth a valiant comeback effort in the third period, but a lacking first 40 minutes left the Islanders 5-3 losers to Tampa on Saturday at Amalie Arena.
With four straight defeats, the last two in regulation, you can officially say the Islanders are in trouble, the glow of a miniature three-game winning streak having worn off.
No one seems interested in grabbing hold of the last wild-card spot, so it’s not as disastrous as it could be.
Neither was the final score of this one, which looked on pace for a blowout before a third-period surge of Islanders scoring cut a 4-0 deficit to 4-3 over a three-minute span.