DIFFERENT SEASON, SAME RESULT
Cleaning crews begin working on the hallways at the Nassau
Memorial Coliseum.
UNIONDALE, NY - Members of the New York Islanders cleaned their lockers for the final time this season after failing to qualify for the playoffs for the second year in a row.
With the 2005-2006 CPHL playoffs set to get under way in a day for the Gretzky Conference, the Islanders cleared their lockers at the Nassau Memorial Coliseum today for the last time this season.
For the second straight year, the New York Islanders will be watching the post-season from their homes, failing to qualify for the playoffs. Last season, the Islanders were eliminated on their very last game, dropping a 5-2 decision to the Calgary Flames, losing the tie-breaker to the Washington Capitals for the 8th and final playoff spot by way of goal-differential, as the Capitals and Islanders were tied with 42 victories each, but the Capitals had the upper-hand in the next determining category with a goal-differential of +13 while the Islanders managed a +11.
This year's version of the Islanders would suffer the same fate at the end of the year finishing with a worse record than the year before and actually finishing below 0.500.
Something must be said though in defence of the team as the outlook was rather dim at the conclusion of last year as players like Steve Yzerman, Vincent Damphousse, Al MacInnis, Dave Andreychuk, Shayne Corson, and Brett Hull -- all of whom were major cogs in the Islanders' arsenal -- contemplated retirement. The only two of the six to remain in the league this season were Steve Yzerman and Dave Andreychuk, who both happened to find new homes with the Calgary Flames out west.
Once those players were subtracted from the roster, along with Eric Daze's perma-injured-reserve status, the Isles' roster was looking extremely thin with the exception of two players in Jason Arnott and Miroslav Satan.
But excuses, as they say, are for losers, and the Islanders made none today as they faced the media with answers to their questions.
"We believed we would make a push for that last spot this season, and we did," said General Manager Kevin Wu. "Unfortunatley, we weren't good enough. This team worked hard, and will be better next October."
So, fans on the Island will have to wait once again till next season before their team will get another shot at the glorious mug that's often cited as being the hardest professional trophy to attain on the planet.
For now, they'll have to just deal with the fact that their rivals just over the bridge are preparing for a first round match up against the Ottawa Senators which begins on Wednesday. Maybe throwing on a Rangers jersey in support might alleviate the pain. But then again, maybe not.
SEASON LEADERS:
Points: Paul Kariya (44G, 39A, 83PTS, +10)
Goals: Paul Kariya (44G)
Assists: Milan Hejduk (50A)
+/-: Milan Hejduk (+12)
PIM: Jiri Hudler (203PIM)