Wade Dubielewicz could have changed his name to “Rusty” last night, but the Islanders’ backup goalie deserves exoneration: His entire team was disjointed.
Considering the Thrashers entered the Nassau Coliseum having allowed the second-most goals in the league, the Islanders’ 4-0 loss rated as a low point of the season.
Not only were the Islanders (13-10-1) shut out for the first time this season, it came with Atlanta’s backup goalie, Kari Lehtonen, in net. Lehtonen stopped 30 shots, helping the Thrashers (12-13) snap a three-game losing streak.
With Rick DiPietro resting after 18 straight starts, Dubielewicz made his first start in goal since Oct. 11 and never really gave the Islanders a chance, surrendering four first-period goals. Good night, everybody.
“I got rattled a little bit out there,” Dubielewicz said. “It’s tough to calm yourself down when you’re playing only once in a while . . . when you’re trying to impress the coaching staff so they’re comfortable putting you out there.”
But the Islanders’ biggest problem remains on the offensive end. Last night marked the 12th straight game in which they scored two goals or fewer in regulation. Somehow, the Islanders have managed a 5-6-1 record over that stretch.
“We’re getting a lot of outside chances,” center Mike Sillinger said. “We’re not getting a lot of second and third chances, and that’s how you score in this league.”
It couldn’t have started much worse for the Islanders, who surrendered three goals before they had even recorded their first shot on goal.
Ilya Kovalchuk fired a shot past Dubielewicz just 34 seconds into the game for his NHL-leading 21st goal. The Thrashers struck again 5½ minutes later, with Eric Boulton tipping in a rebound for his first goal of the season. Atlanta’s lead reached 3-0 on Marian Hossa’s breakaway goal just 7:02 into the game.
Sean Bergenheim was called for hooking midway through the period, but the Islanders killed the penalty and appeared to have some momentum heading toward the first intermission. That was until Vyacheslav Kozlov put a wrist shot past Dubielewicz with just 13 seconds remaining in the period.
“We really let [Dubielewicz] down, and there’s no excuse for that,” defenseman Brendan Witt said. “This was a team we could have beaten tonight and we didn’t show up.”