In 1997, The Wallflowers #1 hit on the Billboard chart was One Headlight. As the song's chorus goes, "Come on try a little, Nothing is forever, Got to be something better than in the middle." Well, after years of success, the New York Islanders find themselves driving with One Headlight, and in this month of adversity, they find themselves in more of oblivion than a crossroads.
The Isles began the month with a shutout win over the Washington Capitals. They took a 3-0 lead over the Carolina Hurricanes at UBS Arena before succumbing to the Canes in Overtime. At the time, there was no need to worry, but since that game, the Islanders have won only once. As Oliver Wahlstrom's shot hit the twine behind Jakob Markstrom in Calgary to end a 0-4-3 skid where the Islanders often led in third period, the Isles fanbase could only have a momentary sense of relief. It's "momentary" because the problems are still there. In that time, the Islanders had the WORST PK in the NHL (55.9%), and Lane Lambert's team has averaged 2.38 goals for and 4.00 goals against. The usually stingy defensive team allowed the fourth most goals allowed in that time next to the rebuilding Montreal Canadiens, the Vasilevskiy-less Tampa Bay Lightning, and the last-place Columbus Blue Jackets. The Islanders completed a four-game West Coast trip 1-1-2, which may look like .500 is okay, but sustained success is far away.
On November 11th, fans chanted, "Fire Lambert" at UBS in a lifeless 4-1 loss to the Washington Capitals (clip from our show above). Long-time Islanders center Casey Cizikas told them to "stay home" in frustration, which has not sat well with fans. The Elmont-based team is counting on their defense and timely goal-scoring to win games. Hell, that's how former coach Barry Trotz got them to two straight Eastern Conference Finals in 2020 and 2021, but Trotz's former assistant Lane Lambert is coaching the Isles now with mediocre results. Today, the Islanders have a 6-6-5 record (17 points) tied with the injury-riddled New Jersey Devils. Sitting at .500 isn't good in a STACKED division like the Metro. The Islanders have till Wednesday to shake off the bad stretch when they begin three games in 4 nights (vs Flyers, at Ottawa, vs Flyers). Simply put, they cannot afford to continue poor play.
One question asked to the BAH podcast recently is, "Can the Islanders have a fire sale?" The short answer is NO. The Islanders have 6 players under contract through 2030, and that doesn't include two players they'll have to re-sign, like 2026 UFA Brock Nelson and 2026 RFA Noah Dobson. There isn't much coming off the cap with UFAs Cal Clutterbuck and Matt Martin coming off the books next year. That's three million dollars and barely a role-playing winger. So, the roster is likely to be the roster for a long time. Has Lane Lambert gotten all he could out of them, or can a new voice in the room revive the players?
There are positives. Unlike years past, the Isles Power Play is scoring. They are currently ranked 11th in the NHL. The Islanders are in the middle of the league in Goals Allowed at 5-on-5. They have a shot if they can play the entire game at that strength. Fortunately, the Islanders are 12th in the NHL in penalties taken...however, it doesn't matter when 44% of those PPs end up in the back of your net. The Islanders have plenty of talent on their roster, with multiple players who scored over 30 goals in a season, but what coach can squeeze more goals out of a team that ranks 29th in the NHL in Goals Scored? Also, many predicted that goaltender Ilya Sorokin would win the Vezina Trophy as the NHL's best goalie. He is NOT a goalie who posts a 3.32 GAA and a .906 save %. Those numbers will improve.
So, where do the Islanders go from here? Fire Lambert? Maybe, but who are they replacing him with? Tank? They can't with a veteran roster made to "win now". Push all in? They shouldn't since they're not a contender. It leaves the Islanders in the middle, and as the song says, "There's got to be something better than in the middle."
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