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New York Islanders

Elvis Silences New York: Islanders Shut Out Again

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Elvis Merzlikins stops Maxim Tsyplakov in tight // AP Photo / Jay LaPrete

The Columbus Blue Jackets (5-3-1) shut out the New York Islanders (3-5-2) on Wednesday night 2-0 in Columbus, Ohio. Damon Severson scored the winning goal by banking a puck off the Islanders’ goaltender, Semyon Varlamov, and into the cage.



Elvis Merzlikins recorded the shutout, denying all 28 shots the Islanders threw at him. Merzlikins had recorded just one shutout in his last 111 appearances. He made some nice saves, including a dandy on Maxim Tsyplakov, who had broken free for a breakaway.

Merzlikins stopped the limited deflections and unscreened shots like Lukas Dostal did for the Anaheim Ducks last night. Ditto for when Alex Lyon did the same for the Detroit Red Wings last week. The teams and goalies change, but the results stay the same.

The level of futility displayed by the Islanders sunk to a whole new low.

Everyone’s read this story. It’s the same story for the Islanders. They largely outplayed an opponent, showed an embarrassing lack of finish, and lost.

The 2024-25 New York Islanders have been shut out more times through 10 games than they’ve won. Mat Barzal has not had a 5v5 point through 10 games, while Bo Horvat has one.

Anders Lee aside, the other five forwards in the bottom six have scored one goal through 10 games. That goal is from Jean-Gabriel Pageau, who scored shorthanded during the season opener.

Since defeating the Colorado Avalanche 6-2 in game three of the season, the Islanders have scored 11 goals in the next seven games. That’s 1.57 goals per game. Of those 11 goals, Horvat, Kyle Palmieri, Anders Lee, and Brock Nelson scored nine. Mat Barzal and Dennis Cholowski scored the only other goals in the last seven games.

Cholowski remains the only Islander defenseman with a goal in the first 10 games of the season.

Head Coach Patrick Roy declared postgame, “It’s a team thing, and we are going to get out of it together.”

Is the Team Panicking?

Results matter in this business. Through 10 games, the Islanders have been a bottom-three team in the east. They currently sit sixth in the metro, 14th in the Eastern Conference, and 27th in the NHL.

Andrew Gross of Newsday reported postgame that the Islanders in the locker room essentially gave the same token quotes they’ve been giving. The team is getting chances, but they’re not going in. The Islanders would be significantly more concerned if the team weren’t controlling play.

Scoring 11 goals in seven games should be a gigantic cause for alarm. But no professional athlete will publicly come out and say there’s panic. However, the frustration is abundantly clear

Roy’s line blenders speak louder than any words can. He broke up Barzal and Horvat before the season’s 10th game even began. This team has absolutely no confidence in the offensive zone and is now gripping their sticks even tighter. At the same time, their head coach has effectively blended in as many different combinations as possible.

There’s no question this team still believes in themselves. It could truly take just one game to turn it around. But, as Roy said after yesterday’s game against the Anaheim Ducks, the team thought they were past the scoring issues when they scored four in New Jersey and three in the first period against the Panthers.

The Islanders’ next game is Friday night in Buffalo against the Sabres. They have played 10 games and lost seven of them. October is now over for the Islanders, who are firmly outside the playoff line.

The longer this team sits on the outside, the louder the chatter grows about pending UFAs Brock Nelson and Kyle Palmieri and their status. It’s early, but with the noise as loud as it’s been in the Lou Lamoriello era, it’s starting to get late for these Islanders.

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T Mac Daddy

Blow it up…Barzal, Nelson…. make them the first to go….

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