With nearly three weeks of pent-up frustration, the Islanders let it pour out last night.
And then they let out some more. And some more, until finally, the Islanders had securely closed out a demoralizing eight-game losing streak.
Registering their largest offensive output since two seasons ago, the Islanders showed no mercy in striking down the Lightning 7-4 at the Coliseum.
“It’s a huge relief,” said Claude Lapointe, who had a goal and two assists. “We needed a game like this for a while. Everybody knew before the game that this was a must win.”
Especially Butch Goring, whose job security was shrinking as quickly as the Isles’ playoff chances.
“They knew this was an important game,” Goring said.
Perhaps, though, their fans didn’t, as only about 3,000 were on-hand to witness the Isles first win since November 7. They also saw the Isles’ first seven-goal showing since the last game of the ’98-’99 season, a 7-2 win against the Penguins at Pittsburgh.
But even in closing their prolonged losing streak, the Isles (7-11-2-2) still suffered a loss last night when John Vanbiesbrouck did not return after the first period due to a back strain.
The 37-year old goaltender was sent flailing to the ice when he was crashed into by right wing Sheldon Keefe with 3:28 left. Heading full-steam at the net for a rebound, the 5-foot-11, 185-pound Keefe was unable to side-step Vanbiesbrouck, who was slightly out of the crease.
While Keefe got a game-misconduct and a pounding from several Islanders, Vanbiesbrouck played the final 3:28 of the period, before being replaced by Wade Flaherty with a 4-1 lead. After the game, Vanbiesbrouck said his back was stiff, as it was the morning of the game, and he didn’t know his availability for Thursday’s home game against the Maple Leafs.
Depending on Vanbiesbrouck’s condition, the Isles could recall No. 1 draft pick Rick DiPietro from Chicago of the IHL. DiPietro had been called up for one game earlier this season, but didn’t play.
But the Isles would worry about that later. In the meantime, they were reveling in their offensive breakthrough last night. For after scoring just 11 goals during their eight-game streak, the Isles exploded with a four-goal first period, out-shooting the Lightning 18-5. The goal-output matched their season-high for most goals in a period (at Atlanta Oct. 20).
Roman Hamrlik, Lapointe (first in 20 games), Kevin Haller (first of the season) and Dave Scatchard all scored in the first against former Isle Kevin Weekes, who was removed in favor of Dan Cloutier to start the second period.
The Lightning closed its deficit to 4-3 heading into the final period, but just 58 seconds in, Taylor Pyatt scored his first NHL goal, which proved to be the game-winner. Oleg Kvasha and Mark Parrish would inflate the scoring for the Isles.
“It’s still only one win, but it’s a big monkey off our back,” Haller said. “It’s a good way to break out of it.”
Added Parrish, perhaps optimistically, “This could springboard us into an eight-game winning streak.”
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An MRI revealed yesterday that C Mats Lindgren has a dislocated left shoulder and is out indefinitely. Lindgren suffered the injury Friday at Washington. It’s the same shoulder that required surgery last season and sidelined him for the final 38 games. . . . Struggling 37-year old D Garry Galley was a healthy scratch last night. D Aris Brimanis replaced him in the lineup. . . . C Tim Connolly ended a nine-game pointless streak with three assists. . . . The Isles called up D Anders Myrvold from Springfield (AHL), and D Branislav Mezei was sent down to Lowell (AHL).