Isles Lose 4-3 to Caps

Well, yet another squandered lead with the Islanders going into the final minutes of the third period thinking they had it in the bag.

Unfortunately, this is the exact calling card of a young team and we've been seeing it all season. Play just hard enough to earn some kudos, make it a game, make the other team say, "wow, not a bad job," but then lose control when the other more talented team turns it up a notch when the time on the clock starts to make them feel desperate. It stinks, but its nothing new in hockey.

Here's one positive. Lines 2 and 3, the Nielsen and Bailey line, were responsible for the two goals tonight, while the Tavares line, which had been carrying the team on its back on the scoresheet up until they were split up, were held pointless. Its good to see some sign of life from lines 2 and 3, I think Nielsen definitely helps the cause. And I don't expect the Tavares line to be held quiet for too long.

I also think goalies Dwayne Roloson and Martin Biron need to step it up a notch. No one is expecting them to be superheroes, but when a team has a decent lead well into the final period, a good goalie will always make some enormous saves to help preserve the win. Roloson and Biron are good goalies. They need to play like it. They need to make those one or two highway robbery saves that makes everyone say "Wow, he saved the game right there!"