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Good Morning, Islanders Country.
You knew. When you found out Ottawa was starting a goalie making his NHL debut, you knew. When the Isles were given another chance to win the game on the power play in OT, you knew. When they went to the shootout, you really knew.
Kevin Mandolese, the 22-year-old goaltender that started the season in the ECHL, made 46 saves in his NHL debut, surprising absolutely no one that follows this team with any regularity. More on that performance a bit later.
It wasn’t about shot volume. Noah Dobson finished with a career-high eight shots on goals and nineteen attempts, which is the most by any NHL defenseman this season. The Islanders generated enough opportunities throughout the game, and they were given a repeat opportunity in overtime with another 4-on-3 power play that somehow looked worse than it did vs. Montreal.
This whole stretch has been a repeat opportunity. The teams ahead and around the Islanders haven’t created much separation in recent weeks. Three times they had a chance to leap Pittsburgh or Washington, and each time came up short.
Every game is categorized as a ‘must win,’ but how many ‘must wins’ does this team have left when you don’t win the ‘must wins’?
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