Empty Tank
Isles let points slip away in Columbus
The Isles are making their way through the Metro with games against the Devils, Rangers, and Jackets and David Rittich has been put in the spotlight with Ilya Sorokin nursing a "nagging injury." Sean & guest co-host Mike Carver talk all about it with some help from Arthur Staple as he calls in to chat with the boys!
Good Morning, Islanders Country.
The Islanders spent most of the night in Columbus doing what tired teams do when they don’t quite have enough left — holding on. First to a lead. Then to a point. And finally, to the hope that somehow, some way, they’d escape with something to show for it.
They didn’t.
You never want to hear the cannon fire in Columbus. You really don’t want to hear it three times in the final five minutes of regulation. That sound doesn’t just announce goals — it announces the end of good intentions. And when it boomed for the third time, what had been a gutsy, grinding effort turned into a 4–2 loss that looks far worse on the scoreboard than it ever did on the ice.
The Islanders gave max effort. No one could reasonably argue otherwise. But effort has limits, and theirs finally ran out — less than 24 hours after an emotional, draining win over the Rangers at UBS Arena, followed by travel and an early start that felt cruel before the puck even dropped.
For a while, it looked like it would be enough. David Rittich was sparkling again, calm and composed, doing everything you ask of a goalie when the legs in front of him start to go. Mathew Barzal played the role of enforcer and stood up for Matthew Schaefer in a way that felt more Mick Vukota or Rich Pilon than playmaking wizard — we’ll see whether it results in a suspension.
But then came the bounce. Then the rare bad goal. Time to cover your ears.
