Chateau bowwow

According to official statistics, Alexei Yashin did not play after his third period penalty. The penalty led to Ottawa's tying goal at 4:06 of the third period. Arron Asham did not see the ice in the first half of the third period after taking a coincidental penalty late in the second period.

NYI: Sad but true

For the second time this week, the Islanders lost in regulation time a game that they led heading to the third period. Their previous losses [in regulation] after leading after two periods came on: December 21, 2002 [Washington] and January 6, 2001 [Phoenix]. Thus, the Isles have gone pointless in two games they led after two periods in a three game stretch after having only done that once in the previous 322 games. The Isles have lost three games in the last five weeks that they led after two periods [counting their shootout loss on November 23 to Buffalo] That's three times in sixteen games after having lost only three times in the previous 309 games. [In addition to the games above, they lost in overtime to Pittsburgh on January 24, 2002.] The Isles finish December 5-6-1; it's their first losing December since 2001. They are below .500 at New Year's for the first time since 2000. It's only the second time in Islander history that they've ended December with a losing streak of at least 4 games. In 1997, the Rick Bowness-led Isles lost the final five games, and then book-ended it by losing the first five games of 1998. By early March of that season, Bowness was history too. Happy New Year to all!

It's been a long time since the Isles allowed this many goals...

The Isles have earned 0 points in the standings over three straight games for the first time in over a season, [7 straight in Nov/Dec 2003] and have allowed alot of goals doing so. [They lost four straight March, 2004, but one of those losses were in overtime] Tonight marked the fifth time this season and the tenth times in the Stirling regime that they have lost by at least four goals. Isles have allowed 27 goals in five games. It's the first time since Feb-Mar 1996 that they've allowed at least 27: 27-Feb-96 Vs Detroit 2 6 L 29-Feb-96 @ Detroit 1 5 L 1-Mar-96 @ New Jersey 2 6 L 3-Mar-96 Vs Winnipeg 5 7 L 5-Mar-96 Vs Boston 5 3 W

They haven't allowed more than 27 in a 5-game period since 1991-92: [28] 26-Dec-91 VsNew Jersey 5 5 T 28-Dec-91 Vs New York 5 4 W 29-Dec-91 @ Hartford 4 6 L 1-Jan-92 @ Washington 5 8 L 3-Jan-92 @ Buffalo2 5 L

Isles have allowed 31 goals in six games. It's the first time since Feb-March 1996 that they've allowed at least 31: 27-Feb-96 Vs Detroit 2 6 L 29-Feb-96 @ Detroit 1 5 L 1-Mar-96 @ New Jersey 2 6 L 3-Mar-96 Vs Winnipeg 5 7 L 5-Mar-96 Vs Boston 5 3 W 7-Mar-96 @ Boston 3 4 L They last allowed more than 31 over six during their last playoff-series winning season: [32] 7-Nov-92 Vs Tampa Bay 5 6 Lot 12-Nov-92 @ Philadelphia 5 8 L 14-Nov-92 Vs Buffalo 7 5 W 19-Nov-92 @ Boston 2 5 L 21-Nov-92 @ Calgary 4 3 W 22-Nov-92 @ Edmonton 5 5 T

They've allowed 35 in last 7 games -- first time since 1992-93: 12-Nov-92 @ Philadelphia 5 8 L 14-Nov-92 Vs Buffalo 7 5 W 19-Nov-92 @ Boston 2 5 L 21-Nov-92 @ Calgary 4 3 W 22-Nov-92 @ Edmonton 5 5 T 24-Nov-92 @ Winnipeg 3 3 T 27-Nov-92 @ Philadelphia 3 6 L They last allowed more goals in 7 games [38] in 1991-92 21-Dec-91 @ St. Louis 2 6 L 23-Dec-91 Vs Pittsburgh 3 6 L 26-Dec-91 VsNew Jersey 5 5 T 28-Dec-91 Vs New York 5 4 W 29-Dec-91 @ Hartford 4 6 L 1-Jan-92 @ Washington 5 8 L 3-Jan-92 @ Buffalo2 5 L

As bad as it's been, it's been worse: All-time Islander records: ----------------------------------- Most goals allowed --5 game stretch: 33 [in the first five road games in Islander history] 29-Oct-72 @ Boston 1 9 1-Nov-72 @ California 6 2 3-Nov-72 @ Vancouver 2 7 4-Nov-72 @ Los Angeles 2 9 8-Nov-72 @ Chicago 1 6 Most goals allowed --6 game stretch: 37, also in 1972-73 28-Oct-72 Vs Chicago 4 4 29-Oct-72 @ Boston 1 9 1-Nov-72 @ California 6 2 3-Nov-72 @ Vancouver 2 7 4-Nov-72 @ Los Angeles 2 9 8-Nov-72 @ Chicago 1 6

Most goals allowed --7 game stretch: 43 [twice in 1972-73] 29-Oct-72 @ Boston 1 9 1-Nov-72 @ California 6 2 3-Nov-72 @ Vancouver 2 7 4-Nov-72 @ Los Angeles 2 9 8-Nov-72 @ Chicago 1 6 11-Nov-72 @ Minnesota 0 3 14-Nov-72 Vs Montreal 2 7

and 3-Nov-72 @ Vancouver 2 7 4-Nov-72 @ Los Angeles 2 9 8-Nov-72 @ Chicago 1 6 11-Nov-72 @ Minnesota 0 3 14-Nov-72 Vs Montreal 2 7 16-Nov-72 @ Atlanta 0 4 18-Nov-72 Vs Boston 3 7

Assault on the record books

The Isles’ 9-6 loss in Toronto tonight produced a number of notations for the Islander record book: 

• 2 players with their first NHL/NYI goal: Godard and Collins 
• 3 PP goals in the first period –tying the club record set ten previous times, but not since 1996 
• 2 SH goals allowed in the second period-- tying the club record set three previous times, but not since 1996 
•  The eight first period goals were one short of the combined two-team record – 9 done on March 12, 1985 against St. Louis (2nd period) and November 23, 1988 against Washington (also 2nd period).
•  The Isles allowed at least seven goals for the first time since December 23, 2000 vs. Columbus 
• The Isles allowed at least eight goals for the first time since March 24, 2000 vs. New Jersey [ironically the night Larry Robinson became the Devils head coach for the first time] 
• The Isles allowed at least nine goals for the first time since December 30, 1999 at Pittsburgh [9-3 loss] 
• The Isles allowed at least seven goals on the road for the first time since December 30, 1999 at Pittsburgh [9-3 loss] 
• The Isles allowed at least eight goals on the road for the first time since December 30, 1999 at Pittsburgh [9-3 loss] 
•  The Isles allowed at least nine goals on the road for the first time since December 30, 1999 at Pittsburgh [9-3 loss] 
•  The teams combined for at least eleven goals for the first time since March 25, 2003 at Chicago [9-2 win] 
• The teams combined for at least twelve goals for the first time since January 3, 2003 at Boston [8-4 win] 
• The teams combined for at least thirteen goals for the first time since February 28, 1993 at Hartford [7-6 ot win] 
• The teams combined for at least fourteen goals for the first time since December 10, 1991 at St. Louis [7-7 tie]
• The teams combined for at least fifteen goals for the first time since April 6, 1986 at New Jersey [9-7 loss] 
• The Isles scored at least five goals and lost for the first time since December 23, 2000 vs. Columbus [7-5 loss], ending a 52-game unbeaten streak when scoring at least five [50-0-2] 
• The Isles scored at least six goals and lost for the first time since October 15, 1991 vs. Pittsburgh [7-6 ot loss], ending a 76-game unbeaten streak when scoring at least five [74-0-2] 
•  The Isles scored at least six goals on the road and lost for the first time since November 23, 1988 vs. Washington [7-6 loss]. It’s only the sixth time in Isles history that they’ve scored at least six goals in a road loss.

Trivia/Road Warriors

Who was the last Islander to record a six-point game? Pat LaFontaine -- February 6, 1990 @ Pittsburgh [3 goals, 3 assists in the only 8-7 game the Islanders have ever played -- Don Maloney won it in overtime] _______________________________________________ Road Warriors: The Isles now have 18 points [in 16 games] on the road and 11 points [in 11 games] at home. It's only the second time since 83-84 [the "Drive for Five" season] that the Isles have this many points through 16 road games -- they had 20 in Laviolette's first season. They've won four straight on the road for the first time since they opened the 2001-02 season 6-0 on the road. If the Isles win in Columbus, they'll have 9 more points on the road than at home for only the second time in their history -- In 2001-02, they opened with 4 road wins, lost in OT at home to Detroit and then won in Carolina -- to give them 10 points on the road and only one at home.