Through 11 games of the 2023-24 Islanders campaign, the team holds a record of 5-3-3, which doesn’t seem all that bad on the surface, but the Islanders have left a handful of points out on the table, specifically on home ice through the young season.
In each of the team’s five losses this season on home ice, they have led at some point in the game but would only go on to earn one point or less by the final horn.
Blowing 3rd period leads was not a frequent occurrence under Barry Trotz, but under Lane Lambert, it has happened awfully too much, and now five times through 11 contests so far this season.
The worst of these blown lead losses occurred this past Saturday when the Isles led the Carolina Hurricanes 3-0 through two periods. The Canes would go on to score three in the third, and Sebastian Aho (CAR) would eventually find the OT winner to complete the Canes’ comeback and hand the Isles an embarrassing loss.
Lane Lambert was left motionless through that 3rd period, and fans were calling for his head for a 3rd time this season.
Three nights later, the Islanders would blow another lead while Lambert was out-coached at home by the Wild’s Dean Evason.
Through 11 games the Islanders have handed away at least four points by losing games on home ice in which at one point, they led. Team discipline has been horrible, and the Islanders have spent way too much time in the penalty box.
Not to mention, the Islanders goal differential in the third period and overtime is -8.
The wrath has come down on Lambert as he is the man in charge, and his team is just simply giving away games without a thought.
So, is Lane Lambert’s job in jeopardy?
The Islanders will be in Boston to take on the red-hot B’s on Thursday night.
ITR 47: Then There Was Nothing – Inside The Rink
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