The record says it, the standings say it and the Islanders’ play on the ice Monday shouted it to the pinwheel ceiling at Madison Square Garden: Sell, sell, sell.
This was not just a four-point game in the standings, but a critical moment with just two games out from the deadline for the team to prove it is worth keeping together.
And the Islanders put up a feeble 60 minutes in getting blown out for the second time in the span of a week by the Rangers, this time 4-0.
If that is not a message, shouting in bold, block letters to Lou Lamoriello, then nothing is.
“I think as a group we’re disappointed in ourselves,” said Kyle Palmieri, who could be someplace else by Friday if the Islanders indeed choose to sell. “What kind of message that sends to whoever it is, we’re the guys in the room that control it. Get ourselves ready and find a way to get back home tomorrow, get it back rolling in the other direction.”
After Anders Lee’s apparent first-period goal was overturned for offside, there was no energy or emotion coming from the group.
They drifted through the next 48 minutes, going 0-for-3 on the power play while being shut out for the seventh time this season.
Coach Patrick Roy’s decision to go 11 and 7 in response to the Isles being shoved around the crease last week by Matt Rempe looked like a major overcorrection, but this had a lot more to do with the players than the head coach.
Allegedly, this was a big game.
You would not have known by watching.
Brock Nelson, who became just the fifth player in Islander history to play 900 games, might well be skating for the final time in blue and orange on Tuesday at home against Winnipeg.
Prior to this one, he was appropriately sentimental, but when it came to his own future, purposely vague.
A few weeks ago in Montreal, he didn’t give a direct answer to the question of what he wants.
Does he know the answer, even if he won’t say?
“It all depends,” Nelson said. “I think I said there, too, everyone wants just an easy answer. Doesn’t always work out that way.
“I’ve loved playing here — I love playing here. I’m still playing here. Until somebody tells me differently, I’m just worried about playing and making a difference in the games.”
That past tense slip of the tongue was as close as Nelson got Monday to offering anything to read into on his preferences.
This is not, however, merely about Nelson’s preferences.
It is, in the main, about what’s best for the Islanders.
And on that front, it is nearly impossible to look at Monday’s performance as anything other than an indictment of the current group, just like it is nearly impossible to look at the standings and see a path to a playoff run.
The message was loud and clear at the Garden.
Was Lamoriello listening?
