New York Islanders (11-21-4, 26 pts): While no one expected the Islanders to be in the running for the Stanley Cup in 2009, one would be hard pressed to find someone to predict they would be doing this poorly. The loss of goalie Rick DiPietro’s services for the first half of the season was apparently all it took to demoralize this squad. The fact that fill-in goaltender Joey Macdonald has been forced to make more saves than any other keeper in the league hasn’t helped. 
The Islanders haven’t performed well in any area so far this season, aside from scoring a few shorthanded goals. While their 8 shorthanded markers rank them 2nd in that category, when your team still has the 2nd worst defense in the league, it will take more than a few goals with a man down to turn the tide. Veterans Bill Guerin (13-13-26) and Doug Weight (7-22-29) are doing their best to lead the way offensively, but they aren’t getting much help up front. Defenseman Mark Streit (7-20-7)was picked up to help spark the offense, not be the team’s second leading point scorer. While no one is complaining that he keeps putting points on the board, at least one or two of the forwards sitting at the other end of the bench need to get going if the Islanders want to be anything more than a doormat the rest of the way.
The return of Rick DiPietro should certainly help this struggling defense, but Joey Macdonald is getting a bad rap because of circumstances out of his control. The youngster was thrust into an unexpected situation, and despite the fact that he has made the most saves in the league, he has still posted a 3.19 GAA. All that points to is a defense that can’t get out of its own way or get the puck out of their own end. When four of the team’s top defensemen have plus/minus ratings under -10, something drastically needs to change. Unfortunately, unless DiPietro is ready to stand on his head every night, the Islanders will be nothing more than an afterthought for the rest of the season.
Current League Rankings
Goals - 25th Goals Against - 29th Powerplay Goals - 17th Powerplay Percentage - 16th Shorthanded Goals - 2nd Penalty kill percentage - 19th
