With a chance to grab a 3-2 series lead and put themselves on the cusp of a Stanley Cup berth, the Islanders instead turned in an all-time flop.
In what was the most lopsided playoff loss in franchise history, New York now limps back to Nassau Coliseum hoping to avoid being bounced by the Lightning in game six for the second straight season, while also trying to put Monday night’s 8-0 beatdown behind them in a hurry.
“The game, the result, how we played, if that doesn’t motivate us, then I’m not too sure what will,” head coach Barry Trotz said. “There’s nothing I can say that will motivate them. We’ve just got to man up.”
Trotz did say something to his team after game five, reminding them that the series is not over, and it will take a much better effort at home to keep the season alive and force a decisive game seven.
“This wasn’t our best game, we have to have our best game, and we have to earn the right to keep playing now,” Trotz said. “I’ve been with this group a long time, I know the character of this group, and we’ll be ready.”
As for the lopsidedness of Monday’s loss, the Islanders don’t feel it will have any extra carryover, and hope the support of the Nassau Coliseum crowd will help avoid another first period collapse like the one they suffered in game five, falling into a quick 3-0 hole to seemingly end the game before it could ever get going.
“A loss is a loss this time of year,” Kyle Palmieri said. “Whether it was in double overtime or the way it went tonight. We’ll make up tomorrow down 3-2 heading home with our backs against the wall. But we’ve got a chance to win a game at home. That’s all we’re focused on now.”
A loss like game five is one many Islanders fans will desperately try and forget, but regardless of the margin of defeat, the series still remains the same. New York has to win at home to save its season, and if it replicated its performance on Monday, it will have no shot at survival.
“It was just one of those nights,” Trotz said. “It was one of those nights where we couldn’t do anything right…it was a tough one…but at the end of the day, we’re going back home, it’s 3-2, and we just have to focus on earning the right to keep playing.”
Follow Ryan Chichester on Twitter: @ryanchichester1
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