"In the same way in which it seems the Islanders' season is unraveling, yesterday's Coliseum matinee against the Predators was too little, too late. A 3-0 deficit just 11:37 into the game was enough to bury the offensively challenged Islanders, as they lost 3-1 in front of 10,755.

"I don't think we started slow, I think we mismanaged the puck," said coach Jack Capuano, whose team (16-21-6) has now dropped four of its past six and whose slim hope at making a run at the playoffs has just about disintegrated.

"The first two goals came off turnovers," Capuano said about opening scores by Sergei Kostitsyn and Matt Halischuk, coming on the Predators' first two shots of the game within the first six minutes. "You turn the puck over and it's in the back of your net.""