Isles lose Hunter and Weight before squandering 3 goal lead

October 11, 3:26 AMNew York Islanders ExaminerLee Forman

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AP Photo/Michael Dwyer

It feels like the 2009-10 New York Islanders are drastically similar to the 2008-09 version.  Two tribulations the organization failed to limit a year ago, injuries and coughing up third period leads, both made a return appearance Saturday in Boston. 

News came out Saturday morning that the Islanders will be without second line RW Trent Hunter for 2-4 weeks.  The veteran forward spent time on the shelf during the preseason with a strained pectoral muscle but returned to play in the season opener.  It is unclear if the original diagnosis was incorrect or if the injury was further damaged in Ottawa, but a Friday MRI revealed a tear of that muscle. 

Now, from one player who may have come back prematurely to one that surely did: Doug Weight.  The team captain missed two weeks of preseason action, as well as the regular season opener, on account of a strained groin.  Weight was cleared to return versus Ottawa Thursday, and registered an assist in just over 18 minutes of ice time.  It was reported Saturday afternoon that the injury had been re-aggravated and that the team leader would not suit up for the game.  Consider Weight day-to-day for now, but highly unlikely to be in the line-up Monday afternoon against the Los Angeles Kings. 

Scott Gordon's team played a strong first two periods and built a three goal lead thanks to tallies from Jon Sim, Radek Martinek, and John Tavares.  All Islander scoring came in the second period, but at that point it seemed to be enough to hold off the flat Boston Bruins.  

Marc Savard finally put his team on the board with just eight minutes left in regulation, and the unraveling was under way.  Less than four minutes later,  Freddy Meyer had the puck deflect off his skate and past Dwayne Roloson to make it 3-2.  Not even two minutes would elapse before Boston tied the game on shot from the point that was deflected on its way in.  In all, three goals in five minutes and thirty-seven seconds. 

New York dropped their third straight decision, all of which have required extra time.  Rob Schremp was the only Islander to score in the shootout, as both Richard Park and Kyle Okposo failed to convert.  Gordon needs to figure out how to get his team to play a complete 60 minute game, perhaps it will be Monday.