There was nothing deficient – or unexciting – in the effort despite an early two-goal deficit.
But, in a way, this 4-3 loss to the Wild on Sunday night at UBS Arena in which they took a season-high 43 shots reflects the state of the Islanders. Most of this season has been about trying to catch up and, so far, not getting there.
"We’ve just got to make sure we manage the puck and we won’t be chasing it as much," coach Barry Trotz said. "But it might have been our best game of the year. You take away maybe the first five minutes, we were pretty solid.