From this point forward, it’s going to be the little things that keep the Islanders afloat.
And they weren’t able to come up with enough of them as they lost to the Flames, 3-1, Tuesday night at the Coliseum.
“One thing that we’re going to talk to our group about, this is playoff hockey,” coach Barry Trotz said before the game.
The Islanders (36-19-7) were coming off Monday’s trade deadline having not made any moves, which team president Lou Lamoriello considered a testament to the team that had exceeded all expectations and remained in first place in the Metropolitan Division by virtue of holding two games in hand on the Capitals.