MONTREAL — The Islanders opponents have raised their games, and they have gotten worse.
That’s troublesome.
After a second straight brutal loss, this one 4-0 at the hands of the Canadiens on Thursday night, the Islanders have been shut out in consecutive games for the first time since November 2011.
Superlative Montreal netminder Carey Price hardly needed to be superhuman, making 28 saves to pick up his fourth shutout of the season.
There is an understanding from the Islanders that they need to raise their level at this time of year, but it’s not happening.