A Different Team

With the 2008-09 season coming to a close, the New York Islanders can soon put this nightmare of a season behind them. They are currently last in the NHL in overall points, and are likely to secure a top two draft pick this year. This season has been one of slight ups and extreme downs, frustrating losses, and injuries galore. It seems that nobody is off limits when it comes to being bitten by the injury bug, including rookie phenom Kyle Okposo and defenseman Mark Streit. The duo, clearly the Isles best two players, recently went down with "lower body injuries", and are likely to miss the rest of the season, leaving the rest of the team in disarray and struggling for the identity they need.

The injuries to Streit and Okposo has led to a few open spots on the team. For the game Saturday night against the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Islanders called up youngsters Jesse Joensuu, Mike Iggulden, and Mitch Fritz. The Islanders, with 10 players from Saturday's game playing some time in Bridgeport this year, looked and played like an AHL team. However, the Tampa Bay Lightning, who are missing their star center Vincent Lecavalier, played even worse. The end result was probably the ugliest Islanders win of the season, a two one victory, which for the most part, put the crowd to sleep.

A gme like this can be looked at as something good for the Isles' future. Okposo, who got off to a slow start, but since January has been stellar, was sorely missed out on the ice. His strong skating was clearly absent. The lack of skill from the point on the power play was apparent in his absence. The team looked as if they had no identity.

This is what Okposo bring to the table every game; grit, determination, skill, and power. In short, Okposo is the face of the franchise.