Killer B's keep Isles winless

Another game, another overtime bout and another loss for the Islanders. They started off strong against one of the Eastern Conference's top teams, but Long Island's gang had a terrible finish and was forced to play into overtime and lost again, for the third time this season in three games.

In her Newsday blog "Isles Files," Islanders beat writer Katie Strang had some interesting quotes from the team about the latest loss. They're optimistic to say the least.

"Where it was eight minutes this year," head coach Scott Gordon said about how long the mishaps took place, "it would've been 45 minutes last year. And worse."

Team captain Doug Weight said he and his teammates visualized an attack on the fight home, which involves aggressive forechecking, backchecking hard up the middle and smart decisions with the puck in the offensive zone, Strang wrote.

They may be losses, but the Isles did grab three points in three games. It's better than getting creamed 5-0 and losing in the first period.

Another close battle

There's something about the Senators that makes me nervous. Ever since I was younger and the Islanders went years it seems without beating the boys from the North, I've had a sour taste in my mouth. So much that losing to them now is just a numbing experience. I'm indifferent about playing them today.

Last night, however, things changed. Down 2-0 and looking like the Islanders of old in the second period, Kyle Okposo, the young and brazen leader of this team, scored his first goal of the season. Matt Moulson tied the game at 2 in the third period and the Isles escaped regulation with a tie for the second time this year.

Ottawa's Mike Fisher scored just 32 seconds into overtime to leave the game with a 3-2 outcome.

It shows that the Islanders are willing to battle and stretch the ice, to protect with a deficit and be conservative with a tie. If they are playing this poised at such a callow point in the season, then in time good things will come.

Notes:

-Doug Weight made his season debut

-Martin Biron started in net for the first time this year

-Rookie John Tavares had an assist on the game-tying goal (1g, 2a for the year)

Isles weak by NHL.com preview standards

The NHL.com staff has been previewing teams for the past couple of weeks and when it came time for the Islanders to get some love - they got anything but that. Could you expect less? No, because that's how bad they really are.

The Isles were almost dead last in all major offensive categories in the Eastern Conference last season. Writing previews that hold John Taveres on a pedestal is nice for the fans, giving them hope for the future, but will he really make a difference? Let's hope so Islanders faithful.

The Canadian scoring prodigy, who broke Gretzky's records at one point in junior hockey, has the weight of the world on him - and that's no pun since Doug Weight has been his mentor with the Isles through training camp.

The Isles need to improve on face-off percentage, road wins, defensive scoring, power play and penalty kill efficiency, and just about everything in between. With thousands of tickets still available for the season-opener this Saturday against the Penguins, nothing has really changed on the island. The Lighthouse hasn't been agreed upon, the Islanders are still the bottom-feeders of the NHL and John Tavares hasn't done anything yet. Call me a pessimist or feel the pain of being an Islanders fan. Maybe things will change on Saturday.

(Photo from FanHouse)