from Scott Burnside of ESPN,

Remember those halcyon days of mid-October when the New York Islanders were everyone's darlings? Seems like only yesterday. After a 4-0 start that had everyone raving and talking playoffs the Islanders have landed with a thud, and it's the same old issues that plague the Isles. They were beaten 5-0 Thursday night by the Avalanche, putting them at 2-4 in their last six games having allowed 24 goals in that stretch.

Jaroslav Halak, the big offseason acquisition in goal, hasn't been very good and has lost three in a row, and backup Chad Johnson hasn't been much better. It's not all the goaltending (or team defense), either.

The Islanders are 3-for-27 on the power play in their last six games. And here's where it gets interesting: Thursday's loss in Denver was the first game in a stretch during which they will play seven of eight on the road. Oh, and their next three stops are San Jose, Anaheim and Los Angeles. A trip like that has the potential to make those recent glory days seem like a hundred years ago.

read on for notes on the Blues by Custance, the Avalanche from LeBrun and more...