Following a surprisingly competitive start, the Islanders have posted two wins, 16 regulation losses and two overtime/shootout defeats in their last 20 games.

Even the front office's most ardent Kool-Aid dispensers would have to acknowledge that as an ugly quarter-segment of an NHL season that reached only the halfway turn Monday at Edmonton.

Meanwhile, coach Scott Gordon continues to praise his lottery-bound team's work ethic in the throes of an absurd 250-plus man-games lost to injury in half a season. He even has resorted to an old standby, dusting off the lack-of-respect card when referring to the league and its referees' recent treatment of the Islanders following their latest loss to the Oilers.

There seems to be no such thing as an easy two points for the Edmonton Oilers, even when they're at home against a struggling team. Andrew Cogliano's goal midway through the third period gave Edmonton a 3-2 victory over the New York Islanders on Monday night. "We just couldn't lose this game," Cogliano said.

As well as the San Jose Sharks played for the first half of the game, coach Todd McLellan was more concerned about the lackadaisical way his team finished. Mike Grier scored two goals in a game for the first time in nearly two years and the San Jose Sharks held on to beat the New York Islanders 5-3 Saturday night to extend their run of dominance on home ice.