What's Wrong with the Islanders?

The New York Islanders are in the midst of an eight-game losing streak and people might be quick to blame the coach, but injuries and goaltending seem to have doomed this team more than the coach.

The Islanders have lost their eighth straight and are nine points out of the playoffs. That would probably put coach Jack Capuano on the hot seat. The Islanders went to the playoffs last year but this year, there might be a hint of trouble to get back there. So what exactly are the Islanders' problems?

1. Changes in Personnel
Mark Streit, the former captain for this team, was traded to the Flyers during the summer. He was their top defenseman from last season. And Brad Boyes, their No. 3 scorer was not retained either. And the trade to get Thomas Vanek has turned out to be somewhat a bust. He has had fewer points since that trade, with nine, than Matt Moulson in Buffalo, who currently has 11 with the Sabres. The Islanders also gave up some high picks in that deal. That is definitely not good for this team.

2. The Injury Woes
Lubomir Visnovsky, their top remaining defenseman, missed the last 21 games because of a concussion. And Brian Strait, their other defenseman, has missed 20 with a upper-body injury. Goalie Evgeni Nabokov suffered a groin muscle injury nine games ago. He is more experienced that Anders Nilsson and Kevin Poulin, who are manning the net.

3. Special teams
The power play is a disaster and the penalty kill has been dreadful. You can blame the last two factors, however. Visnovsky and Streit made a combined 19 power-play points last season and this season, all other defenseman have combined for fine. The penalty kill is worse in the league right now. They have given up three goals every 10 times they're short-handed, and they're even worse on the road. Uh-oh.

4. Players in Slumps
Kyle Okposo and Frans Nielsen may be scoring at a higher rate, but Michael Grabner's production has been off. Pierre-Marc Bouchard, their off-season acquisition, has no points in the last seven games he's played. Free-agent signee Peter Regin is without a point in 17 games.

You can't blame the coach for any of these, although it seems like at one point they're gonna put this on the coach. However, Capuano leaving is not going to solve the Islanders' problems. Right now, GM Garth Snow needs to find a goaltender. That's their No. 1 issue. If you can't have a good goaltender who'll keep you in the game day in and day out, that's going to be an issue, considering if you want to get into the playoffs and get far in it. I think they need to reach out and find a goaltender and if they can't, I don't see this team going anywhere but down.