Party's Over: Islanders Season Comes to a Close [J. Mark English]

You can't say they put up quite a fight against the Buffalo Sabres, but the Islanders were just too over matched to keep up with the best seeded team in the conference. Coach Ted Nolan should have a lot to fodder about during the off season given all the calls that went against his team.

Jason Lockhart puts a wrap on the Islanders season:

Down 3-0 to the Buffalo Sabres heading into the third period, the Islanders put up a heroic fight in the final 20 minutes, only to fall 4-3 in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. The Sabres move onto the Eastern Conference Semifinals with a 4-1 series win.

Goals by Drew Stafford, Jason Pominville and Derek Roy put the Sabres in complete control through two periods and well on their way to an easy win, but the Islanders played their most inspired period of hockey all season to get within one.

Miroslav Satan, Trent Hunter and Chris Campoli scored for the Islanders in the third period, while Maxim Afinogenov countered for the Sabres.

Campoli cut the lead to 4-3 with 6:53 remaining in the third period to give the Islanders that much time to send it into overtime.

It was on their final rush when looked as if they might just do it. Satan took the puck along the right-wing side and made a strong cut to the front of the net. He busted around one defender and then goaltender Ryan Miller. Satan swept the puck towards the open net, but Miller spun around and blocked the puck with the back of his glove saving a goal and ending the Islanders' season.