Only a few months ago, the New York Islanders were celebrating their first playoff-round win since the early 1990s. Now their opening-round series victory over the Florida Panthers seems like a long time ago, as the Islanders sit in last place in the Metropolitan Division.
Barring an incredible turnaround in the league's best division, this season will go down as a huge step backward for a team that appeared to be on the cusp of year-in, year-out competitiveness.
The Islanders' collapse raises two questions: How did the Isles fall so far? Where do they go from here?