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NHL Playoffs 2015: Islanders give up easy goal in Game 7 (GIF)

By Josh Hill

Apr 27, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Capitals right wing Joel Ward (42) celebrates after scoring a goal on New York Islanders goalie Jaroslav Halak (41) in the second period in game seven of the first round of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 27, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Capitals right wing Joel Ward (42) celebrates after scoring a goal on New York Islanders goalie Jaroslav Halak (41) in the second period in game seven of the first round of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /
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The New York Islanders are hoping to extend their season with a Game 7 win over the Washington Capitals, but Jaroslav Halak might have let in the easiest goal ever.

The NHL Playoffs are where icons become legends and every play is the biggest play of your season. As a series presses on, the stakes raise higher and the plays become bigger — which means you have to be extra careful not to end up not he wrong side of a highlight reel play.

That’s where New York Islanders netminder Jaroslav Halak is right now, as he let a goal squirt by him in what could end up being painful fashion for the Isles.

In the second period of the a then scoreless Game 7 showdown, Joel Ward was able to get the puck past Halak and you can almost hear him yelping to himself as the puck sneaks past him.

Just look — or avert your eyes if you’re an Isles fan.

Another look at the goal shows just how easy this might have been to stop, and how lucky the Capitals are to have a lead in this game.

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Joel Ward may have been able to poke in the goal to get credit, but it’s Jaroslav Halak who is going to be kicking himself after this one. This is Game 7 we’re talking about, not just some other game where a squirt through goal like this can be acceptable.

No goal is ever acceptable, and Halak has to stop this. It’s Game 7, there’s no tommorrow after this — all of those cliches. You can’t become a highlight reel this way, and Halak now needs to rely on his offense to help tie the game and erase this snafu that could end the Islanders season.

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