, and to go on fighting is sometimes not easy.But, as you can imagin

NEW YORK -- Coming off two 100-point seasons and their best playoff run in 23 years, the New York began this season with high hopes. Things havent been working out so well.Sixteen games into the season -- about one-fifth of the way through -- the Islanders are having trouble scoring goals and the losses are piling up.With just one win in the last seven games (1-3-3), they are in last place in the Eastern Conference and their 40 goals ranks just above the bottom one-third in the conference and the league overall.I have not found the combinations to give us some offense, coach Jack Capuano said after the team was shut out for the first time this season Monday night. Its on me to find guys to play with certain guys. Our guys are well prepared for games. We have to be able to find some offense.The Islanders were booed through much of their latest loss -- 4-0 to Tampa Bay -- by the home fans looking for another strong season after finally reaching the second round of the playoffs for the first time since 1993 .I understand the frustration of the fans and frustration of the players, Capuano said. but for me, as a coach, Im behind these guys. I want them to succeed.Two months after their postseason ended last spring, the Islanders lost long-time stars Kyle Okposo, Frans Nielsen and Matt Martin on the first day of free agency , and replaced them with Andrew Ladd and Jason Chimera. The departed trio combined for 52 goals and 83 assists last season, while the two newcomers have totaled three goals and five assists so far.Capuano has shuffled the lines all season, searching for the right combinations -- especially for captain John Tavares, who spent most of the latter part of last season on the top line with Okposo and Nielsen. Ladd and Chimera began the season with Tavares. Chimera was then replaced by Josh Bailey. Ladd was then dropped down, with Shane Prince initially taking his place, but Cal Clutterbuck has been moved up there the last five games. The changes have rippled on the other lines as well.Tavares is still confident the team can turn things around.How many games do we got left, he said. You just keep going, keep working. You find your way out of it. Obviously we dont want to be in the spot that were in, but were not going to quit. We just got to stay positive and stay together. Therea plenty of time for improvement with 66 games remaining, but it needs to start soon. The Islanders are seven points out of a playoff spot, but would need to jump over eight teams just to get in the Easts second wild-card spot.Obviously it feels like everything is against us right now, Tavares said. Theres a long way to go at this point in the year. ... All you can do is work to sway the momentum, get some good results and try to build some momentum off that and build confidence.A strong home team the last two years, the Islanders had a chance to get off to a good start with their next game -- on Friday night against defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh -- being their 12th out of the first 17 at Barclays Center. The Islanders head into that 5-4-2 on home ice. That will be followed by a three-game trip to California next week with the team still looking for its first road win after going 0-4-1 in the first five.We have to get back practicing hard, get ready to go, obviously a big game Friday night and a big road trip, defenseman Travis Hamonic said. We just have to keep pushing forward. No ones feeling sorry for us.The poor start has put Capuano on the hot seat and with the coach repeatedly taking the blame for the teams scoring troubles, the pressure will likely only build.I can only control what I can control, Capuano said when asked if he was concerned whether general manager Garth Snow might consider a coaching change. Thats not my decision. I come to the rink every day like everybody else and work extremely hard. ... As Ive said, we have to find a way -- and it falls on me -- to try to get some offense out of this team.---Follow Vin Cherwoo at www.twitter.com/VinCherwooAP Custom Toronto Raptors Jerseys . The Hall of Fame defenceman told Landsberg that he believes fighting still has a place in todays game, but thinks staged fighting needs be outlawed. Malcolm Miller Raptors Jersey .J. Jefferson has been charged with assaulting his girlfriend. https://www.raptorsrookiesshop.com/Devin-Robinson-City-Edition-Jersey/ . -- The proud fathers huddled near the Dallas Stars dressing room, smiling, laughing and telling stories while wearing replica green sweaters of their sons team. Jodie Meeks Jersey . "I was fortunate to play many years at this level with a great organization and unbelievable teammates," said Hejduk in a statement. OG Anunoby Jersey . Their 38th instalment is arguably their biggest fight card to date, including three-title fights and a main event which was selected by the fans. The promotion boasts 14-straight years of business and is operated by MFC president Mark Pavelich, who is often overlooked in this country for the foundation hes established for MMA in Canada.Aston Villa manager Remi Garde questioned the spirit of some of his players as his side went down 6-0 at home to Liverpool. Having gone in at half-time 2-0 down, Villa then conceded four goals in the space of 13 minutes in the second period, and were met by jeers from the home crowd at full-time and during the match.Bottom side Villa now sit eight points from safety with 12 games remaining, and the defeat marked the first time they had conceded six at home in the league since 1983. Garde told Sky Sports: I saw two very different teams. The gap between the level of the teams was very important today. Its a very, very disappointing afternoon.We should have reacted better than that; we should have behaved like a team fighting for survival. But today we didnt have the spirit for that. James Milner celebrates with team-mates after his cross found the bottom corner for the second goal I dont know if the level of spirit among my players was the same for everybody today.Its very difficult to explain. Football is sometimes very special and today we under-performed so badly and I feel so very sorry for the fans because I know they are always behind us if we are fighting, and today we didnt really fight on many occasions.There are 12 games to go and we have to find the 11 or 18 players that still have the desire to win the games.In the previous weeks and games, it was not the case [that players did not show fight]. But I knew this was a fragile situation, and to go on fighting is sometimes not easy.But, as you can imagine, I did not ask something different today than what I have asked in the previous weeks. Aston Villas players were hit for six on Sunday afternoon Garde has just two league wins in his 15 games as Villa manager and admitted this was the worst defeat during his tenure.ddddddddddddillas ever-present Premier League status is under serious threat going into the final stages of the season, but Garde still has hopes of a survival bid, despite the manner of the defeat. Jamie Carragher says relegation is a certainty for Aston Villa He added: Its only one game, and then of course Liverpool are a very, very good team with so many talented players. But hopefully we wont play such a good team every weekend until the end.I still believe we can win games and get enough to be safe. I think that we have to be proud, and when you concede six goals at home, it is like a humiliation.I dont like to be humiliated myself, and everybody has to react and we are going to try to do our best for the next game. Also See: Carra on poor Villa Match report As it happened Perfect day for Klopp ' ' '