Shabanov, George Sparkle in Isles' Four-Game Skid

Even as the Islanders stumble through four losses in a row, Shabanov and George deliver the kind of shifts that make vets nod in approval. These aren't flash-in-the-pan efforts; they're the steady grind that separates lottery picks from keepers in a cap-crunch league. Trotz's staff evaluates every detail, knowing silver linings like this might dictate the next big pivot.