Milbury:"This can't go on!"

Islanders roster

The Islanders are winless in their last 11 games and lost ten straight games before Monday night's 1-1 tie with Detroit. As usual, it looks like coach Rick Bowness' job is in jeopardy.

"I told Rick that this can't go on much longer," general manager Mike Milbury said before the Islanders' 2-1 overtime loss to Carolina. "I told him 'You're on alert."'

The only thing that might save Bowness' job for time being is that Milbury reportedly can't make any changes in personnel until potential owner Steven Gluckstern officially takes over the team. The NHL Board of Governors is set to vote on the sale next Saturday in Vancouver at the All-Star Game.

That may give the coach time to pull a rabbit from his hat and save his job. "Whatever Rick wants, I'm going to give it to him -- to the best of my ability," Milbury said. "Something's got to give here, and the best thing that can happen to all of us is to win a damn hockey game."

Slapshots
Penguin holdout Petr Nedved could sign a contract with Sparta Praha of the Czech Elite League this week, eliminating any chance of his returning to the NHL this season... Toronto D Jeff Brown will miss at least the next 10 days due to a septic infection in his right ankle... Ottawa GM Gauthier denies rumors RW Alexander Daigle is on the trading block... Kings D Mattias Norstrom was suspended pending a hearing for boarding Edmonton's Tony Hrkac...