UNIONDALE, NY — Right next to the podium stood the sport’s grand prize. Stationed on center ice, the Stanley Cup’s silver polish glistened as the Islanders celebrated the 17 players who were part of all four Stanley Cup championship teams from 1980-83.

Hall of Famers Mike Bossy, Bryan Trottier, Denis Potvin and Clark Gillies were on hand to represent the leaders of a team that once captured 19 straight playoff series. As for the current Islanders, merely qualifying for the postseason would be worthy of a celebration.

Instead of being galvanized by the pregame festivities, the Islanders came out flat in the first period and couldn’t push any pucks past Florida backup goalie Craig Anderson in a 1-0 loss to the Panthers.

Not even wearing the white uniforms at home could help the current unit capture some of the old magic. But the Islanders still made history. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the team’s 53 shots was the most shots by a losing team in a shutout since the NHL started keeping track of such things in 1955.

Ruslan Fedotenko nearly broke Anderson’s shutout bid with a hard shot from between the circles late in the second period. His one-time attempt off Mike Comrie’s centering pass 17:24 into the second. Anderson stuck out his left pad at the last moment, sending the Islanders to its fourth loss in the past five games.

“We threw everything at him. There are no excuses,” Fedotenko said. “We need to put the puck in the net. We’re trying to make too perfect plays. We’re not as hungry as we should.

“It shouldn't be that difficult to put that little black puck in that big net.”

Wade Dubielewicz did all he could to prevent the Islanders from falling five points out of the Eastern Conference’s last playoff spot. The backup goalie recorded 30 saves filling in for Rick DiPietro, who missed the contest to attend his grandmother’s wake.

Dubielewicz’ only blemish came 9:57 into the game. David Booth’s rebound attempt struck defender Josef Vasicek’s stick and went into the net for the only goal, putting the Islanders in a hole with 15 games remaining. Eleven of those matchups come against Atlantic Division opponents, meaning the Islanders can still pick up ground and make the playoffs for a second straight season.

Mike Comrie, Bill Guerin and Dubielewicz all agreed that the intensity level wasn’t sufficient at the start. The Islanders rebounded in the second, setting a team record with 29 shots. But the only records that matter for the stretch drive remain the final standings.

“Maybe if we played as desperate as we did in the second, we might have got one,” Dubielwicz said. “We’ll learn from it and carry the effort in the next game.”

A home-and-home series against the Rangers this week could help the Islanders escape 10th place or send them spiraling down the standings. To beat the local rivals, Comrie said the execution and desperation needs to improve. When asked if the team was desperate against the Panthers, Comrie simply responded, “no.”

“We can all do the math,” Comrie said. “When you let games slip away, you have your back to the wall and you have to fight and claw for every point. Things only get more important from here on out.”

Added Guerin: “There’s got to be desperation, but it can’t be panic. You have to be even-keeled about the whole thing and just realize what’s at stake and play hard.”

Notes: Not even the presence of the franchise’s all-time greats led to a sell-out. The announced crowd was 15,314…After Brendan Witt returned to the lineup Saturday, the Islanders lost another defenseman. Bruno Gervais suffered a concussion and a thigh contusion in the first period. He will be reevaluated today.

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