Winnipeg, Manitoba – Patrick Roy has revealed many times this season that he doesn't like to framing individual games as a litmus test for islanders.
Well, unfortunately, that's exactly the last two games before the four countries rest in two weeks, and the islanders are visiting the NHL leading Jets the day before they face another playoff team in the wild .
This is one of the toughest consecutive consecutive times on the schedule, at a moment when the islanders just can't afford to give up.
They were three points from the playoff cut line Thursday morning for all the profits they've made to get back into the playoff race and pull themselves back in the past month.
Forget your injuries and forget how tough these games are on paper. Islanders need to run through the tape and run for a break.
“I know the break is round the corner. After the islanders practiced Thursday, Captain Anders Lee told reporters: “We're playing the best teams in the league. [Friday] Night in their building. So we have to be ready to go and have all of us fired. Everyone needs it. ”
A two-week hiatus for the 4 Nations showdown – Brock Nelson is the only islander to take part in the tournament – is looming as a grace period for the islanders to take a deep breath and perhaps a bit more healthy.
Last weekend, Le Lamoriello said the plan was because Noah Dobson and Ryan Prock both suspected a right leg injury and would begin skating on their own during the break. Marcus Hogberg (upper body) could also return when the islanders return to perform.
That's far from a full return to health for a team struggling all season, but that's at least something.
And after busy days in the last few weeks, the islanders have been able to take a breather.
They must first achieve that throughout the weekend.
“I like the fact that we're on the road,” Roy said. “…I think it's easier to focus on the road. And back to back, we don't have much time to think. Focus, hey, we're doing something good right now.”
Injuries aside, that's at least true.
The moment their season fell apart, the islanders instead merged together with other injuries, despite consolidating three new defenders during that period.
Tony DeAngelo, Scott Pernovich and Adam Bokvist were all impressed by the first handful of games with the club, giving them more aggressive abilities on the island's line and more aggressive abilities to the islanders. It has been proven to be.
“Deangelo is not a young defenseman. He was in the league,” Roy said. “So he knows the league very well, so I think I'll play. [Alexander Romanov] A good fit in the way he talks about Romy and Romy's body. He moves the pack [play] Really fast.
“Obvich is playing, obviously [Adam Pelech] It certainly helped him because of Perry's experience. I was impressed with the quality of his first pass – he's running the puck very well. Tape from tape. ”
Dobson, Pulock, Scott Mayfield (who didn't travel to Winnipeg, but was considered a normal thing and could return after a break” was once what happens on defense.
But that is also a matter of the future. If the islanders want to stay in the race, they can now think of it.
