DETROIT — The Islanders started Wednesday barely holding onto the last playoff spot in the East.
If they can come home Thursday night on the right side of the playoff cut line and above NHL-0.500 for the first time in almost a month, it will be a decent reward after being on the road for almost two straight weeks.
The Red Wings, the last team to face after four games against the Pacific Division, are currently on a slump with five losses in six games, and head coach Derek Lalonde is in the spotlight.
The Islanders, who lost 1-0 to Detroit in their only matchup so far this season, were unable to turn things around for the Red Wings, who would suffer a three-game losing streak to end the trip.
Tuesday night in Calgary, they earned a point after losing 2-1 in a penalty shootout, but it was the second consecutive game in which the Islanders led in the third period but were unable to overcome.
They were happy with their efforts, but it felt like a bit of a moral victory.
“A one-goal game can go either way for us or against us,” coach Patrick Roy said. “Their goalkeeper made some great saves. I'm thinking about that cross pass [Kyle] Palmieri [with about five minutes left]that was a really good save he made there. I thought both goalies played well. We had a chance to win this game, but we couldn't score the decisive goal. That's it. ”
It's a little early to see the standings, but there are already worrying trends emerging in the East for Islanders.
As of Wednesday morning, there was a six-point difference between the Islanders and the first-place Wild Card Rangers.
Three points separated the Islanders from the Canadiens, who were last in the conference.
Even though the season is just under 25 percent complete, the gap between the best teams in the conference and the rest is already becoming noticeable, and the Islanders are on the wrong side of that divide.
The islanders are hurt by their injuries, but they aren't satisfied with just surviving until everyone is healthy. Not when it's clear they're losing games they should have won, and the last two games both fall into that category.
And that won't happen unless four of the five players who started this trip are injured for some time.
Alexander Romanov returned from an upper-body injury Tuesday night, but Anthony Duclair (groin doubt), Mathieu Barzal (upper body) and Adam Pelech (jaw) have all yet to skate. Mike Riley underwent heart surgery on Tuesday, but surgery likely won't be an option for quite some time.
The islanders have proven they can live without them. But they need to do more.
“We should do a better job, [penalty] But I don't think the group is worried about losing the lead or thinking about it,” Noah Dobson said after the loss to Calgary. “The third period was a one-score game. They scored on the power play. We had our looks, but we couldn't capitalize.”
If the Islanders weren't 4-2-5 with one-goal games, it would have been easy to wave and go on the road Wednesday.
However, the tendency to fumble for leads seems to have carried over from last season. And it's already cost the Islanders valuable points in the standings.
The Islanders can't undo the losses in Seattle and Calgary, but they looked like they had potential two weeks ago if they beat the Red Wings on this trip to go 2-1-2. The situation is going to give them something to take their hat off to. A brutal stretch without five of the regulars in the lineup.
That way, they could earn points in four out of five games on the road, win and return home satisfied.
It will be more than just a spiritual victory.
