The Islanders’ season has been a mess so far, but it’s pretty simple right now.
Defeat the Devils.
that’s all.
A win over the Devils would likely give the Islanders third place in the Metropolitan Division and a first-round rematch with the Carolina team they beat at the same hurdle a year ago.
Beating the Devils would give the Islanders a chance to shake off this season’s exhausting ups and downs.
If they beat the Devils, it wouldn’t matter if the Islanders lost more times than they won this season or had a minus-21 goal differential. Because they will have a chance to make history and memories this spring.
“We were in a tough position. A lot of people ruled us out,” Mathew Barzal told the Post after a short practice Sunday afternoon. “We came together as a group and gave it everything we had. Everyone here has been more dedicated than I’ve ever seen the last three weeks.”
Just three weeks ago, on March 24, the Islanders were trailing the Red Wings, Capitals, and Flyers by three, four, and six points, respectively, in the standings.
They played 71 games. None of the three players in front of them played more than 72, but Washington only played 70.
Since then, the Islanders have outscored all of those teams with a 7-1-1 record and are on the verge of saving their season, riding on newfound resiliency and the fiery touch of Semyon Varlamov. There is.
The Islanders technically don’t even need to win Monday at Prudential Center.
If the Capitals lose, if they lose in overtime, they are guaranteed third place, if they lose in overtime, the Capitals win, and if they lose to Detroit, they are guaranteed the second wild card spot.
If both the Capitals and Red Wings lose in regulation and the Penguins lose as well, they could still clinch a playoff spot even if they lose in regulation.
However, a loss and a clinch would put some damper on this match.
“Our goal is to finish third in our division,” coach Patrick Roy said. “We still have to win one more game if we want to see that happen.”
When did that become your goal?
“Today. Right now, at this moment,” he said. “Does that make sense? Because it’s right there.
“To be honest, I shouldn’t have said that. The focus is to play every game and now that it’s there we still have to focus on the game.”
Roy, who joined in mid-January after Lane Lambert was fired, was naturally at the center of the Islanders’ rebuild, adding a combination of dignity, integrity and energy to a team that desperately needed all three. was injected.
But it’s been a particularly strange season since he’s been here, with haunting themes like late-game collapses and special teams issues.
“Right before that, we were having periods every night that were killing us,” Anders Lee told the Post. “There’s still going to be fluctuations in momentum and things like that, but I think our consistency throughout each game is a lot better. I think that’s why we’re getting more consistent results every night. Masu.”
The Islanders have finally found a balanced combination up front and achieved 5-on-5 stability over the past six games.
As a result, they were able to overcome a bad period on special teams, which has yet to be fully fixed.
That has been a problem for the Islanders in previous matchups against the Devils.
The Islanders have lost all three games played between the two teams, and New Jersey has won six of 13 games on the power play, but has allowed just one goal on 11 tries at 5-on-4 to the Islanders. .
But this group’s mentality has changed since March 24, when it hit its lowest point with a 4-0 loss to the Devils. This is a group of people who believe that.
“Everyone agrees and plays a certain way,” Barzal said. We have connected as a team. Also, we have been playing really hard. It can be a long road. I think everyone’s commitment, everyone’s dedication, wanting to be in the playoffs, wanting to play, really pushed us. ”
If they defeat the Devils, they will immediately advance to the postseason.
