CHICAGO — No away game is more winnable for the Islanders than Friday's game against the Blackhawks.
That's only because Chicago, 13-29-2, is in the middle of a second straight tank job and in last place in the Central Division, or the Islanders are 2-2 after losing 4-2 to Winnipeg on Tuesday night. It's not just about taking a day off.
The Blackhawks have 10, too. — Various players injured — including rookie sensation Connor Bedard, forwards Taylor Hall, Nick Foligno and Andreas Athanasiou, and defenseman Nikita Zaitsev.
If the Islanders can't walk into the United Center under these circumstances and suffer a three-game losing streak, I have no idea how they can turn things around.
Despite their best efforts to be optimistic after the loss to the Jets, the Islanders know they'll have to wait a long time to figure things out.
The Islanders avoided falling to seventh place in the Metropolitan Division after the Devils lost 3-2 to the Canadiens on Wednesday night.
This isn't as bad as it seems. Just because they're tied with the Penguins and Capitals at 48 points, and the Hurricanes and Flyers are within striking distance.
But that's not much comfort, as the Islanders have an abysmal record of 2-6-1 since Dec. 31.
“I think we're in the business of winning hockey games,” coach Lane Lambert said Tuesday night. “No one feels sorry for you, as we have done so far and as we did in early November when we were going through difficult times. You can't feel sorry for yourself. I have to get out there and find a way.”
The difference between then and now is that when the Islanders lost seven straight two months ago, they regularly played well for 40 minutes before running out of gas.
Now they are struggling to get to their game at all.
After a 5-0 loss to Minnesota the previous night, the Islanders were happy with a game in which they allowed 44 shots and barely held the ball, even as they look to reconsider the loss to Winnipeg as their next step. He was trying to make an expression. .
“I think we’ve all been playing hockey long enough. [frustration seep in]” said Scott Mayfield. “We have a great group of guys here. I don't see that happening.”
This is the first time the Islanders have lost four consecutive regulation road games since Nov. 7-16, 2021.
Casey Cizikas (lower body) was placed on injured reserve retroactively on Jan. 9, allowing the Islanders to call up center Kyle MacLean from AHL Bridgeport.
Since it has been over a week since his injury, Cizikas is eligible to come off IR at any time.
If McLean plays Friday, it will be his NHL debut.
