Last week was the easy part for the Islanders.
Yes, it is.
Those hypertension-inducing wins against the Flyers, Blackhawks, and Blue Jackets all came in the final minutes or overtime and represented some of the easiest matchups left on the schedule.
Perhaps the Islanders could have survived without getting 6 out of 6 points, but making the most of that opportunity is a big checkbox, and the Islanders are nearly perfect. They came close to accomplishing that — winning all six points, but giving up one to the Flyers. Philadelphia is now ahead of the Islanders in the standings thanks to a regulation tiebreaker that allowed the game to go into overtime.
this week?
This is the difficult part.
In their next four games, which begin Saturday night when former coach Barry Trotz returns to Long Island as the Predators’ general manager, the Islanders will play the Rangers twice and have only lost two games in regulation since midway through. They will also play against a team from Nashville. February.
Thursday’s game against Montreal is theoretically the only break, but the Canadiens have beaten the Islanders twice this season.
The Islanders started Friday with a playoff berth and spent the night watching and cheering on games against the Red Wings, Flyers and Capitals.
But even though each team in this race has given a lot of help to the others, it’s up to the Islanders to take their fate into their own hands as the season draws to a close.
“This group has been in this position before. We know how to conduct business during this time,” Noah Dobson said after Thursday’s 4-2 win over Columbus.
“We know that each game is a different challenge. We have to find a way to win every night. In the last few games, tied games leading up to Game 3, we found a way. Ta.”
Whether you view the last three games as the Islanders struggling to take out lesser opponents or a sign that things are finally falling into place for them is a completely subjective matter.
Naturally, the islanders believe in the latter.
“Just stay positive, I think that’s where we are right now,” Matt Barzal said. “It doesn’t matter what happens. We just came together and played some good hockey. But I think we still have another gear that we can play with. That’s what we’ve built. I think these games, especially the ones where the game is on the line, bring out the best in everyone. Here we have guys who are gamers and are willing to play in the big moments. I’m glad I got to know you.”
A year ago, the Islanders were in a similar position, needing to finish the season on a high note to beat the Penguins and earn a wild-card spot.
With Pittsburgh losing on home ice to the hapless Blackhawks, the Isles had a chance to win Game 82, and they did it by defeating the Canadians.
This season could follow a similar course, with none of the Isles, Flyers, Red Wings, Capitals or Penguins able to pull away as they return to the race.
Only two of these five teams will make the playoffs, but they were two points apart in the standings before Friday’s game.
“It feels like a playoff game every night for us,” Barzal said.
That’s because it is.
“We’re fighting for the season now,” he added. “Really, these are the best games of the year. This is why you play.”
