For the first time in years, the New York Islanders are in the midst of the playoff race.
A 4-3 shootout win over the Philadelphia Flyers coupled with a loss by the New York Rangers thrust the team into a tie for the eighth and final playoff spot. The Rangers have a game in hand, but the Islanders have a number of factors in their favor as the season winds down.
When the schedule was released in January, many thought that the Isles drew a tough schedule to end the season with five straight road games. Since 2002-03, the Islanders have been owners of a losing streak away from the Nassau Coliseum. Many expected that trend to continue this season, but the Islanders have instead proven to be road warriors. The team has a record of 10-4-1 away from home while they own a poor 6-11-2 record on home ice. Meanwhile, the team only has five remaining games at home including one against the Florida Panthers and another against the Tampa Bay Lightning; the Islanders have defeated both teams twice this season.
More importantly, the team has finally earned its first three-game winning streak of the season and has won eight of 13 in the month of March.
While superstar John Tavares has now scored 21 goals in 34 games but the team has shown a knack for finding secondary scoring in opportune moments. In the 4-3 win over the Flyers, the Islanders got two goals from first-year Islanders Colin McDonald; McDonald is fifth on the team with six goals. Michael Grabner and Matt Moulson each have 11 goals this season and would be on pace for close to 30 in an 82 goal season. While Moulson is on pace for what would be his worst NHL scoring total of his career, his assist total has increased tremendously, thanks to Tavares' scoring output. Those clamoring for scoring from the second line should be happy to know that the combo of Josh Bailey, Frans Nielsen, and Kyle Okposo has a combined 14 points in the last seven games, including four goals. Bailey has scored three of those goals and has a total of five on the season.
Goaltending continues to be the big question mark for this team with Evgeni Nabokov carrying the load for most of the year (no other goalie has won a game this season for New York), but he has looked shaky at times. In the game against the Flyers he allowed two questionable goals that he could have and should have stopped.
Despite that shortcoming, the Islanders have a ton of momentum and looked primed to return to the postseason for the first time since 2006-07.
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