What shall we expect of the Islanders tonight? With every point crucial in a crowded playoff race, they are in a run where they 1) played aimlessly against Ottawa yet still had at least a point on the table until the final 11 seconds, 2) gave up a gazillion goals to the Habs, 3) played a solid game against Columbus but still needed a Ilya Sorokin shutout, and 4) fell asleep for 10 minutes to lose to the Blackhawks.
That’s not good, not at all, and as a result they sit outside the playoff spots with 10 games to go.
Tonight a Cup contending team visits, though the Dallas Stars are on a three-game losing streak as they begin a four-game eastern trip.
The Isles, meanwhile, acre accumulating blueline injury issues, forcing Matthew Schaefer to break the record for ice time by a teenager in Tuesday’s loss to the Hawks. That game saw Tony DeAngelo leave injured in the first period, while Ryan Pulock sat out another one.
We’ll learn today from the morning skate if Isaiah George, called up before that last game, will get his first NHL action since a two-game stint in January. (On that note, Alex Romanov’s season-ender, Mikko Rantanen, has been out hurt but is apparently on this trip.)
Just two games in the NHL last night, but one still managed to be damaging, as the Bruins took the bonus point in a OT win over the 96-point Sabres.
Tonight’s scoreboard watching includes what are hopefully just two-point games between Montreal and Columbus, Ottawa and Pittsburgh.