![\"Mathew](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/2025-01-12T045515Z_414517768_MT1USATODAY25171974_RTRMADP_3_NHL-NEW-YORK-ISLANDERS-AT-UTAH.jpg\" "\\"Islanders'")
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Jan 11, 2025; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; New York Islanders center Brock Nelson (29) and center Mathew Barzal (13) celebrate after a goal against the Utah Hockey Club during third period at the Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Creveling-Imagn Images<\/p>\n
For the first time this season, the New York Islanders are winners of three straight \u2014 and they pulled it off during one of their toughest stretches on the schedule.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
Overturning a 1-0 deficit in the third period at the Utah Hockey Club on Saturday night, Mathew Barzal scored the game-winner with 1:25 remaining in regulation to establish a season-high winning streak.\u00a0<\/p>\n
They won an overtime thriller in Boston against the Bruins on Jan. 5 behind a Bo Horvat winner. Four nights later, they went to Vegas and rolled to a 4-0 victory over the Pacific Division-leading Golden Knights.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNow we feel it,\u201d Barzal said. \u201cIt just takes a game or two. We felt it after the big Boston win, and we walked into Vegas and played the same way\u2026 Couldn\u2019t have asked for a better road trip.\u201d<\/p>\n
This recent stretch provides a major shift within a team that had struggled to find anything positive for much of the first half of the season. Just over one week ago, the Islanders sat in last place in the Metropolitan Division with 35 points (14-18-7). They now sit one game under NHL .500 and despite being in seventh place in their eight-team division, their 41 points sit just five behind the Columbus Blue Jackets, who sit in fourth place in the Metropolitan and hold the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re trying to climb out of something here,\u201d Islanders captain Anders Lee said. \u201cOne game at a time. We\u2019ve put a few together, and that\u2019s all we can do. We\u2019re playing the right way, and we\u2019re getting results because of it. It feels good, for sure. Let\u2019s get home and keep this thing going. Stay hungry and stay on it.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Anders](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/2025-01-10T041106Z_221695136_MT1USATODAY25155141_RTRMADP_3_NHL-NEW-YORK-ISLANDERS-AT-VEGAS-GOLDEN-KN.jpeg\" "\\"Islanders'")
Jan 9, 2025; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; New York Islanders left wing Anders Lee (27) celebrates after scoring a goal against the Vegas Golden Knights during the first period at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images<\/p>\n
Suddenly, things appear lighter around the Islanders, and they are finally turning a corner. They are not only returning home for a seven-game stand at UBS Arena<\/a> beginning Tuesday, but general manager and president of hockey operations Lou Lamoriello gave them another vote of confidence, saying that potentially trading veteran forward Brock Nelson and Kyle Palmieri before the March 7 trade deadline is not a thought<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe can look at it that way, but every day is a new day,\u201d Barzal said. \u201cWe\u2019re in such a tight race that we can\u2019t get too high or too low. We just have to ride this win streak and ride this quality of play that we\u2019re bringing every night.\u201d<\/p>\n For more on the Islanders, visit AMNY.com<\/a><\/p>\n Read More: https:\/\/www.amny.com\/sports\/hockey\/islanders\/<\/a><\/p>\n