The Islanders are on a winning streak and have a chance to solidify their playoff hopes with upcoming home games
Next up is a seven-game homestand, and they’ll face teams that are right around them in the standings. They kick things off against the Senators, a team they’ve already beaten twice this season.
Even with their recent success, they’re still five points behind the Blue Jackets for the last wild-card spot. They haven’t been above .500 since October, so it’s important not to get too excited just yet.
But it’s not just luck; they’re playing solid defense. The pairing of Adam Pelech and Ryan Pulock is looking great, and their penalty kill has finally stepped up, going three games without allowing a goal.
Winning three in a row, especially against top teams like the Golden Knights, shows they mean business. Sure, they’ve got some injuries, but Mat Barzal is starting to find his groove again.
With a relatively easy schedule ahead, they really need to capitalize on this opportunity. If they don’t, they might not get another chance anytime soon.
Barzal mentioned that while things are looking up, they need to stay grounded. “Every day is a new day,” he said. They’re in a tight race, so they can’t afford to get too high or too low.
There’s a different vibe in the locker room now. The Islanders have talked a lot about belief and what they can achieve. With the rest of the Eastern Conference struggling, they know they can’t be counted out.
Captain Anders Lee summed it up well: “We’re trying to climb out of something here and we have to take it one game at a time.” They’re on the right track, and it feels good. Let’s see if they can keep it going!
