The Islanders left San Jose with a point, but not the one they really wanted.
New York fell to the Sharks 3-2 in a shootout on Nov. 9 at SAP Arena, and while that result still added something to the standings, it also came with a missed chance. San Jose is a team still trying to sort itself out under Ryan Warsofsky, who’s seemingly on the hot seat, and the Islanders let a second point slip away against a struggling opponent.
That matters because this trip still has plenty of value attached to it. The Islanders are banged up, but they remain in the playoff race and are within striking distance of both the third-place spot in the Metropolitan Division and the second Wild Card spot. With games against the Kings on Nov. 12 and the Ducks on Nov. 14 still ahead, there’s a real chance to make up ground before heading home.
Los Angeles is up first, and the matchup looks favorable on paper. The Kings have had a rough season and currently sit 30th in the league.
They’ve had trouble settling on an identity, and some of the players expected to break through haven’t delivered. The balance between the youth and the veterans has been off, and head coach Peter Laviolette has grown more frustrated as the losses keep piling up.
Then comes Anaheim, which should be a tougher test. The Ducks’ offseason has already come back to haunt them defensively, and they had to give Leo Carlsson and Cutter Gauthier a total of $171 million between them over the summer. Even so, they’re sitting third in the Pacific Division with 21 points, just three more than the Islanders.
That sets up a trip that could still end well for New York. The Islanders should have a strong shot against the Kings, especially with revenge on their minds, but the Ducks bring more firepower and a little more danger.
Pete DeBoer has the Islanders playing above their means despite the injuries, and the group keeps finding a way to stay in the fight. Mathew Barzal and Matias Maccelli seem to be on the verge of a return, while Calum Ritchie will be out for a little while longer. Even so, New York keeps hanging around, and that says plenty about the players and the job DeBoer has done making adjustments along the way.
The loss in San Jose will sting, but if the Islanders can take five out of a possible six points on the trip, they’ll still walk away with what they came for.
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The fan-base discussion has taken on a life of its own, helped along by a viral piece that stirred up reactions well beyond the usual game-night noise. On the hockey side, there is still plenty for supporters to grab onto, from Matthew Schaefers statistical start to the season to recent praise for Kyle MacLeans physical edge and Logan Stanleys fit with the group, while the franchises history keeps surfacing too, including a reminder of Billy Smiths place in one memorable game. [Read more 🡒]