The Islanders are back on Long Island, finally unpacked after a grueling seven-game swing through the Western Conference. It wasn’t exactly a dream trip - more of a mixed bag - and now they’ve got seven games left before the Olympic break to steady the ship.
The good news? No more cross-country flights.
The furthest they’ll travel is to D.C. and Philly, which feels like a staycation compared to the miles they just logged.
But there’s no time to catch their breath. The Eastern Conference playoff picture is a logjam, and while the Islanders were out west, the Sabres kept stacking wins.
Now, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, and Boston have nudged ahead - but only just. The margin for error is razor-thin, and the Isles are staring down a critical stretch with head-to-head matchups against the Sabres, Flyers, and Capitals, plus a home-and-home showdown with the Rangers.
These next seven games? They’re not just important - they’re potentially season-defining.
One of the ongoing questions for head coach Patrick Roy is how to unlock more from his pair of Russian wingers. Max Shabanov was back in the lineup after a one-game scratch, which seemed designed to give Max Tsyplakov some additional ice time.
Marc Gatcomb was the odd man out, but in the final game of the trip - a sleepy effort in Seattle - no one really stood out. The entire squad looked like they were skating through fog.
So what’s next for the Shabanov-Tsyplakov situation? With a tight schedule and playoff positioning at stake, Roy may not have the luxury of time to experiment. Then again, as hockey tends to remind us, injuries have a way of making those decisions for you.
A few things to keep an eye on:
- The Islanders were frustrated with how the Seattle game - and the road trip overall - ended. That final loss left a sour taste, and they know they missed an opportunity to climb the standings.
- Patrick Roy has been tinkering with his lines to find the right balance, particularly in how he deploys his forwards. Getting both Shabanov and Tsyplakov going could be a game-changer, but it’s still a work in progress.
- This upcoming stretch is more than just a sprint to the break - it’s a chance for the Isles to make a statement. If they want to be taken seriously as a playoff threat, it starts now.
Meanwhile, a minor league shuffle flew mostly under the radar, but it’s a reminder of just how stable the Islanders’ AHL setup has been. Bridgeport has been their affiliate for 25 years - a rarity in a league where minor league partnerships can change on a whim.
Before that, the Isles bounced around from Fort Worth to Indianapolis to Springfield (twice), and even spent time in Denver and Salt Lake City. Bridgeport has brought consistency, and in a development league, that kind of stability matters.
Around the league:
Last night delivered some fireworks.
Steven Stamkos notched a hat trick, Boston exploded for three goals in just 54 seconds against Vegas, and Pittsburgh went one better - three goals in 37 seconds to stun Edmonton. Blink, and you missed it.
The Islanders can’t afford to blink right now. The Olympic break is coming fast, and if they want to be in the playoff mix when it ends, these next seven games are going to tell us a lot about who they are - and who they still might be.