After a disappointing 1-2-1 road trip, the Islanders are back home on Long Island as they get set for two big home games this week at UBS Arena. Entering play on Monday night, the Islanders are currently holding down the number one wild card spot in the Eastern Conference but they are just on the outside looking in as far as being in the top three of the Metropolitan Division.
Considering all of the injuries that the Islanders have suffered, especially on defense, they feel like they’re in a good position as they look to move up in the standings.
“The division is tight,” said Islanders captain Anders Lee following Monday’s practice at Northwell Health Ice Center in East Meadow. “It’s been tight and difficult for a long time. We’ve put ourselves in the mix and we put ourselves in a position to have success in the future and continue to build our game.”
With a record of 18-11-10 for 46 points, the Islanders are tied with the Flyers for third most points in the division but Philadelphia has more wins. The Islanders are just 3 points back of the second place Hurricanes and they’re eight points behind the first place Rangers who they have not played yet this season.
If the Islanders can start to string together some wins, they can find themselves moving towards the division penthouse.
“We’re in a good spot,” said Islanders forward Brock Nelson. “We still want to get on a run and really boost ourselves. Standings wise, you try not to look too much but at the same time you put an emphasis on trying to bank as many points and getting on a stretch.”
Last season, it took a late-season run and a little bit of help down the stretch for the Islanders to punch their ticket to the playoffs. While they are missing some key pieces right now including defensemen Adam Pelech and Ryan Pulock along with goalie Semyon Varlamov, the Islanders have secured enough points to keep them in the playoff picture.
But the Islanders have some loftier goals.
“I like our position where we’re at right now,” said Islanders forward JG Pageau. “We’re collecting points…keep climbing in the standings. If we’re playing this way, and we still have some learning to do in our game…little details…and we keep getting better, I think we’ll be a dangerous team.”
The Islanders will have two big home games this week before heading back out on the road. They’ll host the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday night at UBS Arena and then the Toronto Maple Leafs visit Long Island on Thursday night.
It’s time for the Islanders to use some good old home cooking to get things back on track.
“It starts [Tuesday] night,” said Lee. “Let’s get in front of our fans and get some energy going and play some great teams.”
Starting with the Canucks, a team the Islanders lost to in Vancouver 4-3 in overtime back on November 15th.
“I thought we deserved a better result,” said Pageau. “It’s going to be good to get them to play here in front of our fans at home. I think everyone is excited to get back and try to get those points at home.”
After these two home games, the Islanders hit the road again for four games on a trip that will take them to Nashville, Minnesota, Winnipeg and Chicago.
But first things first…take care of business at home.
“I think that’s the biggest message for sure is just trying to bank as many points and getting on a run and getting on a roll,” said Nelson. You get a couple of games at home…you gotta take advantage of it.”
“Exciting times ahead and a lot of fun hockey going forward and some great challenges,” said Lee.
After these two home games, the Islanders will be halfway through the regular season and while they’re currently in a playoff position, the goal is to get healthy, rack up as many points as possible and move up the standings.
And they’d like to dig their teeth into those objectives by the time the bye week rolls around at the end of the month.