Fighting for a playoff spot is something that the Islanders have been used to in recent years and this season has been no different. In the midst of a season full of ups and downs, the Islanders made a coaching change, followed up a six-game winning streak with a six-game losing streak and have seen their playoff chances go back and forth.
But, after Tuesday’s 4-2 win over the Rangers at UBS Arena, the Islanders have won five in a row and currently hold down one of the two Eastern Conference playoff spots that are up for grabs. The Islanders, Capitals, Penguins, Red Wings and Flyers are separated, from the Islanders down to the Flyers, by four points so this could go right down to the wire.
As the Islanders make a push for the playoffs, they’ve been in playoff mode for a while.
“It feels like it’s been like that for a month,” said Islanders forward Bo Horvat. “We’re trying to do whatever we can to win every single night. Every game feels like game seven. It’s great and it’s what you want. You want to be in the playoff hunt and play these meaningful games down the stretch.”
With 87 points, the Islanders are in third place in the Metropolitan Division. The Capitals have 85 points and hold the second Eastern Conference Wild Card spot. Right behind them are the Penguins and Red Wings with 84 points and the Flyers with 83 points.
Every game feels like a playoff game.
“It’s been like that for a while,” said Islanders defenseman Mike Reilly.“I think we’ve approached every game kind of as a must win in a way. The room has been pretty calm although we need wins. We’ve played a lot of playoff hockey type games here lately and I think that will benefit down the road.”
The Islanders have been maintaining a “one game at a time” approach and that next game will be Thursday night when they welcome the Montreal Canadiens to UBS Arena. Even though the Canadiens are out of the playoff picture, it’s not a game that the Islanders can take lightly.
On Tuesday night, the Canadiens hammered the Flyers 9-3.
Over the course of their history, the Islanders have had, at times, a “Rangers Hangover” following wins over the Blueshirts. That can’t happen on Thursday night.
“Let’s keep playing well like we’ve been doing,” said Islanders Head Coach Patrick Roy. “Montreal is coming into town and we’re going to have to be ready for them.”
The Islanders’ magic number to clinch a playoff spot is down to six points with four games to go. Following Thursday’s game with the Canadiens, the Islanders will visit the Rangers on Saturday, face the Devils Monday in New Jersey and then end the season next Wednesday against the Penguins at UBS Arena.
In what has been a somewhat weird season, the Islanders are right there at their time of year.
“We’ve been through a lot this year,” said Horvat. “We just keep plugging away and proving people wrong and just keep grinding it out all the way to the end here. We still have four hockey games down the stretch and they’re not going to be easy and we have to be at our best.”
There have been times this season when things look bleak for the Islanders, but that’s why, throughout their franchise history, they’ve earned the nickname “Never Say Die-Landers”.