For the past two seasons, the New York Islanders have been perilously positioned on the brink of the Eastern Conference playoff picture. It could be decided over the following 11 days whether the Islanders stay in their precarious position or eventually fall off.
The Islanders’ frustration was heightened by the fact that the Blues’ opening three goals, which came in a 32-second span in the middle of the period, were the fastest three-goal burst in team history.
The third quarter saw Islanders coach Patrick Roy substitute goaltender Semyon Varlamov, just before Pavel Buchnevich completed his hat trick with an empty-net goal.
The Islanders lost the opportunity to take sole possession of ninth place in the Eastern Conference and close the gap on the Lightning, who currently hold the first three spots, by three points.
With 60 points, the Isles, Washington Capitals, and New Jersey Devils are five points and six points behind the Lightning and Detroit Red Wings, respectively. On Thursday night, the visiting New York Rangers defeated the Devils 5-1.
“We need wins right now,” captain Anders Lee of the Islanders stated. “We’ve got to start making some moves here.”
For the Islanders, who started a six-game home stand against contenders on Thursday, movement isn’t going to be simple. Following their hosting of the Lightning, New York plays the Dallas Stars and Red Wings, who lead the Central Division, before hosting the Boston Bruins and Blues, who moved into a tie for the last Western Conference wild-card berth, at home.
