New York Islanders: Three things to watch for during the last 10 games
Top players coming back around
The last four games, Anders Lee has scored a goal. While the Isles captain known for scoring scoring a goal in four straight games might not seem that important on the surface, it really is. Because if Lee can stay hot going into the playoffs, and can score at least five to six more goals this season, the Islanders instantly become a bigger threat.
The Islanders’ specialty is this year is that they are a deep team with production from all four lines, I have talked about that and do not feel inclined to get into it again. What this article is really about is how the next 10 games should be used as primers for the playoffs.
That is what Anders Lee being as hot as he is is going to impact. In the playoffs, the Islanders won’t get away with a lot of the stuff they do now, they won’t be able to keep up with the star power of the team they would be playing in a seven game series if they go through the scoring slumps we have seen from them before.
As great as the Robin Lehner-Thomas Greiss duo has been, the playoffs will need to consist of the Islanders scoring more than two goals a game more consistently, no matter how we look at it.
The Islanders have Mathew Barzal. He is a perennial point scorer and will be a pest in the playoffs. We also know what he will bring these last 10 games. He isn’t the issue.
What is encouraging for the Islanders is Anders Lee lighting the lamp again. If Lee and Barzal can both be at their best consistently like they have been, the Islanders will be dangerous. Lee scored again against the Wild and when he is going, it allows Mat Barzal to help other players score and maximize their skillsets.
Plus, if it does turn out the Islanders will be without Casey Cizikas, arguably their best play this season, for the next 10 games and beyond, it instantly axes a huge part of this Islanders team, the fourth line.
Injuries like that change the lines so much. There needs to be a constant. If the Islanders can finally get a constant on that first line, or at least Lee or Barzal, then they can at least be on par with the rest of the NHL for a while. Then injuries won’t hurt them as much.
dark. Next. How this is already one of the best Islander teams ever
So, that’s it. These are the three biggest things to watch for during the last 10 games. These things and clinching a playoff birth are the biggest things to watch. But, clinching a playoff berth/the Division title will come naturally if they can get back to firing on all cylinders once again.