New York Islanders: With playoffs clinched, what happens next? – 3 things

Next man up

I do have to admit that the New York Islanders have been sort of lucky with injuries for most of this season. While many players missed a lot of time, it never really seemed to de-rail the team and the next man up was always admirable in the absence.

Now, the injuries are starting to pile up. Andrew Ladd is out for the season and a while (again), Valtteri Filppula will miss the first round of the playoffs and maybe anything beyond that, and now Tanner Fritz, the man replacing Filppula, is out for the foreseeable future.

The Islanders are hurting for center depth at the worst possible time, but like I have been saying, and like we all knew, this team will be fine. Not one single injury could de-rail them. If it hasn’t happened yet, it won’t.

However, I do have to add that a big reason why the injuries piling up haven’t been that bad the last few games, well the games where the Islanders were scoring, was mostly because the cream has been rising to the top. The Islanders’ top line of Anders Lee, Mathew Barzal, and Jordan Eberle have been great. Against the Jets, Eberle had three points, then another goal against the Sabres, when they clinched. Mat Barzal has had four points in five games, including ending his goal drought in Winnipeg, and Lee has three points in his last two games.

Even though the injuries continue to pile up, the Isles will be fine in the playoffs if those three players keep up the great work. They are playing out of their minds right now and it will pay dividends if they go into the playoffs hot.

If the top line is coming through in the clutch, we could see a lot more games like the win in Winnipeg, in the playoffs. Where even if they fall behind, they won’t give up and can rely on their best trio of forwards to come through for them.

The Islanders need a lot of things to go right for them in the playoffs, any team with intentions of winning the Cup does. But, if the Islanders can go into the playoffs after winning both of their two biggest games remaining, having Mathew Barzal producing points, the rest will take care of itself, no matter who they play.  Let’s not forget, Robin Lehner keeps winning games, the team is finally rallying around him and things in general are looking up for the Islanders.

They are in the playoffs. What happens next can only be speculated, but just know, this is one of the better Islander teams we have ever seen. Win or lose in the first round of the playoffs, they will and should be taken seriously.