Islanders' Playoff Odds Soar Despite Tough Road Ahead
The Islanders despite a coaching change and inconsistent play find themselves holding a playoff spot with five games remaining
The New York Islanders have been up and down all season long, and they entered this week with just an 11.3% chance of making the playoffs. Wins over the Flyers, Blackhawks, Blue Jackets, and Predators now have the Islanders holding the third playoff spot in the Metro division while they're also a point up on the Red Wings for the final Wild Card spot. The Islanders are suddenly favorites to make the playoffs after the massive week.
The week went perfectly for the Islanders outside of allowing the Flyers to pick up a point as the game went to overtime. The Islanders got some help as well as the Sabres beat the Capitals, Penguins beat the Capitals, Rangers beat the Red Wings, Hurricanes beat the Capitals, and the Flyers lost their seventh straight game.
The Islanders will need to continue their winning ways with five difficult games remaining. The Isles will face the Rangers twice while they'll play the Canadiens in between. The following week they'll take on the Devils and then the Penguins in a game that will have major playoff implications.
The Rangers will certainly be a difficult draw as they continue their push for the top seed in the East as well as for the President's trophy. The Canadiens will be a must-win for the Islanders as they've lost four of their last five games and sit eighth in the Atlantic Division. The Devils will likely be eliminated by the time the teams play however the motivation of dealing a blow to the Islanders will have the team playing hard. The Penguins are jockeying with the Islanders for the final playoff spot in the metro and the game may decide who makes the postseason.
Goaltending Must Stay Hot Over this Stretch for the Islanders
A major reason the Islanders won all four games this week was thanks to terrific goaltending. The duo of Sorokin and Varlamov are getting hot at the perfect time combining to allow just six goals over the four games this week. They'll face a massive test in the Rangers whose offense has been on a tear as of late scoring 23 goals over the past five games. The Islanders goaltenders will need to steal a game against the Rangers while holding serve against a struggling Canadiens team.
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