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Good Morning, Islanders Country.
Itβs one thing to win the games you are supposed to win during a playoff push, as the Islanders did in Anaheim and San Jose last week. But you wonβt make the playoffs only winning the games youβre supposed to win. No, the Islanders are going to have to find a way to beat teams ahead of them in the standings if they want to keep pace with the surging Florida Panthers and stay ahead of the stumbling Pittsburgh Penguins.
By the way, the Wild Card standings look different this morning:
Per MoneyPuck, the Islandersβ chances to make the post-season shot up to 69% after the Penguinsβ loss to Ottawa on Monday. But as weβve seen, these things can change week-to-week if not game-to-game.
Later tonight at UBS Arena, theyβll have a chance to further strengthen their odds when they host the Toronto Maple Leafs and hopefully arenβt as accommodating as the Martins were hosting Mitch Marner on Monday.
Back when the teams met in November, Josh Bailey scored with under three minutes left to play to tie the game, and Anthony Beauvillier won it in O.T. Bailey isnβt expected to be in the lineup, and of course, Bo Horvat, now scoreless in 11 straight games is here, and Beauvillier is not. The teams met again on Jan. 23 amidst the Islanders' slump that month. You may recall that as the game when they allowed three breakaways and fell 5-2.
Some players are different this time around, including Pierre Engvall, who has changed sides, and others with Toronto among the most active buyers at the trade deadline. But more importantly, the Islanders are playing a different style from when the teams met previously, and that more structured approach will be tested against the skill and speed of the Maple Leafs. Theyβll need to find a next level to their in order to beat a team a rung higher in talent and the standings than them in the Eastern Conference.
Coming up, Samuel Bolduc gets the call-up with Sebastian Ahoβs status uncertain. and Mat Barzal is seen at a basketball game but not on the ice. Plus, a daddy-daughter date 20 years in the making, Ilya Sorokinβs workload, Pat LaFontaine is the hero versus the Rangers, and Anthony Beauvillier still gives Isles fans preferred treatment.
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