The New York Islanders head to Columbus for the third of their nine-game road trip. It pits the two Eastern Conference wild-card teams against one another. Just looking at the point total for each team shows just how far the Islanders have come.
Eleven points separate the first and second wild-card spot. With the Blue Jackets occupying the former at 79 points. That same Columbus team that went on a franchise record 16 game winning streak.
While the Blue Jackets were looking to break NHL records the Isles were barely staying relevant, firmly affixed to the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings.