Barry Trotz woke up Friday morning after an overnight flight home from Ottawa following the Islanders’ latest loss with the realization that his team still held a playoff spot.
Somehow.
The Islanders have lost three straight in regulation, including Thursday night’s 4-3 defeat to the Senators who are out of the playoff race.
The Islanders are in an 0-3-2 skid, are 2-7-2 since Casey Cizikas (left leg laceration) was hurt and 10-13-5 since top-pair defenseman Adam Pelech (Achilles’ tendon) was lost for the season.
Yet the Islanders are two points ahead of the surging Rangers, who have played one extra game, for the Eastern Conference’s final wild-card spot and three points ahead of the Hurricanes, who have played one fewer game.