Islanders feeling the pressure to turn things around now

It may seem hyperbolic to state that the New York Islanders don’t have much time to turn things around this season.

It’s still relatively early in November, and it seems like there’s plenty of hockey to be played. While that’s true, the competition is relentless. And riding a four-game skid isn’t exactly a good way to lock up a playoff spot.

Now, the reason for the urgency is the unofficial Thanksgiving rule. Historical data compiled during the Salary Cap era has shown that teams not in a playoff spot by Thanksgiving only have about a 25% chance of making the postseason.

It might seem like roughly 30% of the season is not enough to really pass judgment on a team. But statistically speaking,…