If the New York Islanders hope to remain in the playoff race—because despite our kvetching yesterday, they're not yet out of it and surely don’t want to be—they will need to start stringing together some more wins. After rattling off three impressive wins on UBS Arena ice sandwiched around Christmas to close out 2022, the Islanders have just one win over a 1-4-1 stretch to open 2023 and have maybe six or eight (of 18 total) good periods of hockey to show for it depending on your level of generosity.
Tonight’s game against the Montreal Canadiens is a prime opportunity to reverse this ugly course.