The New York Islanders have piled up losses — regulation and OT — all January, with only two wins over pushover teams, losing ground in the wild card race, shuffling through callups and strange combos in response to all the injuries. The latest appears to be Samuel Bolduc, a decently regarded blueline prospect who may get his NHL debut. Bolduc scored twice over the weekend.
The Isles have four games left before the break, a two-game swing through Ontario before a back-to-back at home this weekend. It starts with a visit to Toronto, whose Maple Leafs are coming off an embarrassing blown-lead OT loss to the Canadiens, one of the two dysfunctional teams the Islanders have actually beaten this month.