The Islanders are home to the lowly (but rested) Columbus Blue Jackets and it sounds like they’re expecting a packed, raucous, holiday-season crowd.
At 20-14-2, the Isles are part of a Group of Death pack in the Metro, so every point is important and every chance to bank two against downtrodden competition is essential.
Alas, the Isles have not been too thorough in that department, and a loss tonight would add to a first-half narrative of missed opportunities against lower-standings teams. Almost as impressive as the Blue Jackets’ 10-21-2 record is their minus-46 goal differential, third-worst in the league.