The road remains wide open for any wild card contender trying to piss it away.
After suffering an entirely expected if not predictable (who expected a 4-0 deficit to be followed by a 4-3 comeback?) loss in Tampa, the Islanders now have 10 games left on the 2024-25 schedule as they head into Raleigh for the back end of this tough road back-to-back.
With results last night, idle Montreal fell back up into the wild card spot thanks to Columbus losing in regulation to the Senators, but in the late game the Rangers jumped both of them to claim that spot with a win in San Jose.
Of course, all three teams have two games in hand on the Smurfs, so in a vacuum this race would look like a toss-up. But we’re not living in a vacuum, we’re living in a dystopia where all of these teams are trying to cough it up, which means…well damn, it really is still a toss-up.
Tonight’s First Islanders Goal picks go here.
Islanders News
- The Isles made a surprising comeback against the backup goalie, but it was too little and all that. [LHH | Newsday]
- Three Takeaways: “Sometimes the bounces just don’t go your way,” says the guy who scored and is just glad to be here. Sure, sure. Also: “Aside from Boqvist drawing in for Reilly, the other defense pairs were shuffled as well. Alexander Romanov played with Noah Dobson and Adam Pelech played with Tony DeAngelo.” [Isles]
- “Details” and the same mistakes. [Post]
Elsewhere
Saturday’s full slate of NHL scores also included the Red Wings beating the Bruins, and Toronto hopping into first in the Atlantic.
- The Rangers face a fun dilemma with the conditional first rounder they traded for J.T. Miller. Bonus gratuitous mention of Hugh Jessiman. [Post]
- Shane Pinto and the Senators are betting they can handle the pressure to make the playoffs. [Sportsnet | TSN]
- With Minnesota being dumped from the NCAA playoffs, some of their top players inked ELCs, including Oliver Moore and Sam Rinzel with the Blackhawks [ESPN] and Jimmy Snuggerud with the Blues. [ESPN]