New York Islanders Still Have Four Games in Hand

The New York Islanders are seemingly back to where they were just two weeks ago. They’ll need all the momentum they can get if they’re going to bridge the gap with the Philadelphia Flyers for a wildcard spot.

Making the playoffs is a longshot for the New York Islanders. They’re a full ten points out of a wildcard spot held by divisional rivals the Philadelphia Flyers.

But thanks to that bye week to start the 2017 calendar year the Islanders have four games in hand on the Flyers. Who start their own five-day break this Monday.

The Flyers are in Boston today. A negative result could bring the Isles one step closer to making the impossible possible. Assuming they get those two points against the Hurricanes tonight.

Would you bet against a John Tavares that’s seemingly firing on all cylinders? With a hat-trick last night the Isles superstar looks poised and engaged.

Money Line

New York Islanders +130/-150 Carolina Hurricanes (Opening Lines)

The only issue for the Isles is that they’re terrible on the road and terrible in the second leg of a back to back this season.

On the road, the Islanders are 5-8-4 after that win against the Panthers last night. In back-to-backs this season the Islanders are 1-3-2.

The odds of the Islanders, on those two records alone aren’t good. And Vegas agrees. Making the Hurricanes clear favorites with a -150 opening money line on tonight’s game.

But just like Han Solo, I don’t want to know the odds. The win against the Panthers last night convinced me that the Islanders are back to their pre-bye-week form.

Games are coming in thick to close out the season. It’s the perfect time to get into a groove of form and push up the standings. And maybe. Just maybe. The Flyers will face the same dip in form the Isles got after that bye-week.

More on the Islanders: Are The Islanders The Worst in The League?

New York Islanders Potential Lineup:

Lee-Tavares-Bailey                     Leddy-Pelech
Ladd-Nelson-Strome                 Hickey-Boychuk
Quine-Beauvillier-Chimera      de Haan-Seidenberg
Kulemin-Cizikas-Clutterbuck  Berube (Greiss)

Carolina Hurricanes Potential Lineup:

Skinner-Rask-Ryan                                Hainsey-Faulk
McGinn-Staal-Lindholm                       Slavin-Pesce
Aho-Teravainen-Stempniak                 Hannifin-Tennyson
Nordstrom-McClement-Stalberg      Leighton (Ward)

Next: Isles Need A Plan For The Trade Deadline

Where You Can Watch the Game:

Live: 7pm, ONC Arena, Raleigh, NC
TV: MSG+
Radio: AM 970 – The Answer, 88.7 – WRHU, 103.9 – LI News