Sansided
Eyes On Isles
Home/Editorials

New York Islanders: A Year In Review

Dec 31, 2016; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; New York Islanders fans reacts at the glass when New York Islanders player Andrew Ladd throws a puck prior to the game between the Winnipeg Jets and the New York Islanders at MTS Centre. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Fedyck-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2016; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; New York Islanders fans reacts at the glass when New York Islanders player Andrew Ladd throws a puck prior to the game between the Winnipeg Jets and the New York Islanders at MTS Centre. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Fedyck-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 13
Next
Mar 15, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; New York Islanders center Mikhail Grabovski (84) skates on the ice before playing the Pittsburgh Penguins at the CONSOL Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 15, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; New York Islanders center Mikhail Grabovski (84) skates on the ice before playing the Pittsburgh Penguins at the CONSOL Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

January by Farrell Hirsch

The Isles came into the new year on a winning streak but played .500 hockey during the first month of the year. They had a nice come from behind victory against the Rangers. That’s always a feel good story. January 2016 was Mikhail Grabovski’s last full month playing for the Islanders. He scored his last two goals in the first two games of February and played one lonely, experimental, sentimental, game in March. But January was his last full month. Brock Nelson has six goals in the month, including a hat-trick vs Columbus, leaving him close to 20 on the year.

More from Eyes On Isles

But the story that had the greatest effect on everything else that has happened since, was the story of January 23rd. The USA today headlines announced that New York and Long Island were under a “travel ban due to the deadly storm”. Eleven states declared disaster areas, 15,000 flights were cancelled, thirty inches of snow were predicted. Broadway shows went dark. DEAR GOD. NOT BROADWAY!!!!!

This game was made up at the end of the season. Literally AFTER the season was to have ended. It was one of those rare must-lose situations. The Isles pretty much needed to get swept by Buffalo and Philly those last two games to get the second wild card spot, rather than the first. That was what allowed them to play Florida instead of Washington. It allowed them to win their first series since ’93.

Had the game been played in January the Islanders would have been much more likely to win. The Flyers were still struggling to find their footing. On January 23rd The Islanders were healthy, winning, and not resting half a roster with the hopes of losing their way to a victory. Absent that two feet of snow on January 23rd, I fear the Islanders would still be without a playoff series victory in 23 years.

So next time a friend – or message board mortal enemy — asks “What good has Snow ever done for the Islanders?”, you have your answer.

facebooktwitterreddit