Eyes On Isles
Fansided

Islanders: Three theories on what will happen when hockey comes back

By Michel Anderson

UNIONDALE, NY - APRIL 25: A general view of the arena prior to the game between the New York Islanders and the Washington Capitals in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2015 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on April 25, 2015 in Uniondale, New York. The Islanders defeated the Capitals 3-1. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
UNIONDALE, NY - APRIL 25: A general view of the arena prior to the game between the New York Islanders and the Washington Capitals in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2015 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on April 25, 2015 in Uniondale, New York. The Islanders defeated the Capitals 3-1. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 28: A general view of the arena prior to the game between the New York Islanders and the Carolina Hurricanes in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Barclays Center on April 28, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

What will the NHL do if the 2019-20 season is allowed to resume? And what does that mean for the New York Islanders?

As we wait for word from health officials and governments that it’s OK to congregate in large crowds, the 2019-20 NHL season has been put on hold. When the 2019-20 season returns (and hopefully it does) , what will that mean for the New York Islanders?

Before the season was suspended, the Islanders were no longer in a playoff position. The final wildcard spot in the Eastern Conference is held by the Columbus Blue Jackets who are a single point ahead of the Islanders.

For the first time in a long time, the Isles are on the outside looking in. That 17 game point streak from earlier in the season has been completely eroded.

But the season wasn’t suspended with a clean break. While the Islanders have played 68 games this season, others have played 69 games, 70 games, or even 71 games. Those aforementioned Columbus Blue Jackets have played 70 games.

Would be it right for the Islanders to miss out on the playoffs even though they haven’t played the same number of games? No. Of course not.

Although I’m sure Columbus Blue Jackets fans would see things quite differently. It not their fault that their schedule was packed tighter than the Islanders or that they took more points than the Isles.

So, while we wait for the season to return, here are a few different ideas on what the league might do to either finish the regular season or seed the playoffs immediately upon their return to action.

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