New York Islanders facing another must-win against Philadelphia Flyers

The New York Islanders square off against the Philadelphia Flyers at UBS Arena on Friday night. Like every game from now, this matchup is a must-win for the Isles.

Saying that this matchup is a must-win is not a cliché. It’s actually a serious situation. The Islanders are last in the Metro Division with 45 points. They trail the Flyers by five.

But there is a silver lining. The Islanders have played 46 games thus far, the lowest total in the division. They have five games in hand on the Pittsburgh Penguins and four on the Flyers.

That situation means that the Islanders can easily make up ground in the remaining time left this season. But that means going out there and winning every game, well, at least maintaining that mindset.

As I’ve underscored earlier, the blown third-period leads from the first half of this season have truly come back to haunt the Islanders. Instead of having 19 wins, the Isles could have as many as 23 or 24, putting the team in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff race.

With the Islanders going 5-5-0 in their last 10 games, there’s some reason to believe that the team could turn things around. The Isles are riding a two-game winning streak and look to be finally getting more consistent efforts.

Unfortunately, there is very little margin for error at this point, making every game a must-win for the Islanders at this point in the season.

New York Islanders just now finding their true identity

One of the narratives from the first half of the season was the number of injuries hitting the Islanders. Indeed, the losses of Anthony Duclair and Mathew Barzal up front were devastating. The injuries on the blue line, with Adam Pelech, Mike Rielly, and Alexander Romanov all missing time have been significant.

Since returning, most of these players have needed additional time to get back into the flow of things. So, it seems like the team is coming together at this point, making Patrick Roy’s vision more palpable. I know it’s unusual to say that a team is finding its groove in late January.

But when considering the sheer number of injuries, it makes sense to think it would take the New York Islanders this long to truly find their identity. However, the loss of Noah Dobson will be another test the Isles will need to pass this season.

Nevertheless, the Islanders could be a very good hockey team down the stretch. The path won’t be easy as the Isles are scheduled to face tough teams like the Carolina Hurricanes and Tampa Bay Lightning multiple times heading down the stretch. There are also games against Western Conference teams like the Dallas Stars, Colorado Avalanche, and Edmonton Oilers which should prove challenging.

Still, the Islanders have their best chance to this year to salvage their season. Otherwise, the club could be looking at a lost season, forcing team management to sell off pieces at the deadline.