NY Islanders face a November opportunity they can’t afford to waste

The New York Islanders needed Thursday’s 5-2 win over the Los Angeles Kings.

Now they need to build on it.

Brayden Schenn led the way with a goal and two assists, continuing to show why Mathieu Darche wanted him last season. Fans can debate the price paid to acquire the veteran center, but his production has been difficult to question.

Ilya Sorokin delivered another strong performance, stopping 26 of 28 shots, while Matthew Schaefer marked his 100th NHL game with a first-period goal that put the Isles ahead 2-1. Ryan Pulock contributed two assists in his return to the lineup, and Matias Maccelli added one in his first game back.

Getting both players back and having them contribute immediately was encouraging for a team still missing Mathew Barzal. His eventual return would provide another boost, but a healthier lineup alone won’t solve everything. The Isles need results.

That makes the rest of November an important stretch, especially with a tougher December schedule ahead.

Carolina and New Jersey have already built substantial leads in the Metropolitan Division. Calling either team uncatchable in November may not be premature, but the Islanders are very much in the mix for 3rd place in the division or a Wild Card spot, as they usually are, and they can't afford to give up ground to Washington, the Rangers and a slew of teams in the Atlantic Divison.

The opportunity to make a move is there. Eight games remain this month, with 16 points available. Only three of those eight matchups are against teams with winning records, including two meetings with Winnipeg.

That guarantees nothing. The Isles have enough trouble finding consistency without assuming any opponent represents an easy two points. But this is a stretch they need to take advantage of.

Twelve points from those eight games is a reasonable target. Reaching it would help turn Thursday’s win into the beginning of something meaningful and put the Isles in a stronger position entering December.

They don’t need to settle the playoff race before Thanksgiving, but it's hard to ignore the opportunity this month to put themselves in that position.

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