NY Islanders need a bounce-back game to keep pace in the Metro Division

Isles need not dwell on the last game and move forward in this crucial three game stretch

Despite the Islanders fast start against the Nashville Predators, the isles failed to secure at least a point in the game due to several blown leads. To say the played horrible is an understatement, giving them opportunity after opportunity with numerous unforced giveaways. Starting tonight against the Washington Capitals on the road, New York has three games in four nights, all against division rivals. Following tonight's' game, the Islanders are away in Pittsburgh, then return to Elmont to host the NJ Devils. The Islanders will face a Capitals' team that has their top goalie tandem on IR, and a top-6 forward and defenseman likely scratched for tonight's matchup.

The Islanders have their playoff destiny in their own hands, as Roy mixes up the lines in morning skate

Following Saturday's disastrous game against Nashville, Islanders' Head Coach Patrick Roy shuffled the line combinations for tonight's game against the Caps. Jonathan Druin, who missed last game due to illness, is in for Max Shabanov. Druin will play center for Emil Heineman and Simon Holmstrom. Matt Barzal and Bo Horvat get a chance to play together again, along side newly-acquired winger Ondrej Palat on the top line. The D-pairs remain the same, with David Rittich getting the start in net. With the next three games worth the proverbial 4-points each, due to the division rivalry, each point is critical to how the Isles position themselves for the playoffs. Pittsburgh is currently 2 points ahead of the Islanders with the Capitals trailing the team by four points and the NJ Devil trail by seven. The teams only have to look into the mirror to see who's responsible for their success at this juncture of the season. With the Olympic break in five days, three games in four nights, and big rivalry games will prove whether this team is a true Cup contender.

The NY Islanders need to prove to themselves they deserve a shot at the Cup.

This is the time of year that makes or breaks a teams hopes of not only qualifying for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but how far into the tournament they go. Will it be the team that started the first five minutes of the Nashville game, or the team that played the remaining 55 minutes? This is a team that can surprise many who might take them for granted come playoff time and again return to an Eastern Conference Final. Hopefully, it won't be the team that had what appeared to be 50+ unforced turnovers in the Preds game. It's in their own hands, and only time will tell.