The NY Islanders need positive results in the next three games

With back-to-back wins for the second time this season, the NY Islanders are right back in the thick of the playoff race in the Eastern Conference.

The Islanders sit just outside of playoff position with 29 points through 29 games. They’re tied in points with the NY Rangers who sit just ahead of the Isles, but the Rangers have three games in hand on their in-state rivals.

The next three games will be very telling of the direction of this Islanders team as we head into the holidays.

The next three games are massive for the NY Islanders

Tomorrow, the Isles host the Los Angeles Kings, before a back-to-back with the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday and Sunday. 

Over the next week, the Islanders absolutely must take at least four of a possible six points. Tuesday night will be a difficult task against a Kings team that has won its last five games, including beating the league-leading Minnesota Wild 4-1 on Saturday night. The Islanders have just two points in their last six games with LA, as the Kings' style of play has hindered the Isles over the last few years. 

The Blackhawks are the NHL's basement dwellers within the league standings, accumulating just 18 points through their first 27 games. Last year, in mid-January, the Islanders traveled to the Windy City against another awful Blackhawks team, leaving without any points. The next day, Lane Lambert was relieved of his duties with the Islanders, and in came Patrick Roy.

With Semyon Varlamov missing the last two games, Roy will have some decisions to make in goal if Varly remains out. Ilya Sorokin has been between the pipes for the Islanders last five outings, including back-to-back games this weekend. He’s due for a rest, but when will Roy elect to sit his starter? Does he play Sorkin on Tuesday and Hope Varlamov is healthy enough to start one of the games against Chicago, or does he start Marcus Hogberg on Tuesday and go with Sorokin for both against the Blackhawks?

No matter which way, the Isles must take four points out of the next three games. If they can get five or even six, that would be a well-welcomed bonus