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Upcoming seven-game homestand can make or break the rest of NY Islanders season

The New York Islanders will start their season-long seven-game homestand on Tuesday night against the Ottawa Senators riding their first three-game winning streak of the season.

Jan 11, 2025; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; New York Islanders left wing Anders Lee (27) celebrates with defenseman Adam Pelech (3), center Brock Nelson (29), and defenseman Ryan Pulock (6) after a goal against the Utah Hockey Club during third period at the Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Creveling-Imagn Images
Jan 11, 2025; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; New York Islanders left wing Anders Lee (27) celebrates with defenseman Adam Pelech (3), center Brock Nelson (29), and defenseman Ryan Pulock (6) after a goal against the Utah Hockey Club during third period at the Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Creveling-Imagn Images | Christopher Creveling-Imagn Images

When looking ahead at an NHL schedule, we often presume and point out critical points of the regular season. Sometimes, the West Coast trips, the back-to-backs, and the games against top contenders prove to be important but not season-making or ruining in any way, but sometimes they do.

The New York Islanders have one of those stretches coming up. Heading home with a three-game winning streak after Saturday night's come-from-behind 2-1 win over Utah Hockey Club, the Islanders are set to enjoy a seven-game homestand at UBS Arena, starting with a game against the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday night. “For us to come back in the third period, I think it's good for our confidence, and it's good for us,” said head coach Patrick Roy after the win. “I think winning tonight will bring even more confidence. We're going home for seven games, and it was good timing to have a good streak like this.”

After dropping to a season-worst four games under. 500, the team's first winning streak of the season, has them with a 17-18-7 record and 41 points, five points behind the streaking Columbus Blue Jackets for the second Wild-Card spot in the Eastern Conference. It was only a matter of time before some of the teams in the muck would start playing better. Columbus, one of the best stories in the league, has won four in a row, and Detroit has rolled off six straight wins after making a coaching change that has given them a bump.

The Islanders have not been a good home team this season, with a poor record of 7-9-2. The homestand offers a chance to establish a home ice advantage, continue to pick up ground and work its way up the standings against teams that are slightly ahead of behind them. In addition to the game against the Senators, the Isles will play Columbus and two games with the Philadelphia Flyers. They'll also get their first look at first-overall pick Macklin Celebrini and the San Jose Sharks before finishing up with games against the Carolina Hurricanes and Colorado Avalanche.

“Now we feel it,” Mathew Barzal said after his game-winning goal versus Utah. “It just takes a game or two and I think we felt it after the big Boston win. Then we walked into Vegas and played the same way. We did more of the same tonight. So that was a tough road trip. Those are three good teams, three tough buildings since and you couldn't ask for a better road trip.”

The Islanders are feeling it at the perfect time, and their schedule is set up so that if they continue to play like they did on the road trip, they will put themselves in a position to battle for a playoff spot throughout the rest of the regular season.

Schedule