The New York Islanders’ Current Performance
The New York Islanders are currently enjoying a surge in performance, even in the face of significant injuries plaguing their roster. Key player Ilya Sorokin remains sidelined, having missed six consecutive games, and Bo Horvat has also encountered health issues. Nevertheless, the team has managed to secure five victories against two losses during their last seven outings, including two wins without Horvat.
Recent Victories and Upcoming Challenges
The Islanders’ recent 9-0 victory over the New Jersey Devils has effectively quelled any doubts regarding their offensive capabilities. This dominating performance showcased the team’s talent and firepower at a crucial moment.
“Following this impressive win and highlight reel plays from Matthew Schaefer against the Toronto Maple Leafs last Saturday, the Islanders are set to embark on a daunting seven-game road trip.”
This upcoming journey will mark the team’s second-longest road adventure of the season, comparable to another seven-game excursion they faced back in November. However, that earlier series started with games against familiar foes, the Devils and New York Rangers, while this road trip lacks the comfort of returning home between games.
Previously, the Islanders achieved a remarkable 6-1-0 record on that November trip, achieving notable wins against heavyweight teams like the Dallas Stars and Vegas Golden Knights, with their only loss coming from the Colorado Avalanche. That trip extended over 15 days, where they played seven games within a 12-day span, covering approximately 5,135.6 miles.
This current road trip is not only longer in distance, totaling around 5,719.3 miles, but will also stretch the duration to 18 days since their last home game on January 6 against the Devils, with the team returning to UBS Arena to face the Buffalo Sabres.
Upcoming Matches
Scheduled to kick off on Thursday in Nashville against the Predators, the Islanders are facing a team that recently completed a lengthy seven-game road stint, finishing with a 4-3-0 record before losing their last game to the Edmonton Oilers. The Islanders have struggled in recent history in Nashville, failing to win in their last six visits since October 2017, and will need to start strong against a Predators squad that is also looking to establish home-ice momentum after an extended absence from Bridgestone Arena.
Following Nashville, the Islanders will travel north to battle the Minnesota Wild, who previously defeated them 5-2 in UBS Arena earlier this season, with significant changes to the Wild lineup since then due to trades. The Islanders have not enjoyed much success recently against Minnesota, holding a 0-3-1 record on their past visits.
Next, they will face off against the struggling Winnipeg Jets, who have lost ten consecutive matches, contrasting with the early season game in which Winnipeg triumphed 5-2.
The Islanders will also be meeting the Edmonton Oilers, a team they have not beaten in Alberta since March 2017, as well as the low-scoring Calgary Flames, followed by another clash with the Vancouver Canucks, who previously overwhelmed the Islanders at home last month. The trip will come to a close against the Seattle Kraken, currently vying for a playoff position in the competitive Pacific Division, who had a previous matchup with the Islanders that ended in a dramatic shootout victory for New York.
Conclusion
As they navigate through these challenges, consistency and strong starts will be critical for the Islanders to maintain their recent momentum during this crucial series of away games.
