Islanders head coach Barry Trotz of against the Los Angeles Kings at Barclays Center on Feb. 6, 2020. Credit: Jim McIsaac
The Islanders have been trending downward since Thanksgiving.
Whether or not they get the chance to reverse that is in question with the NHL season on pause in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic.
But after a franchise-record 15-0-2 run from Oct. 12-Nov. 23 built them a huge cushion in the standings, the Islanders stumbled into the pause on an 0-3-4 slide. That was part of a larger 2-7-4 slump since Feb. 13, coinciding with center Casey Cizikas’ absence after suffering a left leg laceration from the skate blade of Flyers defenseman Ivan Provorov.