Doug Weight gave his players Monday off following an emotional week. Jack Capuano was fired on Tuesday, Weight replaced the longtime coach and the Islanders played three games in four nights, culminating in Sunday’s 3-2 overtime loss to the Flyers.
The Islanders’ 3-0-1 week has helped them get to the fringe of the Eastern Conference playoff race, but the real tests are still to come: The next three games are against the Blue Jackets, Canadiens and Capitals, three of the top four teams in the East, with Columbus coming to Barclays Center on Tuesday for its first visit of the season.