After suffering an entirely expected if not predictable (who expected a 4-0 deficit to be followed by a 4-3 comeback?) loss in Tampa, the Islanders now have 10 games left on the 2024-25 schedule as they head into Raleigh for the back end of this tough road back-to-back.
With results last night, idle Montreal fell back up into the wild card spot thanks to Columbus losing in regulation to the Senators, but in the late game the Rangers jumped both of them to claim that spot with a win in San Jose.
Of course, all three teams have two games in hand on the Smurfs, so in a vacuum this race would look like a toss-up.