The Islanders take their three-game win streak and unlikely wild card push into a late afternoon meeting with the Flames, who are in an identical position in the Western Conference. Calgary is currently two points behind the Blues for the second wild card out there, coming off a third-period comeback win in Newark that helped them keep pace with St. Louis.
After doubting and dismissing this team for weeks, I think I finally get them: as with the stretch run during the last couple of seasons, they like high-stakes hockey. They thrive and step up then. (Especially if their goalie is on fire.