This is a big one, folks. If the New York Islanders want to ensure that they don’t fall out of the playoff race, they need to take two points from the Pittsburgh Penguins tonight and Monday night, and ideally not concede any points to the Pens.
If the Islanders manage to win tonight, they would put themselves in a playoff spot, albeit with more games played than everyone around them besides the Florida Panthers, who beat the Washington Capitals in regulation last night.
They have had that chance before and not taken advantage, but the sense from the team this week is that they actually are recognizing the urgency of their situation.