Now 12 games into the season, the Islanders are entering a fascinating stretch with a big road trip just around the corner, significant injuries that would challenge even a good team, and a squad that has not found its own idea of optimal form in any of the first dozen games of the season. They’re either gonna save their season or accelerate a spiral that just might have implications next offseason.
Making matters worse, the injuries that are testing the organization’s depth are reveling that the coach doesn’t have much faith in the reinforcements. Say what you will about Samuel Bolduc — who once looked promising before an injury appeared to derail his AHL and NHL trajectory — but playing him for five minutes and benching him for half the game after a mistake is not a sign of confidence from Patrick Roy.