The Islanders are hobbled by two injuries, which could fully expose some long-running issues.
With two key injuries on the blueline and a generally average at best form in recent weeks, the New York Islanders face a critical run up to the All-Star break with five of six remaining games at home, all against beatable opponents.
Come out of it with a good record, and they will have survived the worst of the injuries to Johnny Boychuk and Travis Hamonic and either fixed or at least temporarily masked (again) their flaws.