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The Islanders, down three goals twice, had one of the most improbable wins in their history Friday, defeating the Detroit Red Wings, 7-6.
The win, while a great present to Jon Ledecky on his 60th birthday, doesn’t the fact that this is an extremely flawed team. New York has given up an NHL-206 goals. They are on pace for 302 goals. The last 13 teams to give up 300+ goals in a season failed to make the playoffs. The last ones to do so: the 1992-93 Nordiques (300 GA) & Kings (338, who went to the Finals). They have allowed 5+goals an NHL- high 16 times this season.
The Isles have scored at least six goals eight times this season and have won 45 straight games, dating back to 2005, when they score at least six times. Friday was the third time this season they have scored seven.
The Isles need to build upon that crazy win tonight against the Calgary Flames. Tonight will also marked the return of Travis Hamonic. The defenseman played 444 games in seven seasons with the Islanders. Hamonic was traded to the Flames last June for a first and two second round picks.
The haul that they got for Hamonic was suppose to be used to improve the current team. It has not. The trade deadline is two weeks away and it remains to be seen if Garth Snow will trade those picks.
Jaroslav Halak will get the start tonight. Halak replaced Thomas Greiss in the third period Friday and picked up the win. It was the ninth time in 21 starts Greiss allowed five goals. The team cannot put Greiss out there anymore. The Islanders have five back-to-backs the rest of the season. It also not a given that Halak can withstand the workload down the stretch. Snow needs to acquire a goaltender and probably two defensemen by the deadline. Greiss’s contract is basically un-tradeable. You can bury him in Bridgeport.
One potential trade piece Garth can include in a deal is Brock Nelson, whose hat trick capped the epic comeback Friday. The ever streaky Nelson has four goals and three assists in the last four games. Include him in a deal now while he’s hot.
Believe it or not, the Isles can finish second in the Metro or miss the playoffs although. Garth needs to improve this team now so they can have home-ice advantage for the first time since Ledecky’s 30th birthday.