Despite the historic scoring issues, the injuries, age, declining vets here we are. A season high eight games over with so many games in hand for other teams that could change everything, by context interim coach Doug Weight's late season run got them to 94 points/12 over, one point shy of the final spot. Last year the eight seeds were decided by Christmas. New York was long gone by early November. They have sixteen games, and need 11-5 to reach what used to be the magic number of 96 points for a playoff seed.
#NYI #isles Sixteen games is a long time, but feels like New York needs eleven wins for what used to be the magic number for 96 points. Today eight over 500. is their highest total of the season.
— New York Islander Fan Central (@nyifancentral) March 8, 2023
I don't see this as a playoff team because Bailey rebound goals, Cizikas goal, and a Fasching kick/break is not how it's scripted to have sustained winning. Having written that so many veterans not named Nelson, Lee, Horvat are long overdue to produce. Martin had a couple recently, but to pull this off they have to ride Sorokin, and find a way to get those 3-4 goals any way possible. Do I expect that to happen? No. Can it happen in this short time frame? Of course.
Here they are, the Pens are putting up goals in bunches again but losing some games too, Buffalo can fill the net or have it filled against them, maybe they have one more year to wait, maybe/not same for Ottawa, Florida, (even Wings) not going away, and I expect one more Caps big streak as they had earlier.
As the song goes, it's up to you, New York, New York. A huge run could even lead to third place.