Wake Up Call Needed

Its getting close to the most wonderful time of the year on the sports calendar. The Stanley Cup Playoffs are right around the corner. Yes the New York Islanders have already punched their ticket to the dance, for the third year in a row I might add. But the way things have gone the past few games, heck I'd go s far as to say the last few weeks, leave at least this Islanders fan with some level of concern.

There have been stretches this season, where it seems that everything is clicking and moving in the right direction. A direction that seems like the Islanders could equal or even possibly surpass last year's deep playoff run. And there's times where it looks like it's either going to miss the playoffs altogether or make a quick exit. The last two games have been trending towards a quick exit. It's been maddening to watch. They made an ECHL goalie look like the next big thing in two straight losses to the worst team in the league in the Buffalo Sabres. To make matters worse, both of those losses have come on the road, where the Islanders are now 11-13-3. It's even more glaring when you look at their 20-3-3 record on home ice.

It would take a miracle over the final weekend of the regular season for the Islanders to get home ice advantage in their opening round series, as they would need to win out in their final two home games against the Devils and then win in Boston on Monday. Combine that with needing the Bruins and Capitals to lose their games to give the Islanders a chance to host their first round matchup. Now, looking at the other three teams in the playoffs with the Isles, which one is the most favorable matchup? For the first round it would be a better draw facing the Boston Bruins. Why? easy, the Isle have had the Bruins number for most of the year this year. Washington and Pittsburgh have both had better results against the Islanders, not only during this regular season, but the last couple of times the franchises have faced off in the playoffs.

That's only half of it. The other half, and what has driven us fans up the wall, is the inconsistency of the Islanders offense. There's some nights that they set the world on fire and can shoot the lights out. there's some nights where the team looks like its just skating through the motions. I realize that this happens to every hockey team throughout the course of a season, it's part of the game. But you'd like to think that a good, to great, team finds their stride at the right time come playoff time. And don't get me wrong the defensive side of the game has been, for the most part, great. It's been more consistent then the offensive side of the game for sure. There's only so much and so far that the great goaltending and defense can take you. You need to be able to score goals and there needs to be more of that from the Blue and Orange.

They had better get this figured out and get that consistent scoring touch going again, or it could be a quick playoff exit