The Islanders are riding a 4-0 start to a seven-game stretch away from home that includes three consecutive overtime wins, which is both inspiring and classic “that’s the luck of the draw” kind of muddied reflection of where they are.
The East is a mashup of meh-ness but the Islanders now find themselves in wild card position, a wild (sorry) turn after an 0-3 start.
And even if the NHL’s current overtime regime obscures rather than reveals teams’ nature, how the Isles got there says a little something. Rebounding from a late equalizer in Jersey, equalizing late (after blowing a 2-0 lead) in Vegas, and then forcing overtime again in Utah with a late kick goal by Jonathan Drouin, setting up yet another of what will surely be more Barzal-Schaefer highlights.
This team right now is fun and at least doesn’t throw in the towel even when they’re outmatched, as they will be tonight against the NHL-leading 12-1-5 Avalanche. To ease their arrival, Brock Nelson had several over for dinner.