Fresh off stealing one from one of the league\u2019s few top teams (thanks, Ilya and Simon!), the Islanders now head to the President\u2019s Trophy winner that has fallen on hard, near-bottom times \u2014 though the Jets have now won consecutive games for the first time since November.<\/p>\n
Before the Isles got to Winnipeg, they enjoyed what looks like a pretty sweet off day playing pond hockey at the Lee compound. This team appears to sustain that fun vibe and spirit that keeps them from throwing in the towel while being toyed with by a team like the Wild. With the goaltending they\u2019ve been getting most nights, anything is possible on most nights.<\/p>\n
So that\u2019s made this season pretty fun through the first half or so. (It\u2019s a weird, weird year in the East. Perennial playoff miss Detroit is currently battling for first in the conference with a +3 goal differential.)<\/p>\n
But if we had complaints \u2014 and we always do, even when expectations are low \u2014 we might focus on the power play, which continues to be pretty, pretty bad: its 15.3% conversion rate is second from the bottom of the league. Granted, right now it\u2019s missing Bo Horvat\u2019s slot shot \u2014 and was missing Kyle Palmieri before that \u2014 but a unit with Matthew Schaefer and Mat Barzal should be able to create enough openings for more than that.<\/p>\n
In recent weeks, Barzal\u2019s cross-slot passes have occasionally found gold at even strength and on the power play. The Barzal-Schaefer combo continues to be a zone entry god and can help keep plays alive in tight along the boards. But this team needs to identify confident, willing shooters (plus Anders Lee back in front?) and set them up to succeed. It\u2019s sounds so easy!<\/p>\n
Amid other mid-season concerns, there is of course Horvat\u2019s injury, the constant reliance on top goaltending, the rotating cast of Alex Romanov replacements on the third pair, and the question of whether Schaefer will hit a rookie-year wall. But it\u2019s a luxury to be able to talk about these things now, with the Isles still well in the hunt and second in the Metro.<\/p>\n