Having been treated to coffee and muffins with my hockey-savvy buddies Rapid Rosner and Scott Charles yesterday, The Maven knows as much as anyone about the Islanders playoff chances.
Having been treated to coffee and muffins with my hockey-savvy buddies Rapid Rosner and Scott Charles yesterday, The Maven knows as much as anyone about the New York Islanders playoff chances.
Which is -- nothing.
Us Three Musketeers concluded that this is the most impossible team to fathom.
Bar none.
A couple of weeks ago, our heroes appeared as dead as the New York (or Brooklyn) Americans.
Tonight -- with a surprising Barry Trotz-managed Nashville Predators visiting UBS Arena -- the Isles can make hay now that their challengers went down to defeat last night.
Us scoreboard watchers gloated as Buffalo -- beware of the fast-flying Sabres -- beat Philly; Carolina beat Washington while the Rangers took out Detroit.
It would be simple to say that the Islanders are "hot" again, but we've been through this in-again-out-again routine to get even a little bit cocky about a victory tonight.
But, yes, there is cause for optimism -- why not? -- since the Isles have moved themselves into Wild Card contention.
After an iffy start in Columbus, Ilya Sorokin re-found his game and was stalwart, holding off Blue Jackets shooters in the third period before Kyle Palmieri sealed the deal with an open-netter.
The Maven would be pleased no end with the following:
1. Brock Nelson skating harder and scoring as he did with mid-season ease.
2. Pierre Engvall having another goal game as he did in Ohio the other night.
3. Whoever is in goal -- STEAL THIS ONE.
4. Kyle MacLean's endless hustle, inspiring his linemates to even more intense heights.
5. More accurate breakout passes and an end to mindless giveaways.
6. Noah Dobson regaining the form that once had us talking Norris Trophy.
I can dream can't I; 'cause neither Rosner, nor Charles, nor the other good Orange and Blue followers can figure our heroes from one game to the next.
The good news is that they're in the thick of it; so now we'll see what they do about maintaining the winning streak.
Or, let's put it realistically. If you had told me back in October that the Islanders would be in this playoff-possibility position, guess what The Maven's reaction would be?
"Thank you very much!"