How big is tonight's Islanders game against the Boston Bruins? Stan Fischler says it's the most important.
I have to admit that five months into this National Hockey League season, I have no clue -- none whatsoever -- what to make of this New York Islanders hockey club.
They go into Dallas and beat the Stars. They go into Detroit and beat the Red Wings.
It's enough to make one think that, yeah, there's a making of a streak and a serious run for a playoff berth.
But then, I think back to that horrendous third-period flop at MetLife Stadium against the Rangers -- not to mention the overtime blunder -- and wonder what this team is all about.
What we will know sometime later tonight should the Blue and Orange win, sure, let's get excited about a genuine winning streak.
But we've been burned with a build-up-to-a-letdown before.
The Bruins are an elite team, and their standing proves the point. Beat them, and I'll be impressed.
As for the victory over Detroit, what impressed me was coach Roy placing Brock Nelson on the line with Bo Horvat and Mat Barzal.
They produced big-time, which means the trick is to get the second and third-liners to deliver.
We got a goal from the Third Line (Cizikas with Engvall and Holmstrom) and Kyle MacLean gave the two-thirds Identity Line good energy.
Defense combos were interesting, to say the least -- Pelech-Dobson, Romanov-Pulock, Aho-O'Reilly. For the most part, they worked.
I have no idea whether Roy will keep them intact.
But this much I do know; Isles had better win at UBS!