I'M JUST SAYIN'
* My favorite offensive line for the moment has Jean-Gabriel Pageau centering Zach Parise on the left and Hudson Fasching rounding out the right.
* Pageau epitomizes the bromide, The Little Things Mean A Lot.
* J-G's presence instantly makes the Islanders harder to play against.
* Fasching looms as the "find" of the late season.
* Meanwhile, Parise is playing as if he's 28 and not 38.
* Zach may be what they call "A Bottom-Six Player" but -- with 18 goals -- he easily could be on the first line.
* Alexander Romanov's game has improved since the season's half-way point.
* Al's monster hit on Tomas Hertl was a game-changer against San Jose.
* Sometimes it takes a while for a new line to jell. That's why the second unit of Engvall-Nelson-Palmieri has been impressive in recent wins.
* Engvall brings speed; Nelson skill; while Palmieri has a grinding style that fills out the trio.
* In its annual yearbook, The Hockey News listed Simon Holmstrom fifth among the Islanders Top 10 Prospects and now he's on the top line with Bo Horvat and Anders Lee.
* The THN Holmstrom scouting report went like this: "Elite skater and plenty of upside. He has consistency coaches love."
* I'm enthused now that coach Lane Lambert united "The Energy Line." On their game they could be a not-so-secret weapon in the stretch.
* One reason why the Isles have remained in the Wild Card mix minus Matt Barzal has been the collective effort.
* No single player is "replacing" Barzy. Rather, one night it might be Brock Nelson; another night Kyle Palmieri or a Hudson Fasching right down the line.
* After Toronto, the Isles meet Columbus and then Buffalo. I don't have to repeat -- but I will anyway -- nobody but nobody can be taken lightly.
* Quote Of The Week: From coach Lambert: "Our structure is our safety blanket."