The New York Islanders are entering the Shark Tank on a four-game heater. The Sharks are a team that beat the Islanders earlier in the year, and they must take them seriously.
One of the silliest fan games is called "Check The Schedule For Your Next Two Points."
You get The Maven's drift; Do not take any foe for granted.
And for historical proof, just go back to the final week of the season last April.
Our New York Islanders were on life support when the lowly Blackhawks checked into Pittsburgh, and a Penguins victory seemed as certain as Connor McDavid's next scoring title.
Man, oh, man, this was a no-brainer win for Pitt, right?
Wrong. Chi turned the Penguins into little pits and then spit them out and won the game.
Which is the Maven's roundabout way of saying that the Islanders had better "Beware! Brother, Beware" tonight against the lowly -- though still dangerous -- Sharks.
Not to mention, the ocean predators erased an Isles 4-1 lead in the third period on Dec. 5. before losing 5-4 in overtime, a loss former head coach Lane Lambert called "a sin."
The hope, of course, is that Kyle Palmieri continues his scoring splurge and that Brock Nelson shows how much fun it is to play on a line with Bo Horvat and Mat Barzal.
And that Jean-Gabriel Pageau remains hot now that he's playing his best hockey of the season.
You know the rest. Pedal to the metal, lads. Take San Jose seriously. These Sharks still can bite!