It became abundantly clear at the start of the 2022-23 season that New York Islanders head coach Lane Lambert and his players did not want to discuss what transpired during the nightmarish 2021-22 campaign.
At this time last season, the Islanders were playing for one thing--pride--as struggles with COVID-19, injuries, and lackluster play had them on the outside looking in the entire season.
As we sit here on March 27, with eight games to go, the Islanders hold the top wild-card spot in the East, with a slim one-point lead over the Pittsburgh Penguins and a four-point lead over the Florida Panthers.
"It's the best, really. There's nothing like it," Islanders 38-year-old forward Zach Parise told The Hockey News. "Having just important games this time of the year, trying to get yourselves in, and then playoff hockey, there's nothing better."
Obviously, the Islanders would like to be in a safer position.
"I'd love to be in and have that sense of like, 'let's work at it, but let's prepare ourselves for the playoffs,' but we really don't have that luxury right now," Parise said. "Just the excitement of playing for something and playing for playoffs, it's great.
"It's such a fun time of the year."
Although the Islanders haven't clinched a playoff spot and likely won't, with how tight the race is, they are in the driver's seat.
"We've given ourselves a chance," Parise said. We've got some tough games that are coming up, but we're in a spot where we're not relying on other teams, and when we take care of our games, then we'll get in."
Twelth-year Islander Matt Martin is just counting down the days.
"It's what we play for," Martin told The Hockey News. "It's not a lot of fun playing for nothing. We did that last year. You're just counting down the days, really, to be honest with you, because you want to play in the playoffs, and you want to be playing important games, and to your point, we've had that opportunity this year, and we've got a big stretch coming up here against some good teams, so we got to find a way to win."
The Islanders aren't waiting until the playoffs to play playoff-type of games. They've been doing it for a few months now.
"We've been playing playoff games now for what six weeks it feels like...eight weeks. So now our goal is to get to the dance." Martin said. "It really doesn't matter to us, I guess, where we finish. You're gonna have to beat good teams. You're gonna have to run into them eventually, anyway.
"The two years that we went to the conference final, we had tough matchups early on and found a way to win, so we're just focused on getting there, and then we believe in this group that once we're there, we can do some damage."
Fourth-year NHLer Noah Dobson is excited for another opportunity to play playoff hockey if they can get there.
"This time last year, we weren't playing meaningful hockey. You're just trying to show up every night and put in a good effort, but this is what you play for," Dobson said. "You want to be in these games. If you said at the start of the season that at this time of the year, with what eight games left, that would be right there in the mix, that's what you take.
"So it's a great opportunity. I think guys strive in it, and it makes it exciting to come to the rink every day.
As for how close the race is, Dobson thinks it's incredible for the league.
"I feel like our division, it's always a dogfight," Dobson said. "And I think coming into the year, you're well aware of that. It's talked about how it's going to be tight to the end, like how good the division is. I think it's great.
"I think the parity around the league, even if you look out to the west, you're four points from first in the west or in a wild-card position, so it's great for the league."
Dobson continued: "It's tight, and obviously all the teams--most of the teams here down the stretch--are all playing for something, so it's gonna be great games."
The New York Islanders continue their road to the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs as they host the New Jersey Devils Monday night at UBS Arena.
Get ready for the action HERE.