What's the point?
The point is that the New York Islanders' 5-4 overtime loss to Columbus last night was a BIG point, all things considered in the turbulent Wild Card race.
The point is that seven out of a possible eight points over the past four games -- three of which were on the road -- is not too bad. As a matter of fact, it's commendable-plus.
The point is that Brock Nelson recovered well enough to score a pair of goals against the Blue Jackets, including the big tying counter in the third; with a key assist from Bo Horvat.
More to the point, in the wilder-than-wild Wild Card race coach Lane Lambert's skaters have a four-point pillow on Florida and a three-point cushion on Pittsburgh.
Granted that's not a lot of breathing room, but when you look back to January and then check on the club where it is now, you have to give the lads credit.
In mid-January -- for three and a half weeks -- the Isles only win was a nail-biter at home over Montreal. They didn't score in the third period for eleven straight games. At that time, the thought of them being in the thick of things as they are now was no more than a dream.
Considering the above -- and then a glance at the team today -- I regard last night's point as part of a brief pause for station identification. It was, in a sense, a respite in the midst of this tension-filled homestretch run.
The pause that refreshes ends at 5 p.m. tonight when the Sabres invade UBS. In the meantime, let's take a gander at the Columbus contest -- along with some cogent comments from savvy hockey people, including MSG Networks' Thomas Hickey right now and Brendan Burke a bit later.
"I give credit to the Islanders for finding a way in the third period," Hickey asserts.. "They completely outplayed Columbus and got a point, although they wanted two."
Zach Parise agreed that the club "left one on the table" but the 38-year-old continues to skate like a colt and score goals as if he was a decade younger.
By reaching the 20-goal mark, Zach and his dad J.P. Parise became the fourth father-son combo in NHL history to light 20 red bulbs on the same team.
Meanwhile, Kyle Palmieri -- seven points in his last four games -- is maintaining a healthy pace. His third period goal catapulted his mates back into the game while Bo Horvat was terrific on face-offs and was responsible for setting up Nelson on Brock's all-important third period goal.
Of all the pleasant surprises in this month of March, Hudson Fasching's steady point production ranks at the top. He now is enjoying a four game point streak -- via his eight assists -- and has been on the scoresheet in seven of the last nine games. Amazingly, the big guy is almost delivering a point per game with nine points -- 4-5-9 -- in his last 11 games.
Among the defenders, Scott Mayfield hit a new career high with his 20th point of the season and Noah Dobson is up to his 18th power play point thanks to a four-game point streak.
The Islanders steady and relentless climb up Mount Wild Card has been impressive. Zachary Weinstock, co-author of the upcoming islanders 50th Anniversary commemorative book, has studied the club's revival over the past two months and is impressed.
"The Isles have been skating hard and making simple plays," Weinstock concludes. "They lean on people. They pound people and maybe that will be enough for a Wild Card."
But there's no time for comedy; not with the visiting and very motivated Sabres within six points of Pittsburgh for the second Wild Card spot.
So, what's the point? That's easy -- the Isles need a win at home tonight!
COMMENTS: I asked super play-by-play guy Brendan Burke for his view of the game in Columbus. Here's BURKE'S BYTES:
"It was not a 'must win' but it was a game that the Islanders needed and they let it slip away. They settled for one point and are still set up for a stretch run that can get them in the playoffs, but walking away from the weakest opponent on their schedule stings.
"Ilya Sorokin kept them in the game early while they found their legs. Then they hung him out to dry in the second period and the game turned. But it still had the feel that if the Isles got an early goal in the third period, they'd be okay. They did and they were. But it also felt like they put a 'Mission Accomplished' stamp on their game once the score was 4-4. They just didn't have the same intensity in the rest of the third period. It was not a good night for the Islanders but they'll take the point and look for a better performance against Buffalo."
ABOUT BO: In terms of his contribution to the team, Bo Horvat is doing everything possible to help the club win. He's winning face-offs and -- on Brock Nelson's tying goal -- it was Bo who won the draw and got the primary assist. He's been hard, on and off the puck and is playing heavy minutes while doing everything possible to score. He's had three or more shots on goal in the last five games and just needs one red light -- even if it's an ugly one -- to relieve the frustration.