Backed by a dominant performance from netminder Ilya Sorokin, the New York Islanders held off the New Jersey Devils Monday night in what became a 5-1 win with two empty-net goals.
After what transpired Friday night against Columbus and Saturday against Buffalo, a win against an elite team was a significant need.
Let's get to your questions and concerns.
The Bandwagon is open! This team will be a tough out in the playoffs. (@EdMarti59020140)
The New York Islanders have not made the playoffs yet, but their win against the Devils put them in a much safer spot as they embark on their three-game road trip.
When they play the structured hockey they played for the first two periods, they essentially take away their opponents' biggest advantage: speed. Too often this year, slow starts allowed their opponents to get to their game plan, leaving the Islanders on their heels.
They came ready to play and executed their game plan.
I thought Isles played hard and were determined, but without Sorokin, they get blown out of the building. (@islescup13)
Welcome to Islanders hockey. Ilya Sorokin has been the reason for wins. He's a game-changer and a top-three goaltender in the NHL.
Games like Monday night show how valuable Sorokin is and why he deserves to get paid like a top dog in the game. He not only can steal games but certainly can steal series when he's on his game.
I'm not sure there's a good linemate option for Horvat without Barzal. He needs a playmaker who can find him in the low slot or sniper so he can go for deflections. Short of breaking up Nelson line and putting him on the wing, there's not really any good choices. (@dammatteasy)
I agree with this. Simon Holmstrom and Josh Bailey weren't cutting it. Even with new linemates in Zach Parise and Hudson Fasching, neither are the all-star facilitator that Barzal is.
I wouldn't be shocked if Zach Parise and Hudson Fasching were back with Jean-Gabriel Pageau on Wednesday against the Capitals, as Fasching had zero shots on goal, and Horvat went most of that game without one.
Why are the Islanders able to destroy teams like the Devils and Toronto and look pathetic to the bottom feeders of the league (@ThomasB74456064)
I wouldn't say they destroyed the Devils, with two empty-net goals and a few fortunate bounces. They destroyed the Maple Leafs, I'll give you that.
This has been the biggest question surrounding the team for a while. They tend to play down to their competition, and against the more elite teams, they raise their games.
It's mind-boggling. The good news for the Islanders is that they will face good teams if they make the playoffs, so they should raise their game.
The dress rehearsal is over for Engvall, and he's definitely a keeper. He drips Islanders hockey. (@Charlie06308011)
After those first few games, there was concern if Pierre Engvall was good enough to help this team right now.
However, once he settled in, he has become integral to their success, especially the success of Brock Nelson and Kyle Palmieri.
Engvall has "breakaway speed," as Lambert said Monday night. He is noticeable every shift and has four goals and two assists over his last eight games.
Good to see Horvat get a goal, but I'm wondering if part of his scoring drought is the Isles not using him to his strengths. So many of his goals in Vancouver came via redirects, yet the Isles have him stand on the outside during PPs. Feel like that's not where he's at his best. (@Isles423)
I was thinking this the other day while the Islanders were practicing.
Horvat has a quick release and has had success in the bumper spot on the power play, but it seems they've used him on the wing as a one-time option.
When the Islanders acquired Horvat, I went back and watched all of his goals this season with the Canucks, and more often than not, they came from in between the face-off dots via quick releases.
He's also one of the best deflectors in the NHL.
How do you think the Isles match up against the Hurricanes? (At the moment, their most likely opponent? (@FreeWheelinRob)
I think the Islanders matchup against the Hurricanes much better than they do against the Boston Bruins.
The Islanders win the goaltender matchup against most teams they will face. The Hurricanes have playoff experience, making them a tougher matchup than the New Jersey Devils.
As we saw during the back-to-back runs to the semi-finals, it's about those goals in big moments for New York. If they can play that structured Trotz-esque defense with Sorokin locked in, they are a tough foe for anyone.
Also, the Hurricanes are without Andrei Svechnikov, so that's a significant absence.
What do you think the Isles do with Alex Jeffries? Merrimack just finished their run. Do you see a move there? (@pintOFjoe)
I don't see why the Islanders wouldn't sign Alex Jeffries to an entry-level contract. The 21-year-old had a dominant junior year at Merrimack College, scoring 14 goals with 27 assists in 31 games.
The fourth-round pick in 2020 is a finalist for Hockey East's Player of the Year.
It would be a low-risk, high-reward signing—a no-brainer in my book.