Because of the Columbus Blue Jackets, the New York Islanders not are probably the most stunning group within the Metropolitan Division.
And due to the Blue Jackets and a spate of surging groups round them, the Islanders not are in a playoff spot, both.
New York (39-26-5, 83 factors) will try and halt an premature shedding streak and climb again right into a wild-card spot within the Japanese Convention on Sunday vs. Columbus (37-21-11, 85 factors) in Elmont, N.Y.
Each groups will full a back-to-back set.
The Islanders accomplished a three-game Canadian swing Saturday evening after they suffered their second straight loss, 7-3 to the Montreal Canadiens.
The Blue Jackets remained sizzling just a few hours earlier with a 5-2 victory over the Seattle Kraken for his or her fourth straight win.
The outcomes gave Columbus sole possession of third place within the Metropolitan Division over New York, though the Blue Jackets have a recreation in hand.
The Islanders are 5-5-0 this month, however their 10 factors are tied with the Purple Wings (4-4-2 in March) for the fewest among the many eight groups jockeying for the ultimate Japanese Convention playoff spots.
New York is simply two factors forward of the Ottawa Senators (7-2-1 this month) and three factors forward of the Philadelphia Flyers (7-2-1 in March). The Islanders are also three factors behind the Pittsburgh Penguins (5-3-3 this month) within the race for second place within the Metropolitan.
The Bruins (6-2-3 in March) and Canadiens (5-4-1 this month) even have extra factors in March than the Islanders. Montreal, which scored 4 unanswered targets to finish Saturday’s recreation, is in third place within the Atlantic Division with 86 factors.
“As soon as we gave up that one to present them the lead once more within the third, we simply sort of broke down after that,” Islanders defenseman Ryan Pulock stated of Saturday’s recreation. “What’s necessary is a regroup in right here. (Sunday is) big, in order that’s the place our focus must be.”
No person has been hotter within the East than the Blue Jackets, who’re making an attempt to make the playoffs for the primary time because the 2020 bubble. Columbus has gone 8-0-3 (19 factors) this month whereas extending its level streak to 12 video games (8-0-4) — a streak that started with a 4-3 additional time loss to the Islanders on Feb. 28.
Columbus is 18-2-4 since Rick Bowness took over for Dean Evason as coach on Jan. 12. The Blue Jackets have been in final place within the East with 45 factors, seven factors out of the second wild card and 10 factors behind the Islanders, who have been in second place within the Metropolitan.
The win Saturday was the fifth wire-to-wire victory of the month for the Blue Jackets, who’ve outscored the opposition 44-29 during the last 11 video games.
“We all know the place we’re at,” stated defenseman Damon Severson, who scored the Blue Jackets’ second objective Saturday. “We have battled this far to get within the place we’re in, to sort of battle again and put us in a great place right here transferring ahead.”
–Area Degree Media
