NHL Midseason Shockers: Which Teams Are Soaring and Which Are Stumbling as Playoffs Loom?
New York Islanders: B+
The Islanders’ season hasn’t been perfect — the defense has been shaky, the penalty kill relies heavily on goaltending, and their scoring rate is bottom-10. But this retooling team is still exceeding expectations. The vibes are different since a change in management, and the on-ice product is trending up, too. Matthew Schaefer has been phenomenal, Ilya Sorokin is Vezina worthy, Mathew Barzal and Bo Horvat are leading the way up front, and there have been highlights in the supporting cast. The team plays with a lot more pace this year and has a stronger long-term outlook. — Shayna Goldman
Post Comment