The Islanders are struggling so far during the 2021-22 NHL season. They are dead last in the Metropolitan Division, and every loss puts them deeper into the hole. Let’s analyze their year so far.

Road Trip

When the 2021-22 NHL schedule was released this past offseason, Islanders’ fans knew the team was in for a challenge. They were set to play the first 13 games of their schedule on the road as their new home, UBS Arena, was still being constructed.

First and foremost, the Islanders have never been a strong hockey team on the road the last two seasons under head coach Barry Trotz. In the 2019-20 season, the Islanders amassed a record of 20-9-6 at home – a year later, they finished 21-4-3 at home. They have, however, struggled on the road, posting a 15-14-4 record on the road in 2019-20 and a 11-13-4 record on the road the next season.

One Game Away

After going all the way to Game 7 of the final four last season and losing Game 7 in heartbreaking fashion, fatigue and burnout was expected to be a factor for the Islanders.

The Islanders were so close to ending the final season at the Nassau Coliseum with a Stanley Cup. However, the Islanders did not have enough in the tank to beat the Tampa Bay Lightning.

What made matters worse was every fan, analyst and commentator knew whoever won that series was likely going to win the Stanley Cup. The loss was excruciatingly painful to Islanders’ fans – and especially the players. Players were sobbing in the post-game press conferences talking about how close they were and how badly they wanted to win it for the fans.

A Decent Start

Even with these challenging circumstances, the Islanders’ road trip was not a failure. After starting the season with two non-characteristic blowout losses, letting up 11 goals in two games, the Islanders went on a seven-game point streak. In those seven games, Ilya Sorokin recorded three shutouts. The Islanders scored 19 goals in those seven games and only let up eight – not including the shootout.

However, after seven games of strong Islanders’ hockey, the wheels fell off the bus. In the next four games on the road, the Islanders gave up 19 goals and only scored four.

Even with these uncharacteristic losses, the Islanders’ record after a long 13-game road trip, the second-longest in NHL history, was 5-6-2. Only being one game behind .500 with that much time on the road was not bad.

When the Rangers were on the road to start their season in 2013 when Madison Square Garden was being renovated, the Rangers finished their trip 3-6-0. They made the Stanley Cup that year.

Things Are Getting Bad

But since the Islanders have returned home, it has been the worst-case scenario.

Before the Islanders were set to pay their final game on the road trip against the Florida Panthers, longtime Islanders’ forward Josh Bailey tested positive for COVID-19.

Now, Bailey, Kieffer Bellows, Zdeno Chara, Ross Johnston, Andy Greene, Anders Lee and Adam Pelech all are in COVID-19 protocol – not to mention, Brock Nelson and Ryan Pulock are out with lower-body injures.

Hopefully, the Islanders’ luck will soon turn; otherwise, a promising season could be over before it even truly began.

Ethan Halle

Ethan is an Economics Major at the University of Florida looking to pursue a double major in Sports Management with a minor in political science.