After the NHL pulled out of the Beijing Winter Olympics due to COVID-19 concerns and postponed games, the league made changes to the Islanders’ schedule (as well as all 31 other teams’ schedules) in order to make up those games.

On Jan. 19, the NHL announced a revised schedule for all games impacted by COVID-19 postponements. The league also, changed originally scheduled game dates changed in an effort to accommodate makeup games. For the New York Islanders, that meant 13 modifications. Some of the games include a Western Canada swing, their inaugural visit to Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, and eight home games against Eastern Conference teams.

Although the Islanders are in a rough spot in the standings, the adjusted schedule will make or break their season.

West Coast Trips

The Islanders’ Western Canada trip, with games against Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary and Seattle, was postponed due to attendance issues at Canadian venues due to COVID-19. The team will start in Vancouver, then face the two Alberta teams, and make a final stop in Buffalo. However, the team’s trip to Seattle and California will wait for a week, as they’ll play two home games with Boston and Montreal. Both games were rescheduled from their original dates in March and December respectively.

However, following the game against the Canadiens, the team will work its way down the west coast, visiting first the Seattle Kraken, then the San Jose Sharks, Los Angeles Kings, and Anaheim Ducks. After a final stop in Colorado against the Avalanche, the team will return to the eastern time zone for the entire month of March.

While that last development is great for the Islanders, perhaps they shouldn’t go back to New York so quickly? In an ideal world, a stop in Dallas or St. Louis could help to break up the road trip, but those games remain set for April. While the increased travel might be tough for the Islanders, they will have to deal with it as they look to start the second half strong.

Adjusted Home Schedule

While the games against Montreal and Boston are set for February, those games are just the start of the home changes. The remaining changes add to existing homestands.

A game with the Columbus Blue Jackets, now set for March 10, adds a new game to a prior five-game homestand. Also, matchups with the Ottawa Senators and Detroit Red Wings on March 22 and 24 respectively allow for a brief two-game stretch at home as well.

However, the most significant ramifications come in the season’s final month. The Islanders now face the Pittsburgh Penguins twice in two days on April 12 and 14. Also, the team will have a brief two-game homestand to finish the year, but recent changes have upped the potential stakes.

Although the team was originally scheduled to face playoff rival Tampa Bay Lightning on April 28, the original final day of the season, that day now belongs to a division rival in Washington. The Tampa Bay game was pushed back a day, meaning the Islanders’ playoff fate could potentially come down to two games against the league’s best. Although their playoff lives are very much in doubt now, this could be a huge final hurdle for the Islanders to clear if they were to make the postseason for the fourth year in a row.

The Islanders’ schedule changes have a mix of pros and cons. The rescheduled home games can provide a needed boost following long road trips. However, it also provides its series of challenges, as two west coast trips in two weeks is a daunting task. Also, the final two games of the season will be a tall task if the team’s postseason hopes are hanging in the balance.

However, like the 13 game road trip at the beginning of the year, the team will have to survive these changes. The Islanders will need to dig deep if they want to stay in the playoff hunt in the second half.

Matthew Page

I am a first year student at Hofstra University and an avid Islanders fan. I have been writing for Drive4Five since March 2020. My family has been season ticket holders for the team since 2016, and hockey is my favorite sport. As I expand my knowledge in the field of Journalism, I am writing to express my love for the Islanders and the NHL.