Islanders Schedule Was Too Much For Them To Handle
The New York Islanders have had a rocky season. Some of that is due to their schedule. From long road trips to COVID-19 pauses, it hasn’t been an easy road for the Islanders this season, and it only gets harder.
Delayed Opening of UBS Arena
UBS Arena, the NHL’s newest arena, has been amazing, but it opened 37 days after the Islanders season started. The Islanders had to start the season with a 13-game road trip, including three sets of back-to-back games. Through their first seven, the Islanders were 5-2-2, then they collapsed. The Islanders lost their next four, starting an 11-game losing skid. The Islanders could not handle the final stretch of their road trip, as most teams would be after seven straight away from home and their fans. After the hefty season-opening road trip, the Islanders finished with a 5-6-4 record.
Rescheduled Games and Long Breaks
Each time the Islanders were on a role, they got shut down. Between the COVID-19 outbreak, long periods between games, and the All-Star break, the Islanders could not catch a rhythm at any point throughout the first half of the season. Now, the Islanders are dealing with the repercussions of the first half cancelations. On January 19, the NHL announced 13 rescheduled games for the Islanders.
Hectic Final Stretch for the Islanders
The last few months for the Islanders will be tough. The Islanders will play 17 games in March which is the busiest calendar month in franchise history. Starting on March 10 and March 11, the Islanders will have at least one set of back-to-backs each week for the remainder of the season. The Islanders are 6-4-1 in the front end and 3-6-1 in the back end of back-to-backs this season.
April won’t be much easier, as the Islanders have 16 games scheduled. On April 1, the Islanders will start a five-game road trip, 10 of the 16 games in April are coming on the road. As of March 11, only two of the teams the Islanders will face in April have a record below the NHL .500. Nine of their 16 opponents will be against division teams. (NYR, NJD, CAR, PIT, WSH).
It will surely be a tough road ahead for the Islanders as they look to make one final push for the playoffs.
Writer for Drive4Five covering the New York Islanders.
