When last we checked in, the Islanders were dropping in opinion polls and our own rankings alike, and for good reason. This past week, they did nothing to change the perception that they're in a slump right at the time when they ought to be peaking.
Weekly Roundup of Opinion Polls
Site | Updated | New Ranking | Prior Ranking | Comments |
CBS | 3/29/2016 | 13 | 14 | The Islanders have lost five of their last seven games and look like they'll have to settle for a wild-card spot, barring some wild swings late. It seems they miss Jaroslav Halak quite a bit. |
ESPN | 3/28/2016 | 13 | 14 | The Islanders have scuffled of late and entered Saturday's game with four losses in their previous five, but New York posted a 4-3 win over the Hurricanes. The Islanders remain in the first wild-card spot in the East. |
TSN | 3/29/2016 | 13 | 7 | The Isles have three wins (two in regulation) in the past 10 games, and backup ‘tender Jean-Francois Berube, who has started five games in his NHL career, has won two of the three. |
THN | 3/23/2016 | 17 | 11 | Isles in the "Mushy Middle" section. "John Tavares likely won’t recall his 500th NHL game fondly. The Islanders lost 4-1 and he was scoreless, marking his fifth game without a goal. The Islanders have four goals in their past four games." |
SI | 3/29/2016 | 17 | 17 | The Isles took two of three last week to pull out of a potentially devastating slide, but they have to be concerned about their goaltending heading down to the wire. Thomas Greiss is 1-5-1 in his past seven starts and has allowed at least three goals five times. J.F. Berube struggled mightily in a win against the Hurricanes on Sunday, allowing a pair of brutal goals. Time for one of them to step up or the Isles could be sitting out the postseason. |
Average | 14.6 | 12.6 | The goaltending is great until it isn't. |
There is nothing to add to accurate statements. Onward.
LHH Power Rankings
Games through 3/29/16.
(6) | (4) | (3) | (2) | (0) | |||||
Reg | OT | OT | Reg | LHH | LHH | ||||
GP | W | W | SO | L | L | Pts | Rating | ||
1 | Washington Capitals | 75 | 43 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 16 | 309 | 123.2 |
2 | Dallas Stars | 77 | 38 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 22 | 278 | 115.9 |
3 | St. Louis Blues | 77 | 34 | 7 | 9 | 5 | 22 | 269 | 112.3 |
4 | New York Rangers | 76 | 36 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 25 | 258 | 110.0 |
5 | Chicago Blackhawks | 77 | 34 | 9 | 3 | 5 | 26 | 259 | 109.1 |
6 | San Jose Sharks | 77 | 35 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 28 | 254 | 108.7 |
7 | Los Angeles Kings | 76 | 32 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 26 | 254 | 108.6 |
8 | Florida Panthers | 76 | 34 | 1 | 10 | 6 | 25 | 250 | 108.4 |
9 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 76 | 34 | 5 | 8 | 4 | 25 | 256 | 108.1 |
10 | Anaheim Ducks | 75 | 35 | 4 | 7 | 6 | 23 | 259 | 106.2 |
11 | New York Islanders | 75 | 32 | 5 | 9 | 4 | 25 | 247 | 106.2 |
12 | Tampa Bay Lightning | 76 | 34 | 7 | 6 | 2 | 27 | 254 | 106.0 |
13 | Philadelphia Flyers | 75 | 25 | 10 | 10 | 5 | 25 | 230 | 103.0 |
14 | Minnesota Wild | 77 | 34 | 1 | 5 | 9 | 28 | 241 | 102.5 |
15 | Nashville Predators | 77 | 34 | 1 | 5 | 12 | 25 | 247 | 102.2 |
16 | Boston Bruins | 77 | 31 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 30 | 232 | 100.6 |
17 | Colorado Avalanche | 77 | 33 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 34 | 226 | 100.2 |
18 | Detroit Red Wings | 77 | 27 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 28 | 231 | 98.7 |
19 | New Jersey Devils | 77 | 26 | 9 | 8 | 2 | 32 | 220 | 98.3 |
20 | Carolina Hurricanes | 77 | 24 | 8 | 6 | 11 | 28 | 216 | 95.1 |
21 | Buffalo Sabres | 77 | 26 | 3 | 9 | 4 | 35 | 203 | 91.7 |
22 | Montreal Canadiens | 77 | 27 | 3 | 8 | 3 | 36 | 204 | 91.5 |
23 | Winnipeg Jets | 76 | 27 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 38 | 193 | 90.3 |
24 | Arizona Coyotes | 76 | 28 | 5 | 2 | 6 | 35 | 206 | 90.2 |
25 | Ottawa Senators | 76 | 22 | 6 | 12 | 3 | 33 | 198 | 90.0 |
26 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 76 | 20 | 2 | 12 | 5 | 37 | 174 | 86.4 |
27 | Calgary Flames | 76 | 21 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 38 | 183 | 86.3 |
28 | Columbus Blue Jackets | 76 | 23 | 1 | 10 | 4 | 38 | 180 | 86.2 |
29 | Vancouver Canucks | 76 | 19 | 4 | 8 | 9 | 36 | 172 | 83.3 |
30 | Edmonton Oilers | 79 | 20 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 42 | 173 | 81.0 |
The Isles are still above average for the year, but drop a spot as they lost to their only quality opponent (Tampa), beat the 25th ranked team in regulation, and had to go to overtime (worth less than a regulation win) and a shootout (worth even less) against the 20th ranked team.
Again, nothing really to add. Nothing's new. Carry on. There are two weeks left before all comes to a head.