(AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
EAST MEADOW, N.Y. — Needless to say, the last two results for the New York Islanders were massive in keeping their playoff hopes alive.
An overtime victory against the Central-leading Dallas Stars and a 5-3 triumph over the Detroit Red Wings, who hold the No. 1 Wild Card spot in the East, has the Islanders six points back of a Wild Card spot and five points back of third place — an automatic playoff qualifier — in the Metropolitan Division.
“It’s funny because I think people considered us to be quite a ways out of it when we’re not that far out of it,” forward Brock Nelson told amNewYork on Friday. “With the confident group that we have and the ability to go on a run, things can change fast.”
Nelson is a part of one of those changes that has suddenly brightened the outlook of things surrounding the Islanders, who looked to be in serious trouble just one week ago following a demoralizing loss to the New York Rangers at the 2024 NHL Stadium Series that headlined a skid of five losses in six games.
Head coach Patrick Roy has moved Nelson, who leads the team with 27 goals, from second-line center to first-line left-winger alongside Bo Horvat and Mathew Barzal ahead of Monday’s win in Dallas.
The early results have been good. The trio — all of whom have had extensive careers at center — has accounted for four of the Islanders’ last eight goals across the last two wins, including a pair from Nelson on Thursday night in Detroit.
“I think all three guys can read and react off one another,” Nelson said. “All three played more center than any other position, so it’s about being able to read off one another and filling lanes and just go out there and make plays and be a different maker.
“We’ve had a couple good games, but we’d like to generate a little more sustained O-zone time to create more chances.”
This is the kind of line that the Islanders have not had in ages. Nelson is now a…
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