The Islanders head out on the road winners of four straight, but their newfound good health didn’t last long.
Defensemen Thomas Pock and Mark Streit both missed practice yesterday. Pock will be out for four weeks with a hand injury, while Streit is day-to-day with an upper body injury.
Still, when the Isles face the Panthers tonight in Florida (7:30; MSG+, WMJC) before then facing Tampa Bay, they do so playing better than they have all year. It appears that Scott Gordon’s decision to play the team’s younger players has paid off, at least for now.
“We had nothing to lose,” Gordon said of his decision. “When we got back from [a road trip to] Canada, I knew it would be a tall order to get into the playoffs and figured we’d have to go 30-10. It was hard to believe that would happen for us.”
Particularly after such a dismal first half in which the Isles sank to the bottom of the standings and all but assured themselves the worst record in the league. Their place in the lottery is now up in the air, but even after a four-game winning streak, it hardly alters their chances. That’s something the players are aware of.
“We still have to look at the big picture,” said Mike Comrie. “The team is gaining experience and hopefully that continues.”
Comrie has played better since being put with Bill Guerin and Doug Weight – even as the focus of the team has changed.
“It’s not like we abandoned the older guys,” Gordon said. “And they have played with more urgency. I give them credit. It’s not an easy pill to swallow. But they did what they’re supposed to do.”