This season for the New York Islanders has not been ideal. The Islanders came in last place in the Metropolitan league, with their rival, the New York Rangers, seated atop the leaderboard. This season, the Islanders have suffered from a tremendous number of games being canceled or postponed due to a spike in COVID-19 cases around the winter holidays. Additionally, several players have been barred from competing due to the virus. 

In a statement released by News 12, Islanders’ Head Coach Barry Trotz remarked, “Ideally, I’d like every team to have a full complement of players…but that’s not reality, that’s fantasy hockey right now.” Clearly, the frustration of not being able to take the ice is affecting more than the players and their fanbase.  

Since the rise in COVID-19 in November, a total of eight games had to be postponed for the Islanders. Senior Sophie Ward commented, “It has been difficult to watch the team gain momentum and then have games canceled.”  However, this does provide a glimmer of hope. Since many home games were canceled, the Islanders have a home ice advantage later in the season; this is critical to helping them move up in the Metropolitan Division. Unfortunately, the timing and scheduling of these games has yet to be decided by the NHL, although it appears as if postponed games will be made up in February. This will allow the league to play a round of catch-up for all the games that were squashed due to the rise in COVID-19 cases. 

Since the beginning of this season, the Islanders have dealt with several challenges. Because their home turf, the UBS Arena, was still in the process of construction as the season began, the Islanders had to play 13 consecutive away games. In addition, several players became injured or sick with COVID-19. Senior and Islanders’ fan Connor Rogan expressed that when the Islanders experienced a surge in cases and were off for a week due to postponements, “there is no way to gain a rhythm.” 

According to Fox Sports’ Injury Report on the Islanders, eight out of nine players who were injured were either infected with COVID-19 or in health protocol. Nonetheless, it is still very frustrating for Islanders fans and its organization to see so many of its players be pulled off the ice so quickly. 

Despite the odds, the Islanders have maintained a positive attitude. However, the team was unproductive as the Islanders could not score a win at UBS Arena for their first seven home games; additionally, they are well behind the Boston Bruins for a Wild Card spot in their Eastern Conference. “The Metropolitan Division is the toughest in the NHL and it will be a struggle for the Islanders to try and sneak into a wild card spot,” said Rogan. 

In an interview with WFAN Sports Radio, Islanders forward Mat Barzal commented, “We know we have a ton of games at hand. This team has a lot of resilience, a lot of character, and a lot of good men in the locker room.” 

With lots more of the season to come, and having played the least number of games compared to all other teams, the Islanders still have a shot at the Stanley Cup this season. Sophomore Elena McDonald believes that if the Islanders “practice more and regroup as a team, they will be able to increase their wins and gain more points overall.” 

All that the Isles have to do now is take it one game at a time: “Each game is the most important game of the year to us right now,” said center Casey Cizikas on WFAN. “At the end of the season, if we keep playing the way we are and we keep growing as a group, we’re going to like where we’re sitting.”