Roblogg’s Panthers Portal

Entering tonight’s game versus the NHL’s worst team when it comes to collecting points, the NY Islanders, Florida’s playoff hopes are being squeezed amid unrelenting challenge from the teams around us in the standings. So, getting the Islanders monkey firmly off from the Cats back – would be an, as a good start as any.

The Islanders enter the contest with a season high of four straight wins, including a 3-1 triumph over the Panthers at Nassau Coliseum last Saturday. Now at the Bank Atlantic Center the Cats will be hoping to repeat a 2-0 victory on home ice from earlier this season. The New Yorkers are 2-1-0 against Florida, so it will be a tighter affair than the standings might give the impression of.

Tight is also the word of choice when describing the Eastern Conference playoff race. Florida is sandwiched between the likes of Buffalo, Carolina and Pittsburgh with Montreal, NY Rangers and Philadelphia currently staying out of the mid-table-mash. Yet, that could quickly change: The clubs involved in the race are stepping up their game and teams currently not embroiled in this chase could quickly be caught up with, if they let up on the gas.

Rangers are currently on a three game losing streak, and only picked on point from Atlanta’s visit at the Garden. Philadelphia have likewise struggled, of course losing after the All Star break against the Panthers, but have also lost their last two games. Montreal meanwhile bounced back after their Floridian defeats by slamming the door on the Penguins nose in the Canadiens last match.

Since the Panthers’ thrilling overtime victory against the Maple Leafs, other teams in the Conference were and have been active with the following results:

While we would expect the Hurricanes to be blown away in San Jose tonight, yesterday’s victories for Buffalo and Pittsburgh makes it important to collect both points at stake from the Islanders today. Next follows a tricky trip to in-form Washington on Saturday and after that we entertain the Maple Leafs on Tuesday; before going on a tough trip to Raleigh next Thursday for a crunch match with Carolina. Then follows that fantastic, yet fantastically difficult, stretch of home games again top opposition; Rangers, Capitals, Devils, Blackhawks and Bruins. The month is then rounded off for the Cats with a road trip to Boston, New York (Rangers) and New Jersey.

February will most definitely prove a difficult month for the Panthers and we need to accumulate any points we can to get a little buffer – in case the upcoming schedule proves a little too hard a nut to crack. The Islanders, despite recent form, should be one we can break and collect two invaluable points from. If, that is, the Panthers feel like it is a game that deserves their full attention and participation – both mentally and emotionally (unlike in the last two meetings).

The New York Islanders is, believe it or not, the most in-form team at the moment in the Eastern Conference with four consecutive wins; closely trailed by Washington and Boston who have three respectively. Tampa Bay Lightning has, after that great stretch of victories, become the out-of-form side numero uno with four straight defeats – although one point was salvaged from yesterday’s trip to the steel city. They are followed by the NY Rangers and Ottawa Senators with three, while Philadelphia and Toronto have lost their two previous games.

Here are the current standings for the Eastern Conference, heading in to tonight games:

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