The Penguins (25-15-6, 56 pts)  on Tuesday night dropped to the final wildcard spot in the Eastern Conference. The Islanders (26-15-4, 56 pts) 8-2-0 in their last 10 games, continue to hang around in the Metropolitan Division and is it finally time to start buying into the Islanders as having sustainability in race for a top-3 spot in the Metro?

The possession numbers, 5th worst in the NHL, have been poor all season for the Islanders, but the Barry Trotz effect is working to counter that with the 2nd-best Goals For% (57%/+23) at even strength in the NHL. With the Islanders you continue to wait for the goaltending to start trending down but it hasn’t to this point. Robin Lehner is 13-7-0 with a 2.16 GAA, .928 SV% and Thomas Greiss is 13-8-1 with a 2.62 GAA, .918 SV%. These numbers hold where NYI is getting .930 and .920 type goaltending, the Islanders will continue to sick around.