A quarter of the way through the season, the Islanders are 12-7-2 with 26 points, currently occupying the third spot in the Metropolitan Division. A good start was a team focus, especially given how last season's slow start - 7-10-4 through 21 games - cost ...

The Islanders play their biggest game of the season in Columbus on Saturday night. A regulation win would put the Isles eight points clear of the Blue Jackets in the Eastern Conference playoff race, but the opposite would put Columbus just four back of the Isles with two games in hand.