As the NHL season enters its final quarter of the regular season, there are two teams in the East that haven't made much noise in recent years, but plenty of people are paying attention to them now: the New York Islanders and the Pittsburgh Penguins.
In the new calendar year, there aren't any two teams that have been hotter.
Since January 18, when the Islanders won in Philadelphia by a score of 4-2, New York has a record of 11-2-5 in 18 games. This means that they came away with at least one point in 16 of 18, and took 27 of a possible 36 points over the stretch. The Islanders have haven't lost two consecutive game in regulation play since January 15 and 16, when they dropped one game at home against the Lightning and another in Pittsburgh, and they have jumped from being 12th in the conference to their current No. 7 spot.
At No. 7, New York has amassed 73 points in 64 games played. Atlanta is No. 6, with one more game played at 65 and just one more point than the Isles with 74. The Penguins have a firm grasp on the No. 5 position, as they have four more points than New York, 77, and have played two games less.
The Islanders are not just hot, but with the recent additions of right winger Richard Zednik and the Edmonton Oilers' heart and soul, captain Ryan Smyth, New York has positioned itself to make a strong push this coming spring.
The Pittsburgh Penguins have been just as hot as New York, if not hotter. Since January 13, when they won at Philly 5-3, breaking a three-game losing streak, the Pens have gone 16-3-2 in 21 games, have taken 34 of a possible 42 points, and did not lose back-to-back games, in regulation or overtime, until this past week, when they dropped a 5-1 decision at Tampa, and followed that with a tough 1-0 home loss against the first-place New Jersey Devils.
The Penguins have truly been the talk of the league this season, and understandably so, as young sensations Sidney Crosby and Jordan Staal have meshed terrificly with veterans like Mark Recchi and Gary Roberts, and they have kept Pittsburgh in the thick of the hunt all year.
It looks as though the Penguins will hold on to second place in the Atlantic Division, with the Devils playing great hockey and probably out of Pittsburgh's reach, as Pittsburgh is most likely out of the reach of the Islanders. They're in fifth place in the conference, and barring a collapse by them or the teams in front of them, they will likely be right there at No. 5 come playoff time.
Now, combined with the addition of a tough guy like Georges Laraque, Pittsburgh could be close to returning to the glory days of Mario and Jaromir.
In the new calendar year, there aren't any two teams that have been hotter.
Since January 18, when the Islanders won in Philadelphia by a score of 4-2, New York has a record of 11-2-5 in 18 games. This means that they came away with at least one point in 16 of 18, and took 27 of a possible 36 points over the stretch. The Islanders have haven't lost two consecutive game in regulation play since January 15 and 16, when they dropped one game at home against the Lightning and another in Pittsburgh, and they have jumped from being 12th in the conference to their current No. 7 spot.
At No. 7, New York has amassed 73 points in 64 games played. Atlanta is No. 6, with one more game played at 65 and just one more point than the Isles with 74. The Penguins have a firm grasp on the No. 5 position, as they have four more points than New York, 77, and have played two games less.
The Islanders are not just hot, but with the recent additions of right winger Richard Zednik and the Edmonton Oilers' heart and soul, captain Ryan Smyth, New York has positioned itself to make a strong push this coming spring.
The Pittsburgh Penguins have been just as hot as New York, if not hotter. Since January 13, when they won at Philly 5-3, breaking a three-game losing streak, the Pens have gone 16-3-2 in 21 games, have taken 34 of a possible 42 points, and did not lose back-to-back games, in regulation or overtime, until this past week, when they dropped a 5-1 decision at Tampa, and followed that with a tough 1-0 home loss against the first-place New Jersey Devils.
The Penguins have truly been the talk of the league this season, and understandably so, as young sensations Sidney Crosby and Jordan Staal have meshed terrificly with veterans like Mark Recchi and Gary Roberts, and they have kept Pittsburgh in the thick of the hunt all year.
It looks as though the Penguins will hold on to second place in the Atlantic Division, with the Devils playing great hockey and probably out of Pittsburgh's reach, as Pittsburgh is most likely out of the reach of the Islanders. They're in fifth place in the conference, and barring a collapse by them or the teams in front of them, they will likely be right there at No. 5 come playoff time.
Now, combined with the addition of a tough guy like Georges Laraque, Pittsburgh could be close to returning to the glory days of Mario and Jaromir.
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