Islanders January Situation Much Different Than In Recent Seasons

The Islanders play 12 games in the month of January, six against teams not in a playoff spot.

The 2024 portion of the Islanders season was a failure. They’ve struggled in every facet of the game, outside of face-offs, and sit seventh in the Metropolitan Division, five points out of a wild-card spot.

What will the 2025 portion of the season bring?

The Islanders play 12 games in January, eight of which are on home ice. However, home ice has not been an advantage for the Islanders, who have a record of 7-8-2 at UBS Arena.

But, if there was ever a time to turn that around, eh?

Six of the 12 games are against teams not in a playoff spot, but the Islanders don’t have the luxury of treating any opponent differently because they’ve proven any team can beat them.

In the last few seasons, the Islanders have entered the month of January in similar spots, finding themselves part of the playoff conversation but not safe in a playoff spot.

In both seasons, it was important that the Islanders start the new year well, but last year, they didn’t, going 3-7-3 in January.

In January of 2023, they went 4-8-3.

What saved the Islanders in both of those seasons was that the teams around them also struggled in January, giving them an extra shot at staying in the race.

But this January is going to be different.