Andy Graziano, SNY.TV Twitter
The Islanders board a flight to Dallas on Tuesday, a day earlier than they would have left under normal circumstances, to continue their nine-game road trip.
What's not normal about a Tuesday in February? In case you have been living under a rock, Wednesday at 3 p.m. ET is the NHL trade deadline. And with the Islanders engaged in a back-room brawl for the final Eastern Conference wild card spot, it's their last opportunity to search for help outside the organization -- help that could get them over the hump and into the playoffs. And that's where every team, thanks to parity that now rules the day, has a chance at the big prize.
Third place in the Metropolitan division is a pipe dream at this point, with New York trailing Columbus by 15 points with 21 games to play. With the best division in hockey getting better after Washington acquired Kevin Shattenkirk Monday night, they trail the rival New York Rangers by 14 points, making the first wild card spot and a trip into the Atlantic division bracket also an extremely long shot...
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