New York Islanders

The New York Islanders are 41-20-2, making them 1st in the NHL’s Metropolitan Division with a two-point lead over the 2nd place New York Rangers. New York is 22-8 at home this season. The team has reached the 40-win mark for the 1st time since 2006-2007. Earlier in February, the Islanders won eight games in a row and have won 19 of their past 25 home games. Talk about hot streaks!

The Islanders are one of metropolitan New York’s three NHL teams, whose primary fan base is Long Island. The team has not made a playoff appearance since 1992-1993, and last won a Stanley Cup in 1983. The team will be moving into the Barclays Center, home of the Brooklyn Nets, beginning with the 2015-2016 season.

Earlier this week, the team defeated the Phoenix Coyotes 5-1. In the 3rd period, the Islanders scored four unanswered goals in just under six minutes to break a tied game. After a scoreless opening period, Anders Lee scored the Islanders’ 1st goal in the 2nd period. Phoenix’s Mark Arcobello scored next to tie the game. The team’s four unanswered 3rd period goals were scored by: Matt Martin, Johnny Boychuk, Kael Mouillierat and Brock Nelson.

On Tuesday, the Islanders announced that defenseman Nick Leddy agreed to terms on a seven-year contract through 2021-2022, reportedly worth over $38 million. Leddy is 23 years old and has scored eight goals this season so far. The Islanders acquired him in a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks in October 2014 along with goalie Kent Simpson. Leddy was with the Blackhawks when they won the Stanley Cup in 2013.

The Islanders also defeated the Calgary Flames at home on Friday night, 2-1. Ryan Strome scored New York’s initial goal in the 1st period and after a scoreless 2nd period, Cal Clutterbuck scored the 2nd in the final period. The Islanders have seven home games out of their upcoming thirteen through the month of March.

St. Louis Blues

The St. Louis Blues are currently 2nd in the NHL’s central division with a record of 38-18, nine points behind the division’s 1st place leader, the Nashville Predators.

The Blues were one of six expansion teams added to the NHL in 1967. As a result of the playoff format in place at the time, the Blues made it to three straight Stanley Cup Finals appearances from 1968-1970, although their opponents in each of these series swept them. Hockey greats Brett Hull and Brendan Shanahan played for St. Louis in the 1980s and ‘90s and from 1980-2004 the Blues continued to maintained a playoff presence. In 2005-2006, the team finished with their worst season record in more than 26 years. The next playoff appearance for the Blues came in 2009, where they faced off against Vancouver Canucks, but did not advance to the 2nd round. In 2013-2014, the team reached the 100-point mark for the 6th time in franchise history and also obtained 52 wins, a franchise record.

On Thursday of this week, the Blues announced their acquisition of Adam Cracknell, a forward from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for future considerations. Cracknell actually spent his 1st four years in the NHL with the Blues from 2010-2014 and with this trade, will initially report to the Chicago Wolves, the Blues’ AHL affiliate team.

The Blues have lost three of their last four games and will play 11 of their next 14 games on the road. With that said, the team is 16-10-2 on the road, currently making them the 6th best team on the road in the NHL. The Blues face off against the Winnipeg Jets Thursday, February 26th. The Blues have won their last five games against the Jets. To extend that streak to six, the Blues will need to get back to their strong style of play that led them to success earlier in the season. This is something the team has been struggling with recently and the players must continue to stay healthy and free of injuries as the playoffs are approaching in the near future.