Islanders & Rangers set for battle with playoffs in the air

When the NHL decided to have a season this year the expectations were high for two of New York's three hockey teams. The Rangers were considered by many to be the proverbial favorite in the east after their incredible run to the Eastern Conference Finals last year, and their off-season acquisition of Rick Nash.

The New Jersey Devils, while showing their age in front of the net, and losing Zach Parise to Minnesota in the off-season, still had one of the best scorers in the sport in Ilya Kovalchuck and were defending Eastern Conference champs coming into the season.

Almost everyone forgot about the third team in New York, the Islanders.

Always the last to the party, and the most forgotten team in a town of 10 professional sports teams in New York/New Jersey, it is easy to forget that the Islanders even play in this zip code. In fact most people probably would associate the MLS New York Red Bulls with this area, before they ever think of the Isles.

That is how far the Islanders have fallen in the last decade plus. Terrible hockey, coupled with a crumbling arena, and rampant rumors that the club would move to Kansas City, Missouri, and you can easily forget the Isles even exist. And this is the hockey team with more Stanley Cup titles (4) than the more popular Rangers (2), and Devils (3).

This year has been a reinsurance year for the Islanders. They have punched their ticket to become co-tenants with the Brooklyn Nets in the Barclays center come 2015, and are building a young team that is this close to clinching a playoff spot. That's right the Islanders and playoffs in the same sentence.

The Islanders lead the big spending Rangers by a game for the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference Playoffs, while the Devils, thanks to injuries and inconsistency, are going to miss the playoffs for the first time in a very long time.

On Saturday night at the crumbling Coliseum, the Islanders and Rangers will square off in a game that will bring more than bragging rights back to the fold for the first time in years.

Playoff seeding is on the line.

Both teams are trying to hold off the Winnipeg Jets just to qualify for the playoffs; and both are hoping to jump up the standings just to avoid the death sentence of facing the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round.

It helps the Islanders that they are coming into this game on fire. They have won eight of their last ten games, including a thrilling 2-1 victory in Boston on Thursday.

Evegeni Nabokov, who wouldn't even think about grabbing headlines from fellow goalies Martin Brouder of the Devils and Henrik Lundqvist of the Rangers, is probably playing the best of three goaltenders in this area.

Nabokov has given up only six goals in the last five games, including making 30 saves in 31 chances against the Bruins on Thursday, and making 26 saves in 27 chances against the Flyers this past Tuesday. In the month of April, Nabokov has saved 95 percent of the shots attempted on goal -- the highest percentage of the season. He is a big reason for their success of late.

Offensively the Islanders are getting fantastic play from the kids: Josh Bailey, John Tavares, Michael Grabner, and Matt Moulson. All of them have found ways to contribute in many ways, whether it's putting the puck in the net, or setting up their teammates with assists, or creating massive confusion for opposing goalies -- the Islanders have done it.

Now, can they take out their neighbors from downtown Manhattan?

Any Ranger fan will tell you that this season has been disappointing in many ways. Some nights the Rangers look like kings of the East, others they look like a group of overpaid slouches. And don't confuse Public Relations with Rangers coach Jon Tortarella.

After getting blanked in consecutive games to end the month of March, the Rangers have played better of late. They have won four of six, including playing two impressive games against Pittsburgh. The Rangers blew out the Penguins two Wednesday's ago 6-1, then fought like hell to get a point in a overtime loss to them the next night.

We all know that the Rangers success begins and ends with Lundqvist in goal. The Rangers are also getting more consistency through their line-up. Rick Nash (17 goals), Derek Stephan (14 goals), and Ryan Callahan (11 goals) lead a talented, unpredictable line-up -- and probably the toughest test Nabokov has faced during the Islanders streak.

Both teams are likely to make the postseason, but for one last test before the real games begin this will be a treat for New York hockey fans.