Let’s recap, for a quick second, what’s happened over the last month for the Islanders.

The team has played 14 games and experienced a total of six injuries, in addition to the two players who were already out long term. To address the injuries, they have acquired three new defensemen to replace the injured ones. These new additions were previously discarded by their former teams, and all it cost the team was a 2026 fifth-round pick. Despite the setbacks, the team has made significant progress, moving from 15th place in the Eastern Conference, barely holding on to hopes of making the playoffs, to being just three points away from securing a playoff spot. This improvement comes after an impressive 11-3-0 streak, during which they have been playing their best hockey of the season.

If you’re reading this, you surely know all of that already. 

It is worth repeating, though, because I’m not sure anyone has properly digested the extent of just how completely and totally insane this is.