Conflicts Of Interest

You've got to love this time of year.

If you're a Ranger fan, you just came off a night of rooting for the Islanders in their game against the Devils. Perish the thought! Sorry we couldn't do more for you guys - it's sort of tough to beat playoff teams when half your players belong in the AHL. And now, Devils fans will root for the Islanders as they take on the Rangers the next two nights. While it's not a rivalry on the same level as Islanders-Rangers or Rangers-Devils, it's still an awkward fit - and that's what the playoff push is all about.

The Islanders have two games left this season, both against the hated Rangers. And nothing is as it seems. As I see it, the Islanders' goals should be as follows:

1. Don't let the Rangers clinch their playoff berth on Coliseum ice. This might not be an issue depending on what happens in tonight's Carolina-Tampa Bay game; Carolina needs at least one point to keep the Rangers from clinching. The Rangers could also clinch tomorrow night if Tampa can stop Washington. No matter what the scenario ends up being, the last thing the Islanders (and their fans) need is for tomorrow night's game to serve as a party for Ranger fans to celebrate their latest playoff berth. Whether the Rangers need the win to clinch or not, the Islanders need to do something to shut up the many Ranger fans who will be in attendance. Winning is the best way to take care of that.

2. Finish with a bottom-five record to qualify for the draft lottery. Any three points earned by Columbus, or any three points not earned by the Islanders, will clinch a lottery spot for the Islanders. That's good. The Islanders might be able to manage that on their own; however, they always get up for the Rangers and could very play spoiler in their final two games. Thankfully, Columbus plays Detroit tomorrow, followed by a home-and-home against St. Louis this weekend, opening the door for the Islanders' ping-pong ball to enter the draft lottery hopper. Thank God.

3. Win at least one game, guaranteeing a win in the season series. The Isles currently lead the series 4-2, with one win coming in a shootout. A win gives them the season series. Assuming no overtime points are awarded - and that's far from a given - a split would also clinch at least a tie in the Hummer Metro Ice Challenge. A sweep would give the Isles the trophy outright. Not that the Hummer Metro Ice Challenge means anything, but it provides supreme bragging rights. Besides, it's all we have left.

Two games left... three objectives left to accomplish. It seems to me like all three are doable. The Rangers can clinch if the Lightning help them out, they can clinch on Friday at the Garden, they can even clinch on Sunday against the Devils... just not tomorrow at the Coliseum as the result of a Ranger win. We can beat the Rangers and get into the lottery, especially since Columbus has two games against the woeful Blues. It's not a playoff berth, but let's be honest - I'd rather go to the lottery than face yet another first-round exit.