Islanders beat Blackhawks to inch closer to playoff cutline with reinforcements on horizon
The goal has been to tread water until healthy, and after beating the Blackhawks, 5-4, at UBS Arena on Thursday, the Islanders are back at NHL-.500 — the definition of treading water — with wins in three of their past four and a group of injured stars getting close to returning. That is as good a spot as the Islanders have been in all season.