Islanders are gaining confidence as Patrick Roy keeps positive approach during playoff push

There are several areas of the Islanders’ functionality that can be — and have been — questioned, from the struggling power play and an inconsistent offense overall to a roster construction that trends older and slower when the NHL’s best model requires young and fast.

But it’s unwise to question the Islanders’ quiet confidence and understanding of how they can navigate through obvious flaws to still be a playoff contender.

The Islanders will enter Thursday night’s playoff-like matchup against the Canadiens at UBS Arena three points behind the visitors for the Eastern Conference’s second wild-card spot, with only the sinking Rangers — who have played two extra games — between the teams. Five days earlier, the Islanders were still six points behind the Rangers for the last postseason berth with four teams needing to be hurdled.

But then came twin 4-2 wins over the Panthers at UBS Arena on Sunday and the Penguins in Pittsburgh on Tuesday in which the Islanders twice used four-goal rallies in the third period to overcome two-goal deficits.

Their experience last season of needing an 8-0-1 finish to secure third place in the Metropolitan Division and a win over these same Canadiens in Game No. 82 two seasons ago to earn a playoff berth is coming into play now.

“Confidence is a scary thing,” defenseman Noah Dobson said. “At this time of the year, if you can find it and have that belief that no matter how the game is going or what point the game is at that you can come back and win, that’s huge. We don’t want to be trailing every night but it’s just showing if we are down, we can find our way back and stick with it and good things will happen.”

Also not to be overlooked in the Islanders’ makeup is Patrick Roy’s consistent positivity. It’s easier for the players to believe in themselves when their coach so strongly does.

“I want a positive message,” Roy said. “I’m not afraid to say what I have to say when I have to say it. But, overall, it has to be positive. The guys are working hard. The guys are doing a lot of good things. I think it’s a moment for us, as a group, to stay calm and believe in what we’re doing.”

“I think Patrick does a great job of making us feel confident,” defenseman Adam Pelech said. “That’s very important in this game. Very, very important. It allows us to have the belief in ourselves to come back in games like we did the past two.”

Of course, confidence can take the Islanders only so far. At some point, they need to play with a lead and perhaps — just a suggestion –– score on the power play, which is 0-for-20 in their last five games and ranked last in the NHL.

The schedule is hard with nine of the final 15 games against teams that held a playoff spot on Wednesday. That includes two home matches against the conference-leading Capitals, who would almost certainly be the Islanders’ first-round playoff opponent if they can qualify.

They’re quietly confident they can. That will help.

By Andrew Gross

andrew.gross@newsday.comAGrossNewsday

Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.