The Islanders celebrate their 5-4 overtime win over the Golden Knights on Dec. 9, 2025. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The NHL’s parity is so frequently brought up that it has become a cliché, but Mathieu Darche’s words over the weekend rang true as to the state of the Eastern Conference.

“You win two games, you’re in first place in your division, and you lose two, you’re in last place,” Darche said.

Just 11 points separated first from 16th in the East before Wednesday’s games. As a point of reference, 24 points separated first from 16th in the West, and at this time last season, it was 15 points in the East. The Islanders have been smack dab in the middle of that equation for weeks, but woke up on Wednesday just two points behind Washington for the lead of both the Metropolitan Divi

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