Mike and Dan react to a week of huge wins, embarrassing losses and injuries that somehow have the Islanders in a playoff berth again. Thanks to a thrilling comeback win over Pittsburgh and some timely losses to other teams, the Islanders are in the second wild card despite also predicably losing to an ECHL goalie and getting humiliated by the best team in the league. They are one of a pack of flawed teams all desperate to make the playoffs and hoping the Price Is Right wheel lands on $1.00 them. But the Islanders have bigger issues than points and games played - namely key injuries to J-G Pageau, Josh Bailey and Mathew Barzal that could push some lesser depth players into starting roles. In the second half, they look at another major matchup with Pittsburgh, a trade we've all be told is a "home run" swing and why it's pointless to argue in favor of the Islanders online.

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Mike and Dan chart the evacuation of all of the Islanders good vibes in a week that started with a contract extension and two big wins and ended with a pair of head-scratching losses. In victories over the Flyers and Kraken with newly-signed center Bo Horvat, the Islanders looked to finally right their flagging ship. But then losses to the also-ran Canucks and Canadiens left everyone - including the head coach - feeling angry and frustrated. It's only thanks to the incompetence of the teams around them that they are still even in the playoff race. A week with key match-ups will tell us a lot about how the next two months will play out. The hosts also talk about the Rangers landing Vladimir Tarasenko, no one landing Jakob Chychrun (yet) and Lou Lamoriello landing a joke that was apparently an affront to anyone that's ever played hockey anywhere ever.

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Along with their friend Travis Reilly of hardcore band This is Hell, Mike and Dan remember Micheal Haley, who made a huge impression on Islanders fans thanks mostly to one unforgettable fight night. Haley wasn't an Islander for long, but in less than 50 games he became a folk hero and legend that was missed for years. It wasn't just his fists that made him valuable, either. Haley could grind, skate and (occasionally) score while also taking a big role in the locker room. On February 11, 2011, he took it upon himself to challenge nearly an entire roster of Pittsburgh Penguins in order to avenge his fallen teammates. Travis tells us why he thinks he's the "Micheal Haley of band managers," how a bandmate got him back into hockey after a few years away and why Mario Lemieux's crying about the NHL's "garage league" is still hilarious all these years later. WARNING: CONTAINS MUCH CURSING. LISTENER DISCRETION IS ADVISED.

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Mike and Dan process the noise following the Bo Horvat trade and their own feelings towards it a week later, then give their thoughts on the often bizarre NHL All Star Weekend. After a week off, Horvat will finally suit up with his new team and answer some questions surrounding them while also defining how this season will be remembered. Outside voices are still skeptical but Lou Lamoriello did finally take a bold risk in an attempt to get his team back to the playoffs. We'll know if it paid off soon enough. In the second half, the hosts air their grievances about the NHL All Star Game and Skills Competition and how it was bad television regardless of who it's aimed at. The league and its broadcasters are trying different things but none of it sells hockey to new fans or makes the weekend any more enjoyable. Maybe one day, we'll even see some players smile there.

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Mike and Dan react to the Islanders' trading for Bo Horvat from Vancouver and whether or not he is the right player at the right time. In giving up winger Anthony Beauvillier, prospect Aatu Raty and a protected first round pick for the unrestricted free agent, Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello is doubling down on his win-now team. Horvat is having a career year and could give the Islanders the scoring help they so desperately need. Or he could not mesh with the already center-heavy Islanders lineup. He could sign an extension or he could walk away for nothing at the end of the season. There’s a lot of factors in play and there’s no wrong or right way to feel about any of it but one thing we do urge all Islanders fans to do is to unsubscribe from The Athletic.

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Mike and Dan are fired up after back-to-back wins put the Islanders back in the playoff picture and rock legends The Hold Steady make an unexpected appearance at UBS Arena for a game. They recap two quality victories in which the Isles scored a whopping (for them) four combined goals and ponder the incredibly bad luck of Kyle Palmieri, who has played so well after coming back from injury and yet still maintains the scoring drought that's been in effect since he came over in a trade two years ago. They talk about how the preceding two losses in Toronto and Ottawa had them ready to cash out the season, but a shutout victory over an anonymous Detroit team and Saturday's challenging overtime victory over Vegas - not to mention an appearance by The Hold Steady celebrating their 20th anniversary - brought everyone right back. In the second half, they talk about the various gimmicks that will be in effect for the upcoming All Stars Skills Competition and how they won't help bring hockey any new fans.

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Joined by guest Peter Flynn - a former Islanders fan and Red Wings blogger - Mike and Dan reminisce about Zenon Konopka, one of the most popular one-and-done Islanders and more than just a fighter. Konopka came to Long Island with little fanfare but left as a favorite thanks to the incredible amount of fighting spirit and pride he brought to the franchise in a remarkably short amount of time. Whether it was intimidating evil Penguins, standing up to snarky media types or giving the Islanders an identity (and a goal song) all their own, Konopka helped give a young, rebuilding team a degree of backbone they severely lacked and made lifetime fans in Peter and the hosts. Oh, and he also had a pet bunny and started his own wine business.

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Mike and Dan discuss the Islanders' spectacularly unsuccessful week and their continued slide, as well as the cuts made at SB Nation and the future of this podcast. Beyond the four losses (two in overtime), they feel betrayed, angry and confused by the team's reluctance to make meaningful changes while they fall further out of the Eastern Conference playoff picture. Although more quiet than some others around the NHL, the Islanders seem to be creeping back to the circus level they occupied for so long. Their lineup is a mess and they continue to bleed losses, all while the focus seems to be on keeping injuries a secret, promoting UBS Arena and remembering the good old days (of two years ago). The second half of the show is dedicated to talking about what happened this week to SB Nation's hockey side and its effect on Lighthouse Hockey and its podcasts. The plan is to find a new home for this show, as well as Weird Islanders: The Podcast! and Islanders Award Winners, while also setting up a new model for listeners to support them. We tell you what we know and what we don't know as of now, so stay tuned for more info.

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Mike and Dan recap the Islanders' week of tough losses and an underwhelming win, as the team still struggles with the same issues. They look at a shootout loss to Dallas in which the Islanders played well against a good opponent and its follow-up, a depressing self-inflicted loss to Minnesota that left both hosts overcome with anger. A win against Montreal snapped the losing streak, but the Islanders hardly dominated what should have been an easy opponent. While fans watch the out-of-town scoreboard, the Islanders continue to search for an identity and a formula for winning consistently. In the second half, they look towards a daunting and important upcoming schedule, talk about what they want to see in media coverage of their team and criticize the way the Islanders have handled their 50th anniversary celebration.

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Joined by returning guest Noel Fogelman, Mike and Dan remember Justin Mapletoft, a highly-touted Islanders prospect from before the social media era. A decorated junior player and very strong two-way center in the AHL, Mapletoft's game never quite translated to the NHL. And on an Islanders team that was suddenly strong down the middle - thanks to the acquisitions of Alexei Yashin and Michael Peca - he didn't get much of a chance to show what he could do. Mapletoft was around the organization for a long time, but missed the time of podcasts, blogs, YouTube and the like, which is both good and bad for a prospect that fans had high hopes for. Noel has spoken to Justin and tells us his thoughts on his days with the Islanders, the time he considered asking for a trade and a very surprising regret he's been carrying around for years.

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