5 other Islanders who can help the team in their playoff push

Of course the Islanders need top performances from top players such as goalie Ilya Sorokin, Bo Horvat, Mathew Barzal, Matthew Schaefer, Adam Pelech and Ryan Pulock over their final nine games.

But contributions will be needed up and down their lineup if the Islanders are to squeeze into the playoffs as they yo-yo above and below the postseason cutoff mark.

The Islanders continue a five-game homestand against the two-time Stanley Cup champion Panthers — who will miss the postseason for the first time since 2019 — on Saturday afternoon at UBS Arena after sliding back into the Eastern Conference’s second wild-card spot with a 2-1 win over the Stars on Thursday night.

Here’s a look at five Islanders whose performances between now and April 14 will go a long way in determining the team’s playoff fate:

Simon Holmstrom

After spending some time skating with second-line center Brayden Schenn, the hard-working Swede is back where he belongs with third-line center Jean-Gabriel Pageau, both five-on-five and on the penalty kill. Holmstrom, with 18 goals (two shorthanded) and 20 assists, still has a chance to match or better his career highs for goals (20) and points (45). His tenacity as a two-way player plus the confidence he has in his wrist shot allow coach Patrick Roy to use that line either as a checking trio or a scoring option. Holmstrom played an impactful 18:31 against the Stars.

“We moved the puck really well,” Holmstrom said. “I think we moved our feet very well and we got to the open spots.”

Kyle MacLean

Saturday’s match will be the fourth in a row Roy has kept his most effective fourth line — Casey Cizikas between MacLean and Marc Gatcomb — together. Of the three, though, MacLean likely will have to show the most to remain in the lineup consistently ahead of the speedier Anthony Duclair because Roy also appreciates Gatcomb’s speed. But the match against the Stars was another example of how effective that trio can be in playing up ice, pushing the pace with a strong forecheck and creating chances. Come playoff time, it is the line that can most effectively wear down opponents physically.

“What we’ve got to focus on is making sure we do that all the time,” MacLean said. “We did have a really good stretch, I think it was January, of 15 games or so. Things happen to the lineup and we had a little shakeup. Patty putting us back together, the message is clear to us: This is how we have to play.”

Cal Ritchie

The rookie scored the winner against the Stars by getting his solid frame to the crease and having Schaefer’s shot from the left point deflect in off him at 2:19 of the third period. It gave Ritchie 11 goals to go with 12 assists, two goals in his last two games and three in his last six. The Islanders’ best lineup currently is with Ritchie, a natural center, skating on Schenn’s wing but he must be more consistent offensively to justify remaining in the top six. His play has been too up-and-down since the Olympic break. But, working as the net-front presence, he and Schenn have shown strong chemistry working the puck down low on the power play.

David Rittich

Sorokin’s backup allowed three goals on 12 shots in the first period of Tuesday’s damaging 4-3 loss to Chicago before being pulled. Roy absolved him of blame, but Rittich (14-9-3, 2.79 goals-against average, .903 save percentage) has won just three of his last nine starts and allowed 28 goals on 212 shots (.868 save percentage) since Jan. 8. The Islanders have two back-to-backs among their final nine games so Rittich is likely to receive at least one more start, quite possibly Tuesday night in Buffalo. Rittich needs a quality start with every two points so critical.

Carson Soucy

The defense corps received a boost with Pulock returning Thursday from a two-game absence because of a lower-body injury, but now Tony DeAngelo (lower body) is out 1-2 weeks after getting hurt on Tuesday, The far-from-fleet Soucy, acquired from the Rangers on Jan. 26, was struggling paired with the equally far-from-fleet Scott Mayfield. But Soucy had a strong game paired with DeAngelo in Sunday’s 1-0 win over the Blue Jackets and will skate with Pelech on Saturday. All the Islanders need from Soucy is consistent, stay-at-home defensive performances and not getting caught on odd-man rushes.

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.