Jan 13, 2024; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; New York Islanders center Mathew Barzal (13) skates with the puck during the second period against the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena.
Jan 13, 2024; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; New York Islanders center Mathew Barzal (13) skates with the puck during the second period against the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena.Image: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
The New York Islanders headed home Thursday night with sole possession of the second and final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.
They were set to spend Friday night finding out whether they’ll take the ice Saturday with control of their playoff destiny.
The Islanders will look to continue their timely winning streak when they host the Nashville Predators in a pivotal late-season game for both teams in Elmont, N.Y.
Each squad was off after earning wins Thursday. The visiting Islanders won their third straight game by beating the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-2.
Shortly after beating the Blue Jackets, the Islanders (34-27-15, 83 points) moved into the second wild card by virtue of the Pittsburgh Penguins closing out a 4-1 win over the Washington Capitals. The win also allowed New York to tie the idle Philadelphia Flyers for third place in the Metropolitan Division, though the Flyers have the regulation-wins tiebreaker.
New York was one point ahead of the Capitals (36-29-10, 82 points) and the Detroit Red Wings (37-30-8, 82 points) entering Friday, when the Capitals were set to visit the Carolina Hurricanes and the Red Wings were to face the New York Rangers.
The Flyers were also scheduled to play Friday at the Buffalo Sabres, which gives Philadelphia one more game played than the Islanders.
Of course, the Islanders know all the scoreboard-watching will be rendered meaningless if they don’t maintain the momentum they’ve built this week. New York beat the Flyers 4-3 in overtime Monday before edging the Chicago Blackhawks 3-2 on Tuesday.
“It does feel like a playoff game for us every night,” said Islanders center Mathew Barzal, who had two assists Thursday. “We’re fighting for our season right now. These are the best games of the year, really.”
Leave a Reply