NEW YORK — No staff within the NHL this season has misplaced in additional time or the shootout greater than the New York Islanders. However all of these losses add as much as the Islanders remaining in charge of their playoff destiny after their 3-2 shootout loss to the rival New York Rangers at Madison Sq. Backyard on Saturday.
“We will not be upset with it. Each level issues right here down the stretch. It is clearly very tight inside the division and inside the wild card, so it is a huge level right now on the highway towards an excellent hockey staff,” Islanders captain Anders Lee stated. “The additional level might have gone both method in a shootout or additional time.”
It was the sixteenth time the Islanders misplaced after regulation, yet one more than the Boston Bruins (15) have this season. The purpose they earned for a regulation tie towards the Rangers gave the Islanders 90 factors in 80 video games, good for third within the Metropolitan Division. They’ve video games on the New Jersey Devils (April 15) and at dwelling towards the Pittsburgh Penguins (April 17) nonetheless on the schedule.
The Islanders at the moment are 5 factors forward of the Washington Capitals (3 video games remaining), Detroit Pink Wings (3 video games remaining) and Philadelphia Flyers (2 video games remaining), the three groups presently outdoors the Jap Convention wild card spots.
The Capitals host the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Pink Wings are in Toronto and the Flyers host the New Jersey Devils on Saturday night time. The Islanders can clinch a playoff spot if the Pink Wings and Capitals each lose in regulation.
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The Islanders have a four-point lead over the Penguins, who host the Bruins on Saturday night time whereas holding down the ultimate wild card spot with 86 factors. Pittsburgh hosts Nashville on April 15 earlier than ending the season on the Islanders, in a recreation that might nonetheless decide all the things from seeding within the Metropolitan Division as to whether the Penguins or Isles are even within the postseason.
The Rangers, who set a franchise file with their 54th win of the season, moved three factors forward of Carolina for first place within the Metro. The Rangers solely have one recreation remaining vs. Ottawa on April 15, whereas Carolina finishes with video games at Chicago (April 14) and Columbus (April 16).
The Rangers rallied to beat the Islanders on Saturday, as Artemi Panarin scored a game-tying purpose at 15:43 of the third interval and Vincent Trocheck had the definitive purpose within the shootout. Igor Shesterkin made 33 saves, together with an excellent one on Islanders star Mathew Barzal late in additional time.
However the Islanders picked up some extent, and that might make all of the distinction within the remaining standings.
“It is a huge level for us, however in the identical method, we might have beloved to have these two factors, do not get me flawed,” Islanders coach Patrick Roy stated. “However on the identical time, like I stated, it was a hard-fought recreation. Each groups had their probabilities.”
The Islanders took three of 4 factors towards the Rangers of their previous two conferences, taking part in nicely towards the staff with the NHL’s finest file. However gamers similar to Brock Nelson did not need to get forward of themselves in waiting for a potential playoff assembly with the Rangers, whom the Islanders have not confronted in a playoff collection for the reason that 1993-94 season.
“That is most likely somewhat too far forward I assume for us. We’re completely satisfied on the level now,” Nelson stated. “I feel we’re watching another video games to sort of see what occurs, however for us, we’re simply attempting to battle for the subsequent recreation and sort of management our personal future.”
