Mar 30, 2024; Tampa, Florida, USA; New York Islanders center Kyle Palmieri (21) is congratulated after he scored against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the first period at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports
NHL: New York Islanders at Tampa Bay Lightning
NEW YORK — It’s that time of year when NHL team are scratching and clawing for every inch in the push for the playoffs. And the Islanders squandered a golden opportunity to make up ground in the race on Saturday night when they ultimately fell to the Lighting 4-1.
But they got some help on the score board keeping their postseason hopes alive.
The Philadelphia Flyers, holding the second wild-card spot, were dealt a harsh 5-1 defeat by the Chicago Blackhawks. The Washington Capitals, sitting in third place, suffered a 4-3 shootout loss to the Boston Bruins. And the Detroit Red Wings, vying for a wild-card berth, fell 3-2 in a shootout against the Florida Panthers.
That means the Islanders are still alive. And Monday is their biggest test of the season.
When the puck drops Monday in the Wells Fargo Center against the Flyers, the Islanders will trail Philadelphia by five points in the Metropolitan division.
But New York has one thing going for them. A victory would narrow the gap to three points, still with two games in hand for the Islanders.
Following Monday’s clash, the Flyers have a break until Friday. The Islanders will have the opportunity to make up ground by facing the NHL’s bottom feeders the Blackhawks (last in Central) on Tuesday and the Columbus Blue Jackets (last in Metropolitan) on Thursday.
If the Islanders win the next three games they will jump the Flyers in the standings by Friday morning.
Meanwhile, the Red Wings, holding a three-point advantage over the Islanders with a game in hand, have a much tougher task. They face the red-hot Lightning on Monday before their next game on Friday against the NHL-leading New York Rangers.
So to make a long story short, the Islanders have a pretty open path to being the 8 seed in the playoffs come Friday.
