Islanders Still Control Playoff Destiny

At some point the New York Islanders are going to have to win some hockey games.

But after Friday’s out-of-town scoreboard results, Patrick Roy’s squad still controls their own destiny. The outcomes on Friday weren’t great from an optics standpoint.

The Columbus Blue Jackets beat the Vancouver Canucks in a shootout, while the New York Rangers earned a point in an overtime loss to the Anaheim Ducks, with both teams leapfrogging the Islanders.

However, the biggest game went the Islanders way, with the Montreal Canadiens falling in regulation to the Carolina Hurricanes.

The Islanders wake up on Saturday one line back of Columbus for the second wild-card spot, also one point back of the Rangers and Montreal.

But, the Islanders control their own destiny because they have a game in hand on Montreal and the Rangers — they play the Rangers on Apr. 10 — and they also play Columbus, closing the regular season against them on Apr. 17. But, games in hand only matter if the Islanders can win them and this weekend back-to-back is anything but a piece of cake.

The Islanders battle the Tampa Bay Lightning at 2 PM ET on Saturday before facing the Hurricanes at 5 PM ET on Sunday.

Also on Saturday, the Blue Jackets face the Ottawa Senators, the Rangers face the San Jose Sharks and the Detroit Red Wings, who sit two points back of the Islanders and three points back of the second wild-card spot, face the Boston Bruins.