How Stolen Point Against Columbus Impacted Islanders' Wild-Card Standing

ELMONT, NY --  In what was a four-point game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, a wild-card hopeful, Kyle Palmieri's goal with 9.6 seconds to play in the third was waived off for goaltender interference. 

The New York Islanders went on to fall 4-3 in a shootout, feeling as if they got robbed of that second point -- they certainly had a gripe, no doubt about it. 

Had the Islanders won the game outright in regulation, they would have tied the Montreal Canadiens for the second wild-card spot with 75 points. They would have technically not held the wild-card spot with Montreal having one fewer game played. 

Not only that, but with the New Jersey Devils losing their third straight game after falling 4-3 in a shootout to the Vancouver Canucks, a two-point night for the Islanders would have had them six points back of New Jersey with two games in hand for third place in the Metroplitan Division. 

Equally important, a clean two points would have had the Islanders a point ahead of the New York Rangers with one game in hand and a clean two points ahead of the Blue Jackets. 

Also, the Islanders would have been three points up on the Detroit Red Wings, widening that gap by more than a win.

But none of that is the reality on Tuesday morning. 

The Islanders sit a point behind Montreal with one more game played. 

The Islanders sit tied in points with the Rangers, ahead of them because of games played. 

The Islanders' gap with the Blue Jackets is one point, and their gap with Detroit remains at two. 

The Canadiens will make up their game in hand on Tuesday night when they face the St. Louis Blues with a chance to move three points up on Long Island. 

The Rangers battle the Los Angeles Kings and can leapfrog the Islanders by two points with a win. 

Stay updated with the most interesting Islanders stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story.