Islanders Start The Week In Third Place, Getting Enough Help At The Moment

The New York Islanders did what they had to do this past week to put themselves in a strong spot to make the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs with five games to go.

The New York Islanders did what they had to do this past week to put themselves in a strong spot to make the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs with five games to go.

Winners of four straight games after defeating the Nashville Predators on Saturday night 2-0, the Islanders went from being out of a playoff spot to in a wild-card spot and now start their final two weeks of the season holding down the third seed in the Metropolitan Division. 

They've had some help. 

After Friday's trifecta scoreboard win and Saturday's split decision, the Islanders were scoreboard-watching again on Sunday.

The Detroit Red Wings, who started Sunday a point out of a wild-card spot and two points back of the Islanders, hosted the Buffalo Sabres.

A 3-1 victory has Detroit back in a wild-card spot, booting the Pittsburgh Penguins out of the picture for now. 

The Washington Capitals were also in action, hosting the Ottawa Senators.

 A regulation win would have put them in the second wild-card spot, regardless of Detroit's result and a point back of New York.

The Capitals did muster a point but ultimately fell 3-2 in overtime to remain a point back of a wild-card spot. 

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SfAPS7EIHQ[/embed]

There's one game for the Islanders and their fans to watch on Monday night as the Pittsburgh Penguins head to Toronto to battle the Maple Leafs.

Two points would tie them with the Islanders in points, with one more game played. This would keep Patrick Roy's group in third before they battle the New York Rangers on Tuesday night. 

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ugZGuAhCcw[/embed]