The Islanders were nine seconds away from putting themselves in a strong spot with eight games to go. Now, they need more to happen to be a playoff team, but there's still a chance.
The Islanders were nine seconds away from putting themselves in a strong spot with eight games to go. Now, they need more to happen to be a playoff team, but there's still a chance.
EAST MEADOW, NY -- The New York Islanders had a chance to really help their playoff chances on Monday night, sitting nine seconds away from moving three points back of the Philadelphia Flyers with two games in hand.
Nine seconds.
But the Flyers' resilient effort and many clearing failures saw the Islanders blow their 3-2 third-period lead before Brock Nelson won the game in overtime to secure a much-needed two points.
However, by awarding the Flyers the loser point, the Islanders woke up on Tuesday morning four points back of John Tortorella's club with two games in hand.
The Flyers do not play again until Friday, while the Islanders play two more games, hosting the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday before heading to Columbus to face the Blue Jackets on Thursday.
A loss to either team likely means game over for 2023-24.
The Islanders could wake up Friday sitting tied with the Flyers in points, but because the tie-breaker is regulation wins, the Islanders would still sit behind them.
But does sitting behind the Flyers mean sitting out of a playoff spot?
With the loser point earned, the Flyers moved from the second wild-card position to third in the Metropolitan Division, leap-frogging the Washington Capitals, who sit a point back of Philly with three games in hand.
The Islanders trail the Capitals by three points, with one more game played.
With the Detroit Red Wings beating the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday night, they are now tied with the Capitals in points but remain out of a wild-card spot due to them playing two more games than Washington.
Here's what has to happen this week for the Islanders to be in a playoff spot by Friday.
There's no question about it; the Islanders need to win these next two games.
If they earn four points, New York would be at 83 points with 76 games played.
Not only do the Flyers not play until Friday, but neither do the Red Wings, as this is games-in-hand week for the Islanders.
The Washington Capitals play the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday before the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday.
If Alex Ovechkin and Co. win one of their two games, the Islanders cannot catch them by Friday, as they'll have 84 points, with the Islanders' max at 83.
If the Capitals lose both this week and the Islanders win their games, the Islanders could be a point ahead of Washington with one more game played and take over the second wild-card spot.
They would also be tied with the Flyers with six games to go.
Everything for New York starts with winning their games and hoping for the best.
The Islanders battle the Blackhawks on Tuesday night, looking to win the second leg of a back-to-back for the first time this season, currently 0-6-3.
The last time the Islanders played the Blackhawks, it was a 4-3 overtime loss, Lane Lambert's last game behind the Blue & Orange bench.