The New York Islanders entered their Thursday off-night with a two-point lead for the top wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.

And that's where they stayed following Thursday's results.

Here's how the night went.

The Pittsburgh Penguins, who entered the night two points back of New York with one game in hand, battled the Dallas Stars. The Florida Panthers, three points back with one game in hand, welcomed the Toronto Maple Leafs to town.

A tad lower in the standings but still in the hunt, the Washington Capitals hosted the Chicago Blackhawks, while the Ottawa Senators welcomed the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The Penguins fell to the Stars 3-2, keeping the Islanders' two-point lead intact. Stars netminder Jake Oettinger was ferocious in goal, while Jamie Benn scored his 31st of the season.

The Leafs took care of the Panthers 6-2, as Auston Matthews potted two goals.

The Capitals spanked the tanking Blackhawks 6-1, as netminder Anton Khudobin's gaffe started the Caps' goal party. Defenseman John Carlson scored in his return.

Alex Ovechkin and co are now four points back of the second wild-card spot, and six points back of the Islanders, with one more game played.

The Senators kept their slim playoff hope alive as they destroyed the Lightning 7-2, with Alex DeBrincat potting a pair.

The Islanders can build on their wild-card lead as they are in Columbus to face the bottom-feeding Blue Jackets Friday night with puck drop at 7 PM ET.