As Dory from Finding Nemo would say if she was a sports fan," Just keep winning," and the Islanders won't need to worry about anyone else.
ELMONT, NY -- The New York Islanders are winning games at the right time.
After moving into the third spot in the Metropolitan Division on Thursday night with a 4-2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets, all the Islanders could do was scoreboard watch Friday night and Saturday before their nightcap against Barry Trotz and the Nashville Predators.
Friday brought Patrick Roy's team a trifecta of tremendous results, with the Philadelphia Flyers, the Washington Capitals, and the Detroit Red Wings all losing in regulation.
But that didn't guarantee them that by the time puck dropped, they'd still be holding down a playoff spot.
The Flyers, who started the night in the second wild-card spot, faced the bottom-feeding Blue Jackets with a chance to leapfrog the Islanders.
They blew that chance, getting crushed by a 6-2 score, which allowed the Pittsburgh Penguins, who beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-4, to take the Flyers' spot.
The Islanders took care of business, shutting out the Predators 2-0, with goaltender Semyon Varlamov making 41 saves for his third shutout of the season:
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFGuNmP--wE[/embed]
The Islanders are in the driver's seat with five games to go, but taking the foot off the gas for just one of the remaining four games could be detrimental.
Sunday is an off day for the Islanders, who will return to the practice ice on Monday to prepare for their cross-town rivals, the New York Rangers, whom they host Tuesday night at 7 PM.
If there was ever a time for some redemption for the Stadium Series and St. Patrick's Day, that's the time.
The Red Wings play the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday, with two points putting them two points back of the Islanders in the second wild-card spot.
The Penguins play the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday night, but regardless of that result, the Islanders will remain in the third because they have a two-point lead and then will have played one fewer game.
But, if Pittsburgh does win and the Islanders can't beat the Rangers, or at least get a point, then Mike Sullivan's squad will be in the third.
The Capitals and Flyers return to action on Thursday.
Alex Ovechkin will face Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin, while Owen Tippett and the Flyers will face Nick Suzuki and the Montreal Canadiens.
As Dory from Finding Nemo would say if she was a sports fan," Just keep winning," and the Islanders won't need to worry about anyone else.