Monday is shaping up to be a dramatic day in New York sports.
Monday is shaping up to be a dramatic day in New York sports.
After the final two games between the New York Mets and Atlanta Braves were rescheduled due to Hurricane Helene, they will play a doubleheader.
Both teams are looking to earn postseason berths.
"Win, and you're In" is an often daunting scenario, especially entering the final game or two of a season.
However, the New York Islanders are no strangers to these spots, taking part in a pair of dramatic finishes over their illustrious history.
The most infamous of these examples came back in 2007, with the Islanders riding an improbable wave to a win-and-in spot.
After three straight wins, the Islanders had to beat the New Jersey Devils to make it in, with the latter having nothing to play for.
Richard Park was the unlikely hero early, scoring two goals to make it 2-0 Islanders by the midway point of the third period.
However, New Jersey didn't go quietly, getting two goals from John Madden to tie it; his second was a buzzer-beater to force overtime.
Nobody scored in the extra session, which gave way to a shootout.
Miroslav Satan and Viktor Kozlov scored to give New York a 2-1 lead in the skills contest, setting the stage for Wade Dubielewicz to punch the Islanders' ticket to the postseason.
Among other unlikely scenarios, the Islanders faced another one in 2023.
After losing control of their own destiny with a loss to the Washington Capitals in game 81, the Pittsburgh Penguins had control of their own destiny heading into their game with the Chicago Blackhawks.
However, the Blackhawks pulled out a 3-1 upset in Pittsburgh's penultimate game, putting fate back in the Islanders' hands in game 82 against the Montreal Canadiens.
After Brock Nelson and Rem Pitlick traded goals, Hudson Fasching gave the Islanders the lead late in the first, and Nelson scored his second midway through the middle frame. Nick Suzuki made it a 3-2 game late in the second, but Sebastian Aho scored the goal and put the game out of reach.
New York clinched their playoff spot with a 4-2 win.
Of course, the Islanders have been in this spot at various points in the homestretch before.
Clinching with days to spare has produced memorable moments, but the unlikely heroics of Dubielewicz and the roller coaster of 2023's Wild Card finish stack up among the most memorable moments in recent Islanders history.