Islanders need total of two points in their last two games to clinch a playoff berth
Islanders players celebrate a goal by center Casey Cizikas in the third period of an NHL game against the Canadiens at UBS Arena on Thursday. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
Patrick Roy wasn’t interested in — or focused on — the Islanders’ playoff-clinching scenarios.
But here it is: His team needs two points in its last two games to clinch a spot. The easiest way to do so is with a win over the Devils on Monday night at Prudential Center.
“I’m not going to think that way,” Roy said after Sunday’s practice at Northwell Health Ice Center in East Meadow, which featured plenty of work on the struggling power play. “No, I’m going to think about playing a hockey game tomorrow, period.”
The Islanders’ entertaining 3-2 shootout loss to the Rangers on Saturday afternoon at Madison Square Garden pushed them to the brink of clinching a playoff berth. It also extended their point streak to 6-0-1.
The Islanders would clinch third place in the Metropolitan Division — and a likely first-round rematch with the Hurricanes, who eliminated them in six games in the first round last season — with a win in regulation, overtime or in a shootout against the Devils.
If the Islanders lose in overtime or in a shootout, they still would clinch third if the Capitals lose to the visiting Bruins in any fashion. Even if the Capitals win, the Islanders still could clinch at least the Eastern Conference’s second wild-card spot with an overtime or shootout loss if the Red Wings lose in any fashion to the visiting Canadiens.
If the Devils beat the Islanders in regulation, the Islanders still can clinch a playoff spot on Monday if they get at least two of the following: a Capitals loss in regulation, a Red Wings loss in regulation and/or a Penguins loss in any fashion against the visiting Predators.
“It’s hard not to think about that,” Mathew Barzal said. “But at the end of the day, we still have to do it. Anything can happen in this league. We’ve seen crazy things happen. But it is nice to know it’s in our hands and we get a chance to do it ourselves.
“Last year, we needed a little help at one point with a few games left, and that kind of stunk. Monday and Wednesday, we know the opportunity is there for us. We’re excited.”
The Islanders will end the regular season against the Penguins on Wednesday night at UBS Arena. They don’t want that to become a play-in game.
“It’s been our focus for the last couple of weeks, if not months,” Kyle Palmieri said. “We knew what we had to do to try and climb back into it. We did a good job of finding our way to be able to control our own destiny. It’s an awesome opportunity for our group.”
Notes & quotes: Roy said goalie Semyon Varlamov will start for the eighth time in the last 12 games . . . Fourth-line center Kyle MacLean left practice early and did not return. Roy said MacLean reported he was feeling ill but added that the rookie is expected to be available against the Devils . . . Defenseman Noah Dobson (upper body, day-to-day), who missed a game for the first time this season on Saturday, did not practice. The team said there was no further update.
Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.
