Islanders News: Playoffs clinched, rematch with Hurricanes looms

7 months ago  /  Lighthouse Hockey

Embrace. | Photo by Rich Graessle/NHLI via Getty Images


The Islanders’ 7-0-1 run gets them into the playoffs, where a familiar foe awaits. What a roller coaster the Islanders have taken us on, with six-game win streaks, six-game winless streaks, culminating in a 7-0-1 surge to earn a proper playoff spot (not just a wild card spot) with a win in game #81.
With every other Eastern playoff-dreamer also winning last night, the Islanders’ 4-1 win over the New Jersey Devils was particularly satisfying — moreso because the outcome was pretty well assured while the Capitals, Penguins and Red Wings (who came back, tied it late, and won in OT) were engaged in tighter affairs.
The result is that Game #82 means nothing for the Isles’ postseason, and it might not even mean anything for Pittsburgh: The Wings (in a rematch with the Canadiens) and Capitals (vs. the Flyers) are both in action tonight, where each can eliminate the Penguins.
And then the upshot of all of this, plus the Rangers beating the Senators to clinch a most unexpected President’s Trophy, is that the Isles now have yet another meeting with the Carolina Hurricanes to prepare for. All of this for what could be a thud against a frequent nemesis...or maybe a cathartic upset?
Islanders News

We wrote them off so many times but they did it! They did the thing. [LHH]
Just 23 saves needed from Semyon Varlamov, in a game the Isles controlled after a slow start. [NHL]
Patrick Roy’s “good energy” helped right their ship when things looked dire. [Newsday]
Cal Clutterbuck: “There was a lot of noice. A lot of people telling us we weren’t gonna do it. Lot of people telling us we were too slow, too old, too this, too that. But we did it.” [Post]
More locker room reactions from the clincher. [THN]
More Clutterbuck: “It’s just crazy the way it all went down this year. It just goes to show that you’re never really out of it. We won a lot of tight games to get here and I think we really did just take it one day at a time and you just see what happens.” [Athletic]
Three Takeaways: Actual special teams contributions, and continued energy from Pierre Engvall. [Isles]
Kyle MacLean fought off illness to play and got a big goal as a reward. [Post]
The only other time the Isles have made the playoffs in five of six years is their 14 straight postseason appearances from 1975-1988. [AM NY]
Prospect Report: Isaiah George’s playoffs continue with a couple of assists. [Isles]
Legendary Islander and one-time Bruin Zdeno Chara completed his second Boston Marathon, beat his previous time by 8 minutes because of course he did. [NHL]

Elsewhere

It may all be for nothing, but the Wings kept their hopes alive with a dramatic comeback and OT win at home over the Habs. They meet again in Montreal tonight. [NHL]
The Capitals hold the trump card for the final spot: Win tonight in Philadelphia and they’re in. [NHL]
The Sabres, missing the postseason for the 13th straight time, have fired coach Don Granato. [Sportsnet]
Connor McDavid became the fourth player ever to get 100 assists in a single regular season. [NHL] Nikita Kucherov has 99. [NHL]
How the Coyotes-to-Salt Lake plan came together. [Athletic | Sportsnet]
Bill Zito gets an etension and an added title with the Panthers. [NHL]
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