Can the Islanders Make the NHL Playoffs?

NHL News
Views 4 Comments 0

After the NHL trade deadline, the New York Islanders were chasing a playoff spot, sitting four points behind the Ottawa Senators for the last wild card in the Eastern Conference. Several teams stood between them and the Senators.

However, the situation has changed quickly. Now, the Islanders are just one point away from a playoff spot. The question is, can they actually make it?

Their first challenge is against the Vancouver Canucks at home. The Canucks are also fighting for a playoff spot. This won`t be an easy game for the Islanders.

The schedule gets tougher after that, with their next five games against teams likely headed to the playoffs, including two games against the Tampa Bay Lightning and matchups with the Carolina Hurricanes, Minnesota Wild, and Washington Capitals. Following that, they have a game against the Nashville Predators before finishing the season with division rivals like the New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers, New Jersey Devils, Capitals again, and Columbus Blue Jackets, all of whom will be competitive.

It`s a difficult path, but the Islanders have proven doubters wrong before. Statistics currently give them about a 24.3% chance of making the playoffs.

With less than a month remaining in the regular season until April 17th, this article will track the NHL playoff race, providing updates on teams competing for playoff spots and those vying for better positions in the 2025 NHL draft lottery.

Contents
  1. Current Playoff Matchups
  2. Eastern Conference
  3. Western Conference
  4. Wednesday`s Games
  5. Tuesday`s Scoreboard
  6. Expanded Standings
  7. Atlantic Division
  8. Toronto Maple Leafs
  9. Florida Panthers
  10. Tampa Bay Lightning
  11. Ottawa Senators
  12. Montreal Canadiens
  13. Detroit Red Wings
  14. Boston Bruins
  15. Buffalo Sabres
  16. Metro Division
  17. x – Washington Capitals
  18. Carolina Hurricanes
  19. New Jersey Devils
  20. New York Islanders
  21. New York Rangers
  22. Columbus Blue Jackets
  23. Pittsburgh Penguins
  24. Philadelphia Flyers
  25. Central Division
  26. x – Winnipeg Jets
  27. Dallas Stars
  28. Colorado Avalanche
  29. Minnesota Wild
  30. St. Louis Blues
  31. Utah Hockey Club
  32. Nashville Predators
  33. e – Chicago Blackhawks
  34. Pacific Division
  35. Vegas Golden Knights
  36. Los Angeles Kings
  37. Edmonton Oilers
  38. Calgary Flames
  39. Vancouver Canucks
  40. Anaheim Ducks
  41. Seattle Kraken
  42. e – San Jose Sharks
  43. Race for the No. 1 pick
  44. 1. San Jose Sharks
  45. 2. Chicago Blackhawks
  46. 3. Nashville Predators
  47. 4. Buffalo Sabres
  48. 5. Philadelphia Flyers
  49. 6. Seattle Kraken
  50. 7. Anaheim Ducks
  51. 8. Pittsburgh Penguins
  52. 9. Boston Bruins
  53. 10. Detroit Red Wings
  54. 11. Columbus Blue Jackets
  55. 12. New York Rangers
  56. 13. New York Islanders
  57. 14. Utah Hockey Club
  58. 15. Vancouver Canucks
  59. 16. Calgary Flames
  60. Race for the No. 1 pick
  61. 1. San Jose Sharks
  62. 2. Chicago Blackhawks
  63. 3. Nashville Predators
  64. 4. Buffalo Sabres
  65. 5. Philadelphia Flyers
  66. 6. Seattle Kraken
  67. 7. Anaheim Ducks
  68. 8. Pittsburgh Penguins
  69. 9. Boston Bruins
  70. 10. Detroit Red Wings
  71. 11. Columbus Blue Jackets
  72. 12. New York Rangers
  73. 13. New York Islanders
  74. 14. Utah Hockey Club
  75. 15. Vancouver Canucks
  76. 16. Calgary Flames

Current Playoff Matchups

Eastern Conference

A1 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. WC1 Ottawa Senators
A2 Florida Panthers vs. A3 Tampa Bay Lightning
M1 Washington Capitals vs. WC2 Montreal Canadiens
M2 Carolina Hurricanes vs. M3 New Jersey Devils

Western Conference

C1 Winnipeg Jets vs. WC2 St. Louis Blues
C2 Dallas Stars vs. C3 Colorado Avalanche
P1 Vegas Golden Knights vs. WC1 Minnesota Wild
P2 Los Angeles Kings vs. P3 Edmonton Oilers

Wednesday`s Games

Vancouver Canucks at New York Islanders, 7:30 p.m.
New Jersey Devils at Chicago Blackhawks, 7:30 p.m. (TNT)
Dallas Stars at Edmonton Oilers, 10 p.m. (TNT)
Boston Bruins at Anaheim Ducks, 10 p.m.

Tuesday`s Scoreboard

Buffalo Sabres 3, Ottawa Senators 2
Toronto Maple Leafs 7, Philadelphia Flyers 2
Tampa Bay Lightning 6, Pittsburgh Penguins 1
Nashville Predators 3, Carolina Hurricanes 1
St. Louis Blues 6, Montreal Canadiens 1
Vegas Golden Knights 5, Minnesota Wild 1
Winnipeg Jets 3, Washington Capitals 2 (OT)
Colorado Avalanche 5, Detroit Red Wings 2
Calgary Flames 4, Seattle Kraken 3 (OT)
Los Angeles Kings 3, New York Rangers 1

Expanded Standings

Atlantic Division

Toronto Maple Leafs

Points: 89
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: A1
Games left: 11
Points pace: 102.8
Next game: @ SJ (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Florida Panthers

Points: 89
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: A2
Games left: 11
Points pace: 102.8
Next game: vs. UTA (Friday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Tampa Bay Lightning

Points: 87
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: A3
Games left: 11
Points pace: 100.5
Next game: vs. UTA (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Ottawa Senators

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 12
Points pace: 92.5
Next game: @ DET (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 97.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Montreal Canadiens

Points: 75
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 12
Points pace: 87.9
Next game: @ PHI (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 38.6%
Tragic number: N/A

Detroit Red Wings

Points: 72
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 11
Points pace: 83.2
Next game: vs. OTT (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 3.4%
Tragic number: 20

Boston Bruins

Points: 69
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 10
Points pace: 78.6
Next game: @ ANA (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 0.2%
Tragic number: 15

Buffalo Sabres

Points: 64
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 12
Points pace: 75.0
Next game: vs. MTL (Thursday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 14

Metro Division

x – Washington Capitals

Points: 103
Regulation wins: 40
Playoff position: M1
Games left: 11
Points pace: 119.0
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Carolina Hurricanes

Points: 90
Regulation wins: 38
Playoff position: M2
Games left: 11
Points pace: 103.9
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

New Jersey Devils

Points: 81
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: M3
Games left: 10
Points pace: 92.3
Playoff chances: 96.4%
Tragic number: N/A

New York Islanders

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 12
Points pace: 86.7
Next game: vs. VAN (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 30.9%
Tragic number: 24

New York Rangers

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 10
Points pace: 84.3
Playoff chances: 16.4%
Tragic number: 20

Columbus Blue Jackets

Points: 73
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 12
Points pace: 85.5
Playoff chances: 16.2%
Tragic number: 23

Pittsburgh Penguins

Points: 69
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Points pace: 77.5
Playoff chances: 0.1%
Tragic number: 13

Philadelphia Flyers

Points: 65
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Points pace: 73.0
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 9

Central Division

x – Winnipeg Jets

Points: 102
Regulation wins: 38
Playoff position: C1
Games left: 10
Points pace: 116.2
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Dallas Stars

Points: 94
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff position: C2
Games left: 12
Points pace: 110.1
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Colorado Avalanche

Points: 91
Regulation wins: 37
Playoff position: C3
Games left: 10
Points pace: 103.6
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Minnesota Wild

Points: 85
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 10
Points pace: 96.8
Playoff chances: 91.4%
Tragic number: N/A

St. Louis Blues

Points: 83
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 9
Points pace: 93.2
Playoff chances: 81.5%
Tragic number: N/A

Utah Hockey Club

Points: 75
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 11
Points pace: 86.6
Next game: @ TB (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 4.1%
Tragic number: 15

Nashville Predators

Points: 62
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 11
Points pace: 71.6
Next game: vs. STL (Thursday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 2

e – Chicago Blackhawks

Points: 51
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 11
Points pace: 58.9
Next game: vs. NJ (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Pacific Division

Vegas Golden Knights

Points: 94
Regulation wins: 40
Playoff position: P1
Games left: 11
Points pace: 108.6
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Los Angeles Kings

Points: 89
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: P3
Games left: 12
Points pace: 104.3
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Edmonton Oilers

Points: 87
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: P2
Games left: 12
Points pace: 101.9
Playoff chances: 99.0%
Tragic number: N/A

Calgary Flames

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 12
Points pace: 92.5
Playoff chances: 18.1%
Tragic number: 21

Vancouver Canucks

Points: 78
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 11
Points pace: 90.1
Playoff chances: 5.9%
Tragic number: 18

Anaheim Ducks

Points: 68
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 12
Points pace: 79.7
Playoff chances: 0.1%
Tragic number: 10

Seattle Kraken

Points: 66
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 10
Points pace: 75.2
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 4

e – San Jose Sharks

Points: 47
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 12
Points pace: 55.1
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Race for the No. 1 pick

The NHL uses a draft lottery to determine the order of the first round, so the team that finishes in last place is not guaranteed the No. 1 selection. As of 2021, a team can move up a maximum of 10 spots if it wins the lottery, so only 11 teams are eligible for the No. 1 pick. Full details on the process are here. Matthew Schaefer, a defenseman for the OHL`s Erie Otters, is No. 1 on the draft board.

1. San Jose Sharks

Points: 47
Regulation wins: 14

2. Chicago Blackhawks

Points: 51
Regulation wins: 18

3. Nashville Predators

Points: 62
Regulation wins: 23

4. Buffalo Sabres

Points: 64
Regulation wins: 23

5. Philadelphia Flyers

Points: 65
Regulation wins: 17

6. Seattle Kraken

Points: 66
Regulation wins: 24

7. Anaheim Ducks

Points: 68
Regulation wins: 22

8. Pittsburgh Penguins

Points: 69
Regulation wins: 20

9. Boston Bruins

Points: 69
Regulation wins: 23

10. Detroit Red Wings

Points: 72
Regulation wins: 25

11. Columbus Blue Jackets

Points: 73
Regulation wins: 23

12. New York Rangers

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 31

13. New York Islanders

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 25

14. Utah Hockey Club

Points: 75
Regulation wins: 24

15. Vancouver Canucks

Points: 78
Regulation wins: 25

16. Calgary Flames

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 26

Note: An `x` means that the team has clinched a playoff berth. An `e` means that the team has been eliminated from playoff contention.

Race for the No. 1 pick

The NHL uses a draft lottery to determine the order of the first round, so the team that finishes in last place is not guaranteed the No. 1 selection. As of 2021, a team can move up a maximum of 10 spots if it wins the lottery, so only 11 teams are eligible for the No. 1 pick. Full details on the process are here. Matthew Schaefer, a defenseman for the OHL`s Erie Otters, is No. 1 on the draft board.

1. San Jose Sharks

Points: 47
Regulation wins: 14

2. Chicago Blackhawks

Points: 51
Regulation wins: 18

3. Nashville Predators

Points: 62
Regulation wins: 23

4. Buffalo Sabres

Points: 64
Regulation wins: 23

5. Philadelphia Flyers

Points: 65
Regulation wins: 17

6. Seattle Kraken

Points: 66
Regulation wins: 24

7. Anaheim Ducks

Points: 68
Regulation wins: 22

8. Pittsburgh Penguins

Points: 69
Regulation wins: 20

9. Boston Bruins

Points: 69
Regulation wins: 23

10. Detroit Red Wings

Points: 72
Regulation wins: 25

11. Columbus Blue Jackets

Points: 73
Regulation wins: 23

12. New York Rangers

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 31

13. New York Islanders

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 25

14. Utah Hockey Club

Points: 75
Regulation wins: 24

15. Vancouver Canucks

Points: 78
Regulation wins: 25

16. Calgary Flames

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 26

Finn Harrow
Finn Harrow

Say hello to Finn Harrow, a journalist calling an English city home. Specializing in sports news, Finn covers everything from golf greens to Formula 1 tracks with flair.

Current news of the sports world