New York Islanders make push for playoff position with important games on horizon, can they get in?

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Mar 26, 2025, 17:36 IST

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The New York Islanders are fighting for a playoff spot. They need to perform well in their upcoming matches against tough teams. Games against the Vancouver Canucks and other strong opponents will be important. The final weeks of the season will determine if they can secure a playoff position. Each game is crucial.

New York Islanders make push for playoff position with important games on horizon, can they get in?

Credit: Getty Images

As the NHL regular season winds down, the New York Islanders are battling for a spot in the playoffs with furious urgency. On Wednesday, they sat a single point from the bottom wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, just four days removed from sitting four points back. But it will be an arduous ride.

Rough competition lies ahead for New York Islanders

The New York Islanders will have to get by the Vancouver Canucks first, who come to UBS Arena on Wednesday evening. The Canucks are also battling for a playoff spot and have been pursuing the St. Louis Blues, who since the trade deadline have been playing in great shape. This is a game both teams need to help win for their playoff hopes.

Aside from that, the Islanders have a formidable stretch ahead of them. Their next five games are against playoff teams Tampa Bay Lightning (two), Carolina Hurricanes, Minnesota Wild, and Washington Capitals. They get a temporary breather against the Nashville Predators before finishing out the season against a challenging slate of Metro Division opponents: the New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers, New Jersey Devils, a second game against the Washington Capitals, and lastly, the Columbus Blue Jackets.
All of these games will be important, since their division rivals will have no reason to provide the Islanders with any help in their quest for a playoff position.

Playoff chances and the late push

While it seems like an uphill fight, the New York Islanders have a past of being vindicated against those who doubted them. In the projections from Stathletes, they stand a 24.3% chance of entering the playoffs. Far from great, but sufficient to give fans cause for optimism heading into the final month of the regular season.
Since April 17 is the final day of the regular season, each game becomes crucial. The Islanders have to make the most of each chance if they are to play more than 82 games this season.

Must-see games on Wednesday

Several Wednesday's matchups have the potential to shake up the playoff race:

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

Also read: Islanders robbed? “One of the worst No-Goal calls ever” sparks outrage in loss to Blue Jackets
As the Islanders battle for a playoff position, each point counts. The final few weeks of the regular season will decide if they can finish their comeback and qualify for the playoffs.

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About the Author

TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

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