New York Islanders win crucial game, keep playoff hopes alive

The New York Islanders won a crucial game against the Montreal Canadiens to keep their playoff hopes alive on Thursday night at UBS Arena. The Isles pulled out a key 4-3 overtime win to gain ground in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

The Isles’ win, coupled with the 4-3 New York Rangers loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs at MSG, put the Isles in a tie with the Rangers and two points behind the Habs for the final Wild Card spot in the East.

Bo Horvat scored the game-winner at 3:37 in overtime to seal the victory. Here’s a look at the goal:

Horvat’s 23rd of the season capped off the win, particularly after the Isles blew a 3-1 lead in the third period. However, the Islanders managed to recover and get the win.

A key factor to consider in this game was the two power play goals on the night. Anthony Duclair got his seventh of the season to open the scoring in the first period.

The goal wasn’t exactly the prettiest, but it’s one Duclair will take any day of the week. Most importantly, the goal was a spark for the Isles as Simon Holmstrom added another power play tally in the second period.

While the Islanders’ power play remains dead-last in the league, Thursday night’s two-goal outburst could be the spark that leads to a turnaround. The Isles could certainly use a hot streak from the power play in order to slide into the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference this season.

New York Islanders closing in on a playoff spot

With Thursday night’s win, the Islanders gained ground in the Eastern Conference playoff race. Entering the game against the Habs, the Islanders had 70 points, two behind the Rangers and three behind the Habs.

With the overtime win over the Habs and the regulation loss by the Rangers, the Islanders are now fourth in the Metro Division despite having the same number of points as the Rangers. Also, the Islanders are now two points back of Montreal, with both teams playing 68 games.

As I’ve mentioned before, the Islanders are closing in and, most critically, control their fate. All the Islanders need to do is win as many games as possible to secure the highest number of points available.

It’s worth pointing out that the Canadiens’ schedule isn’t the easiest, but it also isn’t the hardest. The Habs have two games against the Carolina Hurricanes, one Toronto Maple Leafs, and Ottawa Senators. They have two against the Florida Panthers, a home-and-home set while playing other non-playoff teams like the Boston Bruins, Philadelphia Flyers, and Detroit Red Wings.

All told, the Canadiens have a rather tough schedule, which could allow the Isles to gain ground and jump into that final Wild Card spot in the East. With the way the Islanders are playing at the moment, there’s plenty of reason to believe they can do it.