NY Islanders host Columbus Blue Jackets in critical Metro Division contest

The New York Islanders return home Sunday night for what may be their most important game of the season, hosting the Columbus Blue Jackets in a matchup with direct playoff implications.

New York (83 points) enters the contest just behind Columbus (85 points) in the Eastern Conference standings, sitting on the outside of the playoff picture. The Islanders also trail the Detroit Red Wings by one point for the second Wild Card spot, making Sunday’s game critical in tightening the race.

The Islanders are looking to snap a two-game losing streak after a 7-3 loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday. It marks just the second time this season New York has dropped consecutive games since its 0-3-0 start in October.

Head coach Patrick Roy confirmed Ilya Sorokin will start in goal. Sorokin was pulled in the third period Saturday to preserve energy for the back-to-back and has experience handling consecutive starts.

Sunday also begins a crucial five-game homestand, with the Islanders set to play 10 of their final 12 games at UBS Arena. New York is 18-11-2 at home this season.

The Islanders have had success against Columbus this year, going 2-1-0 in the season series, including a 4-3 overtime comeback win on Feb. 28.

The Blue Jackets enter on a surge, riding a four-game winning streak and a 12-game point streak (8-0-4). Since mid-January, Columbus has been one of the NHL’s hottest teams, led by defenseman Zach Werenski and forward Charlie Coyle.

With both teams battling for limited playoff spots, the margin for error is gone.

For the Islanders, Sunday is more than just another game—it’s a chance to control their fate.