NY Islanders playoff chances on life support after 3-0 loss to Ottawa Senators

The New York Islanders’ playoff hopes are hanging by a thread, and that may be generous.

In a game they desperately needed, the Islanders were shut out 3-0 by the Ottawa Senators on Saturday, a result that leaves their postseason chances on life support with just two games remaining. New York has now dropped five of its last six games, falling further behind in a crowded Eastern Conference race.

The difference came down to missed opportunities — and one costly mistake.

Ridly Greig opened the scoring with a short-handed goal late in the first period, capitalizing on an Islanders power play that once again failed to deliver. That set the tone for a frustrating afternoon, as New York went 0-for-5 with the man advantage, unable to solve Linus Ullmark, who turned aside all 23 shots he faced.

“It was tight,” captain Anders Lee said. “I don't think they were getting many quality shots either… we didn't capitalize on our power plays.”

For long stretches, the game felt like it could tilt either way. But the Islanders couldn’t break through, and Ottawa made them pay. Jake Sanderson doubled the lead in the third period, and Michael Amadio added an empty-net goal to seal it.

Ilya Sorokin finished with 13 saves, keeping the Islanders within striking distance, but the lack of offense proved fatal.

The loss drops the Islanders to 1-1 under new head coach Peter DeBoer, and more importantly, puts their season on the brink. “It doesn't feel great right now, but we're still alive,” DeBoer said. “We have to win our last two games. Our season didn't end tonight.”

Technically, he’s right., but the Islanders will need more than a little help now to make thier final two games mean anything. They play at home against the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday night.