Islanders Claim Last Remaining NHL Playoff Spot

Good morning and happy Thursday, April 13th.

Maybe our readers should set gambling lines as over 83% of yesterday’s poll participants predicted the Islanders would clinch a playoff spot. Impressive, fam!

Don’t forget to enter your team to win 20 FREE hockey sticks thanks to our partnership with ProStockHockey.com. 👇

When it comes to the New York Islanders and playoff-related matters, Brock Nelson has been the player of record in recent years.

Nelson is 10th in franchise history in career postseason points (41 in 67 games) and only Hall of Famer Mike Bossy has more points in potential series-clinching games.

That’s why it seemed fitting Thursday that Nelson scored twice to carry the Islanders to a 4-2 win over the Montreal Canadians that gave them the 16th and final playoff berth in the 2023 NHL playoffs. Goalie Ilya Sorkin, the team’s most vital player down the stretch, only needed 17 saves.

Because the Islanders took care of business, the Pittsburgh Penguins’ playoff streak was halted after 16 seasons.

The Islanders still don’t know whether their first-round opponent will be the Boston Bruins or Carolina Hurricanes. That will be determined by tonight’s Hurricanes vs. Panthers game in Sunrise, Fla. The Islanders currently have a one point lead over the Panthers for the top Eastern Conference wild card spot.

If the Panthers beat the Hurricanes in regulation, overtime or a shootout, the Islanders will play the Boston Bruins and the Panthers will face the Metropolitan Division champion. If the Hurricanes win that game in regulation, OT or a shootout, the Islanders play the Metropolitan champion and Panthers get the Bruins.

The Islanders are in the playoffs for the fourth time in the past five seasons. They had to play .680 hockey for two months to accomplish that feat. They did it without Mathew Barzal, their most dangerous offensive player. He hasn’t played since Feb. 18 because of injury.

This will be the first time the Islanders play a playoff series in their new UBS Arena.

⭐️ The Dallas Stars move back into first place in the Central Division by defeating the St. Louis Blues 5-2 Wednesday. Wyatt Johnston scored a pair of goals and Jason Robertson posted three assists. The Stars have a five-game winning streak and are one point ahead of the Colorado Avalanche in the Central race. The Avalanche have two games remaining. Miro Heiskanen’s two assists gave him 73 points to pass Sergei Zubov (71) for most in a season by a defenseman in Stars/Minnesota North Stars history. Heiskanen's 62 assists are also a franchise record for defensemen. Robertson’s 109 points are the most by an American-born player age 23 or younger.

🔥 Calgary Flames’ goalie prospect, Dustin Wolf, makes 23 saves in NHL debut to defeat the San Jose Sharks 3-1. Wolf (21 years, 362 days) is the fourth-youngest goalie at the time of his first win in Flames/Atlanta Flames history behind Trevor Kidd (20 years, 17 days), Pat Riggin (20 years, 227 days) and Dan Bouchard (21 years, 318 days). Nikita Zadorov supported Wolf with his first career hat trick. It is also the only hat trick by a Flames player this season.

Who is the youngest goalie in NHL history to record a win?

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• 💅 Robert Thomas showcases soft hands before roofing one in tight

• 😱 Nick Suzuki turns on the jets and scores shorty on one knee with one hand

• 🎯 Brock Nelson snipes high glove for his 1st of the game

• 📐 Rem Pitlick snipes one timer from sharp angle

• 💥 Joe Pavelski blasts a one timer straight off the bench

• Small area 2v1 forecheck drill

• How to properly ask your coach for more playing time

TRIVIA ANSWER

On December 7, 1944, goaltender Harry Lumley at just 18 years and 26 days old recorded his first win which still stands as the NHL record.