Sunday’s game between the New York Islanders and Columbus Blue Jackets felt like a playoff game.
The Islanders were in desperate need of a win after dropping their previous two games to fall out of a playoff spot. Riding a 12-game point streak (7-5-0), the Blue Jackets had leapfrogged many teams to sit third in the Metropolitan Division.
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It was a tight hockey game, filled with physicality and post-whistle shenanigans, a game in which the Islanders came away victorious, 1-0, to jump back into a playoff spot.
New York Islanders Back In Playoff Position After Shutout Of Columbus Blue Jackets
New York Islanders Back In Playoff Position After Shutout Of Columbus Blue Jackets A crucial shutout propels the Islanders back into a playoff spot. Now, they’re fighting tooth and nail to secure their postseason berth with just 11 games remaining.
As one of The Elmonters’ followers, David Roberts put it: “There was consistent intensity, which was necessary because Columbus had the same.”
That brings us to Tuesday night’s game against the Chicago Blackhawks.
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While there could be a spark in this one with 2025 No. 3 overall pick Anton Frondell potentially making his NHL debut, the Blackhawks aren’t playing for anything other than pride.
Jeff Blashill’s squad sits 30th in the NHL, moving a handful of pieces at the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline.
The Islanders have a history of playing down to “weaker” opponents. It’s the NHL, where even the worst team in the league can beat the best, but during a playoff race, losing to a bottom-feeder could be catastrophic.
This season, the Islanders have lost games to the St. Louis Blues, Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames, and Los Angeles Kings (twice).
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The Islanders must bring that playoff intensity to Tuesday night’s showdown, regardless of whether the Blackhawks match it. Chicago is 1-2-2 over their last five games.
On Dec. 30, the Islanders did beat the Blackhawks 3-2 in a shootout, a Bo Horvat winner.
With the Ottawa Senators beating the New York Rangers 2-1 on Monday night, they moved within two points of the Islanders for the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference with what will be two games in hand after Tuesday.
Losing to the Blackhawks is really not an option for Long Island.
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