Islanders already in throes of playoff-like hockey in final stretch
By Joe Pantorno
Published on March 23, 2026.
The New York Islanders defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets 1-0, marking the first playoff-like action at UBS Arena in two years. The victory secured the Islanders back into a playoff spot, moving them to the second and final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference after losing two consecutive games. Goalkeeper Ilya Sorokin performed a 26-save shutout, marking his seventh NHL-leading game of the season and tying a single-season franchise record. With 12 games remaining, the Islanders face a challenging schedule, with three teams within five points of it for the final playoff spot.
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