Teams around the New York Islanders continue to rack up standings points. With the Pittsburgh Penguins the latest team to stumble to five straight losing decisions, the Islanders needed to earn just a point to climb into a playoff spot, albeit with two extra games played. Thanks to Ilya Sorokin getting them through it, they overcame an ugly first period to storm to a regulation win over the Vancouver Canucks and move two points ahead of the Penguins. It’s a precarious playoff spot, but a playoff spot nonetheless.
Despite receiving very little ice time, Aatu Räty got the Islanders’ juices flowing with his second career goal.