Welp, that was 10 kinds of suck. But hey, at this point a 5-0 regulation loss counts the same as a 2-1 regulation heartbreaker.
The Islanders still need points to punch their ticket, they didn’t get them last night, but they have another chance tonight in Raleigh (as well as next week in a rematch with the Lightning).
The Penguins lost in regulation, but the Panthers won big in Columbus — former never-used Islanders property Carter Verhaeghe scored four goals, to reach 40 on the year — so the wild card standings are indeed tighter, with Florida jumping over Pittsburgh and pulling to just two points behind the Isles.