ELMONT, NY -- The New York Islanders defeated the Montreal Canadiens 4-2 on Wednesday night to clinch the final Stanley Cup Playoff berth and eliminate the Pittsburgh Penguins, ending their streak of 16 straight playoff appearances.
Brock Nelson had two goals, while goalie Ilya Sorokin made 17 saves.
The last time Pittsburgh didn't take part in an NHL postseason was 2005-06, Sidney Crosby's rookie season. Their 16-year streak -- the longest active run in the NFL, NBA, NHL and MLB -- included a qualification-round loss in 2020, when the NHL expanded the playoffs to 24 teams because of the COVID-19 pandemic.