Islanders roll past Sabres to clinch playoff berth

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Mathew Barzal (left) and Jordan Eberle celebrate after the Islanders' playoff-clinching victory on Saturday night.This was less a hockey game and more an evening-long celebration.

The Islanders’ season-long revival took a big step when they clinched the club’s first playoff berth since 2016, wrapping up a 5-1 win over the woeful Sabres on Saturday night at the Coliseum. It was the first time the Isles clinched a berth on home ice since 2002.

The Islanders (46-26-7) needed a win in regulation or a regulation loss by the Canadiens to clinch, but, just like they have this whole season, they took matters into their own hands. The Sabres (31-37-10) continued their horrid late-season…