Islanders Prove They Can Thrive Under Playoff Pressure

Shut out red-hot Blue Jackets to move into 2nd wild card in East

Mar. 23, 2026 at 4:35am

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The New York Islanders delivered a strong performance, shutting out the red-hot Columbus Blue Jackets 1-0 to move into the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference. Goaltender Ilya Sorokin bounced back from a tough outing the previous day, making 13 saves in the third period to preserve the victory. The win comes as the Islanders enter a crucial stretch of 10 out of 12 games at home to end the regular season, as they battle for a playoff spot.

Why it matters

The Islanders' ability to win a tight, low-scoring game against a tough opponent like the Blue Jackets shows they can thrive under the pressure of the playoff race. With several teams vying for the final wild card spots in the East, the Islanders' performance demonstrates their resilience and ability to win the close games that will be crucial down the stretch.

The details

Despite missing top defenseman Ryan Pulock, the Islanders limited the Blue Jackets to just five shots on goal in the second period and Sorokin made 13 saves in the third to secure the 1-0 victory. This came a day after Sorokin was pulled in a 7-3 loss to the Montreal Canadiens, but he bounced back with a strong outing to help the Islanders move into the second wild card spot in the East.

  • The Islanders' win over the Blue Jackets came on Sunday, March 23, 2026.
  • The Islanders' previous game was a 7-3 loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday, March 22, 2026.

The players

Ilya Sorokin

The Islanders' starting goaltender who made 13 saves in the third period to preserve the 1-0 victory over the Blue Jackets.

Ryan Pulock

The Islanders' top right-handed defenseman who was out with a lower-body injury.

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What they’re saying

“After yesterday's game, it was important to continue to do what I do all season. There was nothing bigger I could do. I just tried to play simply, and the guys played behind me very well. It was a big game tonight, and we played very decently.”

— Ilya Sorokin

“Look, this is a tough part of the year. Other teams are trying to do what we're doing. Everyone's playing with a level of desperation. In the Ottawa game we were a little short on the desperation, and then in Montreal we were a little short on the execution. But these things are going to happen regardless of your intention. It's not always going to be a perfect 60 minutes, but you can definitely try to attain that and try to achieve that.”

— Anders Lee, Islanders Captain

“That was definitely the higher stress (games) so far of the season, and I thought we handled it really well. Not only goaltending but through our lineup, guys were making plays and still trying to press and play well in the third.”

— Bo Horvat, Islanders Forward

What’s next

The Islanders' playoff push continues on Tuesday, March 25, 2026 when they host Connor Bedard and the Chicago Blackhawks.

The takeaway

The Islanders' ability to win a tight, low-scoring game against a tough opponent like the Blue Jackets demonstrates their resilience and poise under playoff-level pressure. This performance should give the team confidence as they battle for a postseason berth down the stretch of the regular season.