Islanders' playoff hopes in serious trouble after back-to-back losses

New York falls to the Sabres 4-3 after blowout defeat against Penguins, putting their postseason chances in jeopardy

Apr. 1, 2026 at 2:35pm

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The New York Islanders suffered two tough losses in as many nights, falling 4-3 to the Buffalo Sabres after a blowout 8-3 defeat against the Pittsburgh Penguins. These results have put the Islanders' playoff hopes in serious jeopardy, as they now sit just one point ahead of the Columbus Blue Jackets for the final Eastern Conference Wild Card spot with six games remaining in the regular season.

Why it matters

The Islanders' back-to-back losses have severely damaged their chances of making the playoffs this season. With several teams hot on their heels, the Islanders can ill afford any more slip-ups if they want to secure a postseason berth. These results have major implications for the team's future and the morale of the players as they try to turn things around in the final stretch.

The details

In Tuesday's game against the Sabres, the Islanders were 3:01 away from securing a vital road point when a defensive miscue led to the game-winning goal for Buffalo. Sabres star Tage Thompson flipped the puck into the Islanders' zone, where defenseman Carson Soucy whiffed on the bouncing puck, allowing Alex Tuch to set up Peyton Krebs for the decisive tally. The Islanders had fought back to tie the game at 2-2 earlier in the third period, but ultimately fell 4-3.

  • The Islanders lost 8-3 to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday, April 1, 2026.
  • On Tuesday, April 2, 2026, the Islanders lost 4-3 to the Buffalo Sabres.

The players

Anders Lee

Captain of the New York Islanders.

Tage Thompson

Star player for the Buffalo Sabres.

Carson Soucy

Defenseman for the New York Islanders.

Alex Tuch

Forward for the Buffalo Sabres.

Peyton Krebs

Forward for the Buffalo Sabres.

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What they’re saying

“This one stings. It was tough the last two nights to come out with nothing... It's too bad that we let it slip.”

— Anders Lee, Captain, New York Islanders

“We have to find ways to hold onto games and not give up late goals. It's a game of inches and a game of mistakes. Right now, we're on the other side of it.”

— Brayden Schenn, Forward, New York Islanders

What’s next

The Islanders will host the Philadelphia Flyers on Friday, April 5, 2026, in a crucial game as they try to keep their playoff hopes alive.

The takeaway

The Islanders' back-to-back losses have put their playoff chances in serious jeopardy, as they now sit just one point ahead of the Columbus Blue Jackets for the final Eastern Conference Wild Card spot. With several teams chasing them and only six games remaining, the Islanders must find a way to turn things around quickly if they want to secure a postseason berth.