Islanders Defeat Stars in Crucial Playoff Push

New York Islanders earn key victory over Dallas Stars to boost their postseason chances.

Mar. 27, 2026 at 2:48am

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The New York Islanders defeated the Dallas Stars 2-1 in a crucial game for the Islanders' playoff hopes. Bo Horvat scored his 30th goal of the season to give the Islanders the lead, and Calum Ritchie added another goal in the third period. Ilya Sorokin made 26 saves in the win, which moved the Islanders back into the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot.

Why it matters

The Islanders are fighting for a playoff spot, and this victory over the Stars, one of the top teams in the Western Conference, was a big boost to their postseason chances. The win keeps the Islanders in the hunt for a wild-card berth in the Eastern Conference.

The details

Bo Horvat opened the scoring for the Islanders less than five minutes into the game, and Calum Ritchie doubled the lead in the third period. Ilya Sorokin was strong in net for the Islanders, stopping 26 of 27 shots. The Stars pulled their goalie late but could only manage one goal in the final minutes.

  • The game was played on Thursday, March 26, 2026.

The players

Bo Horvat

The Islanders' leading goal scorer, who reached the 30-goal mark for the fourth time in his career.

Calum Ritchie

The Islanders forward who scored the team's second goal in the third period.

Ilya Sorokin

The Islanders' goaltender, who made 26 saves and kept the Stars at bay for most of the game.

Matt Duchene

The Stars' forward who scored their lone goal late in the third period.

Jake Oettinger

The Stars' goaltender, who made 23 saves in the loss.

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What they’re saying

“We must keep fighting and playing our game if we want to make the playoffs. This was a big win for us tonight.”

— Bo Horvat

What’s next

The Islanders will look to build on this win as they continue their push for a playoff spot, while the Stars will try to end their four-game losing streak.

The takeaway

This victory was a crucial one for the Islanders in their quest to secure a postseason berth. The team showed resilience and determination in earning two important points against a top opponent like the Stars.