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Elmont Today
By the People, for the People
Islanders' Playoff Hopes Dwindle After Loss to Senators
Islanders need to win their final two games and get significant help from other teams to keep their postseason dreams alive.
Apr. 11, 2026 at 11:20pm
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The Islanders' fading playoff hopes are reflected in a fragmented, cubist depiction of the team's latest defeat.Elmont TodayThe New York Islanders suffered a 3-0 defeat to the Ottawa Senators on Saturday, significantly narrowing their path to the playoffs. Despite not being mathematically eliminated, the Islanders now face an uphill battle, needing to win their final two games against the Montreal Canadiens and Carolina Hurricanes, while also requiring the Philadelphia Flyers, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Washington Capitals to lose multiple games.
Why it matters
The Islanders were in a playoff spot for over 3 months, but a late-season collapse has put their postseason hopes in jeopardy. This loss is a major blow to their chances, as they now need a perfect finish to the season and help from other teams to secure a playoff berth.
The details
The Islanders were unable to capitalize on an opportunity to gain ground on the Flyers, who were not playing on Saturday. A win would have put the Islanders back into a playoff spot, at least temporarily. Instead, the loss leaves them needing to win their final two games and get significant help from other teams, including the Flyers, Blue Jackets, and Capitals, to keep their playoff dreams alive.
- The Islanders suffered a 3-0 defeat to the Senators on Saturday, April 11, 2026.
- The Islanders have two games remaining in the regular season: against the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday, April 12, 2026, and the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday, April 14, 2026.
The players
Peter DeBoer
The head coach of the New York Islanders.
Anders Lee
The captain of the New York Islanders.
Brady Tkachuk
The captain of the Ottawa Senators.
What they’re saying
“We gotta control what we can control. Let's have a good response tomorrow. Win our games. We're gonna need some help but all we can do now, this game's over, unfortunately. We just gotta respond with our own game.”
— Anders Lee, Captain
“It doesn't feel great right now but we're still alive. We gotta win our last two games and make somebody earn that last spot.”
— Peter DeBoer, Head Coach
What’s next
The Islanders will need to win their final two games against the Montreal Canadiens and Carolina Hurricanes, and also require the Philadelphia Flyers, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Washington Capitals to lose multiple games in order to keep their playoff hopes alive.
The takeaway
The Islanders' late-season collapse has put their playoff chances in serious jeopardy, as they now face an uphill battle to secure a postseason berth. This loss highlights the importance of maintaining consistency throughout the season, as the Islanders' inability to do so has left them relying on outside help to keep their playoff dreams alive.
