Islanders Face Canadiens in Must-Win Playoff Push

New York Islanders need to win final two games and get help to clinch playoff spot

Apr. 12, 2026 at 1:35pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a hockey game between the New York Islanders and Montreal Canadiens, with the players and arena broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of color and form.The Islanders' final push for a playoff spot will require a fractured, multi-angled effort against the Canadiens.Elmont Today

The New York Islanders are on the brink of playoff elimination and must win their final two regular-season games against the Montreal Canadiens to have any chance of making the postseason. The Islanders currently sit behind the Philadelphia Flyers, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Washington Capitals in the Metropolitan Division standings, and need to win out while getting help from other teams to clinch the third and final playoff spot.

Why it matters

The Islanders' playoff hopes have taken a major hit after a loss to the Ottawa Senators on Saturday. With the Blue Jackets, Capitals, and Flyers all winning, the Islanders' path to the playoffs has become much more difficult. A loss to the Canadiens would officially eliminate them from contention.

The details

The Islanders will face the Canadiens on Sunday in a battle of Eastern Conference rivals. Both teams are coming off losses on Saturday, with the Canadiens falling to the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-2. The Canadiens had a chance to move into a tie for first place in the Atlantic Division but missed that opportunity. The Islanders, meanwhile, were shut out 3-0 by the Senators, a defeat that eliminated them from the wild-card race. New York's only path to the playoffs now is to win their final two games and get help from other teams in the Metropolitan Division.

  • The Islanders and Canadiens will face off on Sunday, April 14, 2026.
  • The Islanders have two regular-season games remaining, both must-win contests to keep their playoff hopes alive.

The players

Peter DeBoer

Head coach of the New York Islanders, who took over the team on April 5 after the firing of Patrick Roy.

Jake Evans

Center for the Montreal Canadiens, who had an assist in the team's loss to the Blue Jackets on Saturday.

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What they’re saying

“Our season didn't end today, as tough as that feels walking out of that rink today. We've got to be prepared to take care of our business, which is win the last two games. If someone is going to beat us out of that last playoff spot, then we've got to make them earn it.”

— Peter DeBoer, Head Coach, New York Islanders

“Emotionally, it's been a lot of ups recently, but we can't just sit on that. We have to keep going because we obviously want home ice and to play here more in the playoffs.”

— Jake Evans, Center, Montreal Canadiens

What’s next

The Islanders must win their final two regular-season games against the Canadiens and get help from other teams in the Metropolitan Division to clinch a playoff spot. The Canadiens, who have already clinched a playoff berth, are looking to secure home-ice advantage in the postseason.

The takeaway

The Islanders' playoff hopes are hanging by a thread, and they will need to win their final two games and get significant help from other teams to extend their season. Meanwhile, the Canadiens are looking to lock up home-ice advantage in the playoffs, but a loss to the desperate Islanders could complicate their plans.