Islanders Eliminated from Playoffs After Loss to Canadiens

Nick Suzuki reaches 100-point milestone in Montreal's 4-1 victory over New York.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 2:03am

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A fractured, multi-perspective painting in the style of Pablo Picasso, breaking down a hockey game into sharp, overlapping geometric planes of color, with the puck as a central focal point.The Canadiens' decisive victory over the Islanders shatters New York's playoff hopes, as Montreal's offensive onslaught is captured in a cubist, geometric style.NYC Today

The Montreal Canadiens defeated the New York Islanders 4-1 on Sunday, officially eliminating the Islanders from playoff contention. Nick Suzuki scored a goal and recorded an assist to reach the 100-point mark for the season, while Ivan Demidov, Alex Newhook, and Zachary Bolduc also scored for Montreal. Casey Cizikas scored the lone goal for the Islanders, who have lost six of their last seven games.

Why it matters

The Islanders' elimination from the playoffs is a disappointing end to their season, as they had high hopes of returning to the postseason after missing out last year. Meanwhile, the Canadiens' victory keeps them in the hunt for home-ice advantage in the opening round and a potential Atlantic Division title.

The details

The Canadiens broke the game open late in the second period, scoring three goals in a 55-second span. Suzuki opened the scoring with his 29th goal of the season, reaching the 100-point mark for the first time in his career. Demidov made it 2-0 just 28 seconds later, finishing a one-timer off Suzuki's feed on the power play. Newhook capped the surge at 16:51 of the second with a wrist shot on a two-on-one rush. Cizikas redirected a shot from Scott Mayfield to spoil Fowler's shutout bid midway through the third period.

  • The Canadiens scored three goals in a 55-second span late in the second period.
  • Suzuki reached the 100-point mark for the first time in his career.

The players

Nick Suzuki

A 23-year-old center for the Montreal Canadiens who reached the 100-point mark for the first time in his career.

Casey Cizikas

A 31-year-old forward for the New York Islanders who scored the team's lone goal in the loss.

Ilya Sorokin

The 27-year-old goaltender for the New York Islanders who made 18 saves in the loss.

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What they’re saying

“We must continue to push for home-ice advantage and a division title. This was an important win for us.”

— Nick Suzuki, Center, Montreal Canadiens

“It's a tough way to end the season, but we'll learn from this and come back stronger next year.”

— Casey Cizikas, Forward, New York Islanders

What’s next

The Canadiens will visit the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday night in their regular-season finale, while the Islanders will host the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday night to conclude their season.

The takeaway

The Islanders' elimination from playoff contention is a disappointing end to their season, but the Canadiens' victory keeps them in the hunt for home-ice advantage and a potential division title, showcasing the team's resilience and offensive firepower.