What tonight means for the New York Islanders' playoff race
The New York Islanders are 4-3-1, 9 points with a magic number of 153 and a tragic number of 152 — chasing Buffalo Sabres for a wild card spot.
Tonight they host Anaheim Ducks.
Nothing is decided for a playoff berth tonight.
Playoff berth
Nothing is decided for a playoff berth tonight.
The New York Islanders can't be eliminated tonight; the tragic number is 152 and tonight's games can't bring it to zero.
The New York Islanders can't clinch a playoff berth tonight — the magic number is 153 points, more than tonight's games can take off it. The earliest it could happen is 39 games from now.
Games that matter tonight
- Anaheim Ducks at New York Islanders
- San Jose Sharks at Montréal Canadiens
- Colorado Avalanche at New Jersey Devils
- Detroit Red Wings at Seattle Kraken
- Los Angeles Kings at Washington Capitals
4 other NHL games with a smaller bearing on this race were left out of the enumeration, so a path that depends on one of them isn't listed. Every path shown is a real guarantee.
Every combination of these results (0 in all) was checked with the same conservative math as the standings page, so each path listed is a mathematical guarantee — no tiebreaker assumptions in your favor. Want the result-by-result version? The rooting guide on the team page shows what each game does to the numbers.
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Frequently asked questions
How can the New York Islanders clinch a playoff spot tonight?
The New York Islanders can't clinch a playoff berth tonight — the magic number is 153 points, more than tonight's games can take off it. The earliest it could happen is 39 games from now.
Can the New York Islanders be eliminated tonight?
The New York Islanders can't be eliminated tonight; the tragic number is 152 and tonight's games can't bring it to zero.
What is the New York Islanders magic number right now?
The New York Islanders magic number is 153 and their tragic number is 152.
How are these scenarios calculated?
Every combination of results in the NHL games that bear on the race tonight is enumerated, and the magic and tragic numbers are recomputed in each one with the same conservative math as the standings page. The paths listed are the minimal sets of results that guarantee the outcome no matter how the other games end.