Islanders’ wait to clinch playoff berth extends to Monday in New Jersey

A late third-period goal conceded and a shootout loss has been the sort of script that has relegated the New York Islanders to dropped points numerous times this season. At this time of year, however, a point is a point, and it is something they will take.

Up 2-1 in the third period of Saturday’s game against the Rangers at Madison Square Garden, Artemi Panarin drew the Blueshirts level with less than five minutes to go before scoring what ultimately was the shootout winner after a dizzying overtime period.

“When you’re up late and you lose it, it hurts,” forward Brock Nelson, who scored twice in the loss, said. “You think back a little bit, take a step back, and think how tight the race is. There are so many different outcomes and scenarios that could happen. But to get one, it’s good.”

One point put the Islanders at 90 for the season, three ahead of the Washington Capitals for third place in the Metropolitan Division and with it, the final non-wild-card playoff berth, with just two games remaining.

New York could have still clinched a playoff berth if the Capitals and Detroit Red Wings lost in regulation later on Saturday, but that didn’t happen. Both teams won.

They did receive some help in the form of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ 6-4 loss to the Boston Bruins on Saturday night. A win would have drawn them to within two points of the Islanders with two games to play, including the regular-season finale at UBS Arena.

“We would’ve liked to have had two, but it’s a big point for us right now,” Nelson. “We’re just trying to fight for the next game and control our destiny and get in.”

Sights are firmly on Monday night as the Islanders head to New Jersey to take on the Devils with another chance to clinch a second-straight playoff berth.

If they win, they not only do that, but they clinch third place in the division. That takes considerable pressure off the regular-season finale Wednesday against the Penguins.

Should the Islanders nab just one point, they could still clinch third place if the Capitals lose in any fashion to the Bruins. If Washington wins and the Detroit Red Wings lose, they still clinch a playoff spot, but only the No. 2 Wild Card berth.

If the Islanders lose in regulation to a Devils team that has beaten them three out of three times this season, they would need the Capitals to lose in regulation, the Red Wings to lose in regulation, and the Penguins to lose in any fashion for them to back into the playoffs with one game to play.

“We can’t look that far ahead for us,” head coach Patrick Roy said. “We just have to get ready for Jersey. It’s a big point for us in the way we would have loved two points.”