Islanders Return to Playoffs With 1-0 Shutout Win

With just 11 games remaining in the 2025–26 NHL regular season, the New York Islanders are back in the playoff picture — barely, but meaningfully. A tense, 1-0 shutout victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Sunday, March 22 at UBS Arena pushed the Islanders back into the Eastern Conference's second wild-card spot, leapfrogging the Detroit Red Wings by a single point. It was exactly the kind of gritty, defense-first win this team needed after a brutal two-game skid that had threatened to derail their postseason hopes entirely.

Sorokin Delivers When It Matters Most

If there is one player who embodies the Islanders' playoff push, it is goaltender Ilya Sorokin. On Sunday, the Russian netminder stopped all 26 shots he faced to earn his seventh shutout of the season — a league-leading total that now ties him with Islanders legends Chico Resch and Semyon Varlamov for the franchise's single-season shutout record.

What makes the achievement even more remarkable is the context. Just 24 hours earlier, Sorokin had been pulled from a 7-3 blowout loss in Montreal after allowing six goals. Head coach Patrick Roy made the decision to start him back-to-back for the first time this season — and Sorokin answered with one of the most important performances of the year.

According to Newsday's Andrew Gross, Sorokin and the Islanders' defense served as "the calm amid the storm" of a white-knuckle playoff push — a description that perfectly captures how this team has leaned on structure and goaltending when offense has been hard to come by.

Sorokin is now the only goaltender in Islanders history to record seven shutouts in two separate seasons, a testament to his consistency as an elite NHL stopper even in a difficult stretch for the franchise overall.

Horvat's First-Period Strike Proves to Be Enough

In a game defined by saves and defensive battles, a single goal made all the difference. Bo Horvat scored at 1:25 of the first period, converting off a rush to give the Islanders the only lead they would need. It was a vintage example of opportunistic offense — capitalize early, then defend for your life.

The Islanders nearly added insurance when a second goal was waved off following a successful coach's challenge by Columbus coach Rick Bowness, who argued — and the officials agreed — that Anders Lee had committed goalie interference. That call kept the margin at one and turned the final two periods into a nerve-wracking exercise in structure and discipline.

As detailed in the official Islanders game takeaways on NHL.com, the team navigated not just the tight score but also the absence of top-pair defenseman Ryan Pulock, who sat out with a lower-body injury. Losing Pulock — one of the anchors of the blue line — added another layer of difficulty to an already demanding game.

The Stakes: A One-Point Wild-Card Lead With 11 Games to Play

The standings entering Monday, March 23 told a story of razor-thin margins. The Islanders sat at 40-26-5 with 85 points, one point ahead of the Detroit Red Wings (84 points) for the second Eastern Conference wild-card berth. The Pittsburgh Penguins, who had briefly held that position, were dealt a blow of their own — a 5-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes — which further helped the Islanders' cause.

The timing of the win was critical. Just days earlier, the Islanders had tumbled out of a playoff spot for the first time since December 4 after a last-second 3-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators on March 19 followed by the ugly blowout in Montreal. Those back-to-back losses had the fanbase bracing for another late-season collapse.

Instead, the team regrouped. Per Yahoo Sports, the victory represented far more than two standings points — it was a statement that this team still has the resolve to compete when everything is on the line.

The Road Ahead: A Home-Heavy Stretch Run

Here is where the schedule may actually favor the Islanders down the stretch: 10 of their final 12 games are at home, with the comforts of UBS Arena and its partisan crowd providing a meaningful advantage. The stretch run begins Tuesday, March 25 against the Chicago Blackhawks — a relatively favorable matchup as Chicago continues to rebuild.

The home schedule is a genuine asset for a team that has leaned heavily on Sorokin's ability to steal games in tight, low-scoring affairs. UBS Arena crowds have been energized by the playoff race, and home-ice familiarity matters in the defensive, structured style the Islanders favor.

The MSN Sports analysis of Sunday's win noted how the Islanders' ability to control games defensively positions them well for a home stretch — provided they can find enough offense to support Sorokin's consistently elite goaltending.

Still, the competition is fierce. Detroit and Pittsburgh are not going away quietly, and every game between now and the regular season finale will carry playoff-round intensity. The Islanders must stay healthy, stay disciplined, and continue to squeeze every ounce of production from their roster.

Blue Jackets Postscript: A Historic Streak Snapped

While the focus rightly falls on the Islanders, it is worth noting what Columbus brought into Sunday's game. The Blue Jackets had been on a remarkable 12-game point streak that had transformed their season under head coach Rick Bowness, who took over on January 12. Since Bowness assumed the helm, Columbus had gone an extraordinary 18-3-4, one of the best records in the NHL over that span.

Sunday's loss ended that streak, but it does little to diminish what Bowness has built on the shores of Lake Erie. Columbus is playing for pride, development, and possibly a late playoff push of their own — though their path is significantly longer than the Islanders'. For New York, facing a team playing at that level and winning 1-0 is a testament to their resilience.

As reported by the Associated Press via MSN, the Islanders earned this win the hard way — against a hot opponent, short-handed on defense, and playing on back-to-back days.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do the Islanders stand in the playoff race right now?

As of March 23, 2026, the New York Islanders hold the second Eastern Conference wild-card spot with 85 points (40-26-5), one point ahead of the Detroit Red Wings (84 points). The Pittsburgh Penguins are also in contention. The Islanders have 11 games remaining.

How many shutouts does Ilya Sorokin have this season?

Sorokin has seven shutouts in the 2025–26 season, the most of any goaltender in the NHL. This ties the Islanders' single-season team record set by Chico Resch and later matched by Semyon Varlamov. Sorokin is the only goalie in franchise history to record seven shutouts in two different seasons.

When is the Islanders' next game?

The Islanders host the Chicago Blackhawks at UBS Arena on Tuesday, March 25, 2026, at 7 PM ET. It is the first of 10 home games over their final 12 regular-season contests.

Is Ryan Pulock injured?

Yes. Pulock, the Islanders' top-pair defenseman, was listed as unavailable for Sunday's game against Columbus due to a lower-body injury. His status for upcoming games has not been officially confirmed.

What happened in the Islanders' recent losing streak?

The Islanders lost two consecutive games before Sunday's win: a 3-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators on March 19 that came in last-second fashion, and a 7-3 blowout loss to the Montreal Canadiens on March 21 in which Sorokin was pulled after allowing six goals. Those losses dropped the Islanders out of a playoff spot for the first time since December 4.

Conclusion: Islanders Playoff Push Is Very Much Alive

Sunday's 1-0 win over Columbus was not a flashy performance. It was not a statement-making offensive outburst. It was exactly what the Islanders needed: a composed, disciplined, goaltending-driven win that steadied the ship at the most critical moment of the season.

With 11 games to go, a favorable home schedule, and Ilya Sorokin playing at a historic level, the New York Islanders are a legitimate playoff team. The margin for error is thin — one game separates them from the Red Wings — but the foundation is there. If Sorokin continues to stand on his head and the offense can find just enough to support him, a postseason berth remains firmly within reach.

For Islanders fans who have waited through years of near-misses, this week serves as a reminder: the race is not over until it is over, and right now, New York is exactly where it needs to be.