The Painful Reminder Of The Backpedaling Islanders

The Islanders are out of a playoff spot with 13 games left after a devastating loss to Ottawa. Now, every game — including a looming clash with Columbus — feels like a must-win.

Stefen Rosner, David Kolb, and The Elmonters

Mar 20, 2026

The New York Islanders have their backs against the wall for the first time since Dec. 4. After falling to the Ottawa Senators with 11.1 seconds left in regulation, things went from bad to worse.

The Columbus Blue Jackets won, knocking the Islanders out of third place in the division and briefly into a wild-card spot. Then the Detroit Red Wings picked up a win, too — and just like that, the Islanders were out of a playoff spot entirely with 13 games to play.

It was a devastating night.

The season isn’t over, but the Islanders let a massive opportunity slip away against a Senators team playing on the second leg of a back-to-back.

Ottawa held them to just one shot on goal over the final stretch — that simply can’t happen at this time of year.

The Islanders entered this season believing they were a playoff team, even if the outside noise labeled it a retool.

Once they worked their way into a playoff spot a few months ago, the expectations changed.

General manager Mathieu Darche doubled down on those expectations by acquiring Brayden Schenn — a move that would look just fine if this team gets in and gains meaningful experience for Matthew Schaefer and the rest of the young core.

Schenn still has value beyond this season with term remaining. But if the Islanders don’t qualify, it’s a tough look. When that move was made, on top of the Ondrej Palat and Carson Soucy deals, it was no longer about hoping to make the playoffs. It became about getting in.

And at this stage, if they miss, it has to be viewed as a failure — from Darche to Patrick Roy to the players in that room.

Yes, there are still 13 games left. Anything is possible. But what the Islanders have to avoid now is letting this loss become the turning point — the kind that sinks a season. We’ve seen it before.

On March 24 of last year, they thought they had taken a 4-3 lead with 10 seconds left.

The goal was waved off for goaltender interference, the call stood after review, and a team already on life support lost 4-3 in overtime:

They dropped their next four games. Season over. The difference this time? The Islanders weren’t chasing all year.

They were in control for more than three months.

Now, they have to do what the teams around them keep doing: Collecting points. The road trip wraps up Saturday in Montreal — the front end of a back-to-back — before a massive game Sunday at home against Columbus.

That one feels like a must-win.

But when your back is against the wall, they all are.