NHL teams
Associated Press 7y

Islanders out of playoffs after Leafs clinch last spot

NHL, New York Islanders

NEWARK, N.J. -- The New York Islanders have been eliminated from playoff contention, despite running their win streak to five games.

Roughly an hour after they beat the New Jersey Devils 4-2 on Saturday night, the Islanders' playoff hopes were dashed when the Toronto Maple Leafs clinched the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference by rallying for a 5-3 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Islanders had kept their faint hopes alive by getting 37 saves from Jaroslav Halak and two goals from Anders Lee.

Toronto had come into the day needing a win to secure the final berth, and it nailed it down with three goals in the final 5 1/2 minutes, eliminating both the Islanders and the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Adam Pelech and Jason Chimera also scored for the Islanders, who put their final run together with Halak in goal. He is 6-1-0 since being recalled from Bridgeport of the AHL on March 23.

Beau Bennett scored twice for the Devils, who have three wins in their past 23 games (3-16-4). Keith Kinkaid had 16 saves.

Halak kept the Islanders in the game early, stopping 14 first-period shots, including a breakaway by Taylor Hall.

New York broke through early in the second period, when Pelech sent a puck from his own right circle up the side board. Nikolay Kulemin collected it and found Pelech coming down the middle of the ice for Pelech's third goal.

Lee, who leads the team with 33 goals, got his 32nd on a deflection of Nick Leddy's shot seconds after an Islanders power play ended.

Chimera extended the lead to 3-0 early in the third period, finishing an odd-man rush with Alan Quine for his 19th goal.

Bennett scored his seventh of the season a little more than a minute later, when his bad angle shot slipped through Halak's pads and the goaltender inadvertently kicked it into the net.

Lee made it 4-1 with a power-play goal in close at 8:11, his fifth goal during the Islanders' win streak. Bennett's second goal of the game came with three seconds remaining.

Game notes
Islanders captain John Tavares missed his fourth straight game with a lower-body injury. ... Retiring New Jersey all-time points leader Patrik Elias took part in the pregame skate. He did not play this season. ... The Islanders won the season series 3-1. ... After opening the season at home with an 8-0-2 mark, New Jersey finished 12-23-6 at the Prudential Center.

UP NEXT

Islanders: Visit Ottawa for the season finale on Sunday.

Devils: At Detroit to face the Red Wings on Sunday in the final game at Joe Louis Arena on Sunday.

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