Islanders Drop Out Officially

What an awful year for the Islanders, an awful year that the team made the very best of, considering all their injuries. With guys like Mark Streit out for the whole year, Kyle Okposo missing most of the season and their number one goaltender, Rick DiPietro being on and off the shelf a number of times, you would have thought that the Islanders would have been the first team eliminated from playoff contention.  No, they survived to be the fifth team eliminated and I think there should be some satisfaction taken in that.  Kids like Travis Hamonic (pictured) did very well, getting thrown into the deep end and learning to swim.

Also, the Pittsburgh Penguins, who were idle on Saturday, got the loss they were looking for from Carolina and they have officially clinched their spot in the playoffs.

In Sunday's action, there are four games on the schedule and only one has any real potential to do anything and that is the Bruins going into Philadelphia to take on the Flyers.  If the Bruins can pick up a win, in any fashion, they will be able to clinch their spot in the playoffs as well.  Atlanta, who hosts Ottawa today, can move a step towards elimination, with their death number down to 3 and the same can be said about the Blue Jackets, who play host to the Canucks today.  Their death number is also 3, so they cannot be eliminated today, but they can move much closer.