Isles Surge in Playoff Race

0:00On March 29, the New York Islanders are charging hard in the playoff race with a 42-27-5 record for 89 points, jumping into second in the Metro after that 5-2 comeback win over the Florida Panthers yesterday, their neck and neck with Pittsburgh and Columbus, where every point counts big time. Rookie Defenseman Matthew Schaefer is stealing the show at just 18 years old, hitting 56 points with two assists in that Florida Game 2, tie the franchise record for a rookie blueliner. He's one goal shy of Brian Leach's all-time NHL mark for Rookie Defenseman Goals, and the call to trophy talk is heating up around him. Goaltender Ilya Sarachan is the wall in net, leading the league with seven shutouts, a 2.48 goals, against average, and a 0.91. Four say percentage. Fans and pundits have him pegged as a top vizena contender, anchoring this whole push. The blue lines banged up with Tony DiAngelo at one to two weeks on a lower body issue,

1:01but Ryan Puylox back and trade pickup Braden Shen is, clicking with a game-time goal and two assists against Florida. This week's a grinder, with back-to-backs, home versus Pittsburgh tomorrow, at 7pm Eastern for a huge four-point battle, then at Buffalo Tuesday, at 7pm, home against Philly, Friday at 7pm, and road versus Carolina Saturday at 7pm, the aisles stay locked in chasing that postseason spot. That's your update from NHL News Today, powered by AI.