The Islanders failed to capitalize on an opportunity to move within a tie of the Washington Capitals for first place in the Metropolitan Division in a tktkt loss to the lowly Detroit Red Wings on Saturday. Anders Lee had the lone goal for the Islanders as Andreas Athansiou scored twice to lead Detroit to victory. >> Box score

First period:

• 2:59 DET Andreas Athanasiou; Assists: Danny DeKeyser
• 10:18 NYI Anders Lee; Assists: Brock Neslon, Devon Toews

The New York Islanders displayed their formula for making the playoffs during their past two games.

They recorded a 2-0 shutout against Columbus on Monday, then edged Montreal 2-1 on Thursday.

Not only did they improve their postseason prospects with those low-scoring victories, they also moved without striking distance of the Washington Capitals' lead in the Metropolitan Division.

Anders Lee scored with 2:57 left to give the Islanders a 2-1 victory over the Canadiens Thursday night. Mathew Barzal set up the winner by stealing the puck in the Isles' zone and feeding Lee on a two-on-one. Thomas Greiss made 33 saves as the Isles earned their fourth win in the last five games. >> Box score

First period:

• N/A

The New York Islanders and Montreal Canadiens both improved their precarious positions in the Eastern Conference playoff race with wins in their most recent games.

But the work has just begun for the two teams, who will face off in another pivotal game Thursday night, when New York hosts Montreal at Nassau Coliseum.

The Islanders (40-22-7, 87 points) have been off since Monday, when they beat the visiting Columbus Blue Jackets, 2-0. The Canadiens (37-26-7, 81) last played Tuesday, when they hosted and edged the Detroit Red Wings, 3-1.

Islanders goaltender Robin Lehner returned to practice Wednesday, eight days after being bowled over by Ottawa's Brady Tkachuk. Lehner, who missed the last three games with an upper-body injury, is a "possibility" to return to goal against the Canadiens Thursday night at the Coliseum, Barry Trotz told reporters.

Trotz had to speak with Lehner and the training staff before making a decision. If Lehner doesn't return Thursday, he could return during the Islanders' weekend back-to-back at Detroit and Minnesota.

Thomas Greiss recorded 33 saves in a shutout as the Islanders beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 2-0 on Monday at Nassau Coliseum. >> Box score

First period:

• 6:11 NYI Ryan Pulock; Assists: Cal Clutterbuck, Adam Pelech

The Islanders plan to have a new home in Belmont Park by the 2021-22 season, but there are some fears that the project to build a new arena is dragging. 

Islanders owner Jon Ledecky insists there is nothing to worry about. 

"Everything is moving forward on schedule," he told The Post during his team's 5-2 loss to the Flyers on Saturday. 

Johnny Boychuk made it perfectly clear he did not appreciate Jakub Voracek's whack to the head that sent the Islanders captain to the ice Saturday against the Flyers. 

While skating off the rink, Boychuk seemingly had strong words for Voracek, letting him know what he thought of the hit. But after the game, Voracek fired back and called out Boychuk's rant toward him following the play. 

"It's a tough hit," the Flyers assistant captain told reporters. "You know, he's getting off the ice, he's pointing at me like it's a WrestleMania or something. Pointing at me like it's a WrestleMania. Come on, it's a hockey game." 

Mathew Barzal collected his 100th career assist in this one, but the Islanders couldn't hold off the Flyers in a 5-2 loss at the Coliseum. >> Box Score

First Period

• 6:30 NYI Scott Mayfield; Assists: Nick Leddy, Mathew Barzal
• 15:20 PHI Ryan Hartman; Assists: Ivan Provorov, Shayne Gostisbehere
• 19:56 PHI James van Riemsdyk; Assists: Jakub Voracek, Travis Sanheim

The Islanders are coming off a couple of ugly wins in consecutive victories over the NHL's cellar-dwelling Ottawa Senators but aren't apologizing for it. After all, the Islanders needed those wins to keep in the fight for top spot in the Metropolitan Division, the latest a 4-2 decision in Ottawa on Thursday night.

"We got two points and have to move on," head coach Barry Trotz said after his team's victory. "You have to look at the big picture. We've had some guys out, we've had all that, but when it's mattered, we've found ways to win."

Added Anthony Beauvillier, who scored the game-winning goal in Thursday's clash.

Michael Dal Colle is sticking with the Islanders.

After playing two games with the Isles as an emergency recall, the club announced Friday that Dal Colle is now a regular recall and will remain with the NHL squad. Josh Ho-Sang, who was also up on an emergency basis but didn't dress for either of the Islanders' wins against Ottawa, was returned to AHL Bridgeport.

This Islanders season has already been far better than anyone within or outside the organization could have imagined. In the wake of John Tavares' departure, the Isles have bought into Barry Trotz's style and Lou Lamoriello's shrewd signing of Robin Lehner has paid major dividends. Lehner appears to be in a good place after battling substance addiction and a bipolar diagnosis, and he's been stellar on the ice as part of a goaltending duo with Thomas Greiss.

Lamoriello made the controversial decision not to make any acquisitions at the NHL trade deadline, and it wasn't looking like a smart move when the Isles went through some recent stumbles. The Isles rebounded with two straight wins against the basement-dwelling Senators, putting them back in a tie with Washington for the Metropolitan Division lead and eight points clear of ninth place in the Eastern Conference. But Trotz conceded after Thursday's win that his team is "still scuffling a little bit."

There's plenty of work to do over the final month of the regular season if the Islanders want to secure a playoff berth for the first time since 2015-16, and they'll have to step their game up against better competition.

With Robin Lehner nursing an upper-body injury, Thomas Greiss made 35 saves as the Islanders finished off a home-and-home sweep of the Senators, winning 4-2 in Ottawa Thursday night. Valtteri Filppula scored twice for the Isles. >> Box score

First period:

• 5:44 NYI Valtteri Filppula; Assists: Leo Komarov, Nick Leddy
• 7:00 OTT Brady Tkachuk; Assists: Ben Harpur, Anthony Duclair
• 15:24 NYI Valtteri Filppula; Assists: Tom Kuhnhackl

Both the New York Islanders and Ottawa Senators got what they wanted out of their game against each other Tuesday night. But each team will be looking for even more Thursday night, when Ottawa hosts New York in the back end of a home-and-home set.

The Islanders earned a 5-4 shootout win at Nassau Coliseum on Tuesday, when they squandered a two-goal third-period lead and survived an injury to starting goalie Robin Lehner but escaped with the victory after Jordan Eberle and Mathew Barzal scored on the team's only attempts in the shootout.

In a sign that Robin Lehner won't be healthy for Thursday's game after being run over Tuesday night by Ottawa's Brady Tkachuk, the Islanders recalled goalie Christopher Gibson from AHL Bridgeport on an emergency basis.

Lehner, who's been a steal on a one-year, $1.5 million deal, left Tuesday's shootout win late in the third period and was replaced by Thomas Greiss. Lehner ostensibly has a head injury but the Islanders had no update on Lehner's status on Wednesday, according to Newsday.

NHL general managers have approved a rule proposal which states a skater must immediately go to the bench upon losing his helmet. To enforce the safety measure, a skater who loses his helmet and doesn't comply would be assessed a two-minute penalty. Skaters can currently stay on the ice if they lose a helmet.

The NHL-NHLPA Competition Committee must approve any proposed rule changes before they're passed along to the Board of Governors. 

The slumping Islanders edged out the Senators for a shootout victory on Tuesday, but it may have come at a cost. 

Islanders starting goalie Robin Lehner had to leave the game late in the third period after Ottawa's Brady Tkachuk bulldozed over him on a controversial game-tying goal. 

Lehner skated off the ice on his own but was presumed to be undergoing tests for a concussion, per Brett Cyrgalis of The Post. 

The Islanders entered the third period with a solid 4-2 lead at the Coliseum, but the Senators scored two unanswered goals to tie it up by the end of regulation. And after an overtime period that saw the puck stay out of both nets, Thomas Greiss locked down the net in the shootout while Jordan Eberle and Mathew Barzal buried their penalty shots to come away with the win. >> Box score

First period:

• 8:22 NYI Brock Nelson; Assists: Josh Bailey

The New York Islanders did numerous things right in their ascent to the top of the Metropolitan Division. Recently they have encountered a slight speed bump.

For the first time since Jan. 18, the Islanders are not a first-place team, and they will hope to rebound from two disappointing losses when they host the league-worst Ottawa Senators Tuesday night in Uniondale, N.Y.

New York (37-21-7, 81 points) enters two points behind the Washington Capitals, who handed the Isles a 3-1 loss on Friday. The Islanders followed with an even worse showing in a 4-1 defeat to the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday afternoon.

With the Islanders badly needing a win after losing their lead in the Metropolitan Division, their lineup is completely up in the air thanks to a flu bug that is running through their locker room. The only thing that seems certain for the Isles' home game against Ottawa is that Robin Lehner will start in goal.

"Sickness hit us on Sunday. We had some guys that had to go to the locker room. Quite frankly I don't even know the lineup right now," Barry Trotz said, per the team's Twitter account. "We've got a plethora of things going on. I probably won't know our lineup until game time tonight."

Just a couple of weeks ago, all was going well for the Islanders. 

They were in first place and playing exceoptional hockey. But the group has lost three of four and five of the last seven. They've dropped out of first place in the Metropolitan Division and find themselves in the middle of a dogfight for a playoff spot.

It's too early to panic just yet, but RW Jordan Eberle said Monday "we need to find that desperation in our game." 

A sluggish Islanders offense plagued the team once again, as the Flyers scored two goals in each of the first two periods Sunday to hand the Isles a 4-1 loss at Nassau Coliseum. The loss was the Isles' third in four games and keeps them two points behind the Metropolitan Division-leading Capitals, who picked up a point with an overtime win over the Rangers.

Four different Flyers found the back of the net and Claude Giroux accumulated two assists. Adam Pelech converted an opportunity to get the Islanders on the board late in the third period, but by thenthe game was out of reach. >> Box score

First period:

• 8:21 PHI Travis Konecny; Assists: Radko Gudas, Robert Hagg 
• 14:59 PHI Travis Sanheim; Assist: Giroux

A loss to the Washington Capitals on Friday night cost the New York Islanders sole possession of first place in the Metropolitan Division but left them focusing on the positives of their situation.

The Islanders will look to begin maximizing the advantages they have over the Capitals on Sunday, when New York hosts the Philadelphia Flyers in another game between Metropolitan Division rivals at Nassau Coliseum.

Both the Islanders and Flyers were off Saturday after playing division games Friday, when New York fell to the visiting Capitals, 3-1, and Philadelphia beat the host New Jersey Devils, 6-3.

The focus for the Islanders right now is their quest to win the Metropolitan Division and return to the playoffs for the first time since 2015-16. 

But it's hard not to wonder what the team might look like next season as general manager Lou Lamoriello has a number of crucial decisions ahead of him. Among them is how he'll handle linemates Jordan Eberle, Anders Lee and Brock Nelson all becoming unrestricted free agents this summer.

All three are eligible for extensions before the season ends, but it appears Lamoriello wants to maintain flexibility. According to the New York Post, the Isles and Nelson have not engaged in "substantial negotiations" regarding a new contract.

One night after their emotional win against John Tavares and the Maple Leafs, the Islanders took a 3-1 loss Friday against the Capitals, who are now tied with the Isles atop the Metropolitan Division with 81 points. The Isles have a game in hand. 

With Thomas Greiss pulled for an extra attacker, Josh Bailey put the puck in his own empty net with 1:28 remaining, a blind pass attempt for Brock Nelson gone awry. >> Box score

First period:

• 2:43 NYI Tom Kuhnhackl

Head coach Barry Trotz likes that the New York Islanders have gotten a preview of life in the playoffs the last several days. Good thing, because another postseason-type game awaits Trotz and the Islanders on Friday night.

The Islanders will follow up their most raucous victory of the season by trying to maintain sole possession of first place in the Metropolitan Division when they host the Washington Capitals.

Both teams are coming off lopsided wins. The Islanders will be completing an eventful back-to-back set at Nassau Coliseum after routing the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-1 Thursday night. The Capitals were off a second straight night after cruising past the visiting Ottawa Senators, 7-2, on Tuesday. >> Read More

Sean Avery is back and he has not missed a beat. 

No, the former Rangers winger is not returning to hockey, but he did bring back his controversial style of trash talk on Friday when he ripped Islanders fans for booing John Tavares on Thursday night. 

Avery, in a video posted on Twitter, went on an expletive-laden rant toward Islanders fans for their treatment of Tavares upon his first game back at Nassau Coliseum since leaving the team for the Toronto Maple Leafs in free agency. 

Click below to watch video

The festivities started in the parking lot, as they often do at Nassau Coliseum, though this was anything but a typical pregame party.

Islanders fans circled Feb. 28 on their calendars the moment John Tavares left their beloved team in free agency to play for his hometown Maple Leafs. They were waiting for this day, when they'd wear their modified No. 91 jerseys with "Traitor" covering Tavares on the nameplate. They poured beer on and burned Tavares jerseys. They had signs made to bring into the old barn with them.

This night was the culmination of eight months of pent up anger, and Isles fans unleashed their fury from the moment Tavares stepped onto the Coliseum ice for warmups through the final horn Thursday as the Islanders routed Tavares and the Maple Leafs, 6-1, in the former Isles captain's first road game on Long Island after signing a seven-year, $77 million deal on July 1 with Toronto.

The Nassau Coliseum will be buzzing on Thursday night, and not necessarily because the Islanders and Maple Leafs will face off in an important Eastern Conference battle. It's because former Islanders captain John Tavares is returning home. 

At least, it was Tavares' home for the first nine seasons of his career before making his free-agent decision to sign with the Maple Leafs on a seven-year, $77 million deal this offseason. He was once Islanders fans' pride and joy, but now, he will touch the ice as an enemy. 

Islanders GM Lou Lamoriello told WFAN on Tuesday that "I hope that he gets the right reception and is complimented by the crowd for whaty he did while he was here." But Tavares knows that his welcome will be the exact opposite from the fan base that still hasn't gotten over him leaving.

With John Tavares set to play his first road game against the Islanders since leaving them last summer in free agency to sign with his hometown Maple Leafs, Isles fans share their feelings about the team's former captain before Thursday's game at Nassau Coliseum, describing Tavares in one word.

Which was the most common word? Well, let's just say a majority of fans polled by SNY consider Tavares' actions akin to Benedict Arnold's.

The Islanders did not make any moves at the trade deadline and now find their spot alone at the top of the Metropolitan Division in jeopardy after a 3-1 loss to the Calgary Flames. It was their second loss to the Flames within the last seven days and third loss in their last four games as the Washington Capitals are likely to move into a tie within atop the division.  >> Box score

First period:

• N/A

The New York Islanders and Calgary Flames are the two biggest surprises among the NHL's division leaders. They will have to finish the job with what got them here.

The Islanders and Flames meet Tuesday night for the second time in less than a week when New York hosts Calgary at Nassau Coliseum.

Both teams are coming off victories. The Islanders completed a western Canadian road swing Saturday by blanking the Vancouver Canucks, 4-0. The Flames began a three-game road trip Sunday by earning their fifth straight win with a 2-1 victory over the Ottawa Senators. >> Read More

Whether it's the mere fact that he left or it's the manner in which he left Long Island for his hometown, Islanders fans have been worked up about former captain John Tavares' departure since he tweeted a childhood photo of himself in Maple Leafs pajamas on July 1.

So it'd be no surprise if Isles fans showered Tavares with boos on Thursday when Tavares returns to Nassau Coliseum for the first time since leaving. Isles GM Lou Lamoriello hopes it doesn't go down that way.

"I've heard all about the animosity towards John. He's a tremendous human being and gave tremendous years to the Islanders and a commitment as their captain," Lamoriello, who was Toronto's GM the previous three seasons, said Tuesday on WFAN. "I hope that he gets the right reception and is complimented by the crowd for what he did while he was here. He had every right to make the decision that he did to go and to go into free agency and I respect that."

With an opportunity to strengthen his team for a playoff run, Islanders GM Lou Lamoriello opted to hold onto all of his chips and stand pat with the group that currently leads the Metropolitan Division.

Lamoriello seems to be taking the position that sometimes the best move is the one you don't make.

"We went into this trade deadline with several areas that if potentially we could address, we would," Lamoriello said. "But we weren't going to get into a situation where we sacrificed what our plan is, because we feel very good about this hockey team."

Robin Lehner was a stone wall in net for the Islanders, as New York shutout the Canucks, 4-0, on the road Saturday night. >> Box score

First period:

• 4:48 NYI Casey Cizikas; Assists: Johnny Boychuk, Devon Toews
• 14:05 NYI Ryan Pulock; Assists: Mathew Barzal, Adam Pelech

Danny Abriano, SNY.tv | Twitter |

Some of the best movies ever -- including some of the best sports movies ever -- have been filmed in and/or take place in New York. Here is our ranking of the 10 best...

10. Above The Rim (1994)

By bringing in one of the top sports executives ever and the most recent Stanley Cup-winning coach, the Islanders have turned the page on the John Tavares era and approach Monday's NHL trade deadline atop the Metropolitan Division.

But if the Isles' want to make a Stanley Cup run, Lou Lamoriello will have to bring in at least one skilled forward who can score before the NHL trade deadline passes Monday at 3 p.m. 

Matt Duchene is no longer an option after Columbus acquired him from Ottawa on Friday. Plenty of good options remain on the market, some who will cost more in assets than others. Here's a look at players who can help the Islanders down the stretch and in the playoffs:

The NHL's Department of Player Safety announced Friday that Oilers star Connor McDavid was suspended two games for an illegal check to the head of Islanders defenseman Nick Leddy during the Isles' 4-3 overtime loss Thursday in Edmonton.

The hit came with 2:28 left in the first period and earned McDavid a minor penalty. It's the first suspension of McDavid's career. The Department of Player Safety said the head was the main point of contact and the hit was "avoidable." 

Leddy cleared concussion protocol and returned to the game. 

The Islanders led by one after a wild first period but they let their lead slip away late in regulation befor Edmonton star Connor McDavid scored in overtime to hand the Isles a 4-3 loss. The Isles allowed at least four goals in consecutive games for the first time since Nov. 18 and 21. Their Metropolitan Division lead is two points after Washington defeated Toronto Thursday.  >> Box score

First period:

• 5:12 EDM Leon Draisaitl (Power Play;) Assists: Connor McDavid, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
• 6:30 EDM Sam Gagner; Assists: Tobias Rieder
• 12:57 NYI Anders Lee; Assists: Johnny Boychuk, Brock Nelson
• 19:21 NYI Brock Nelson (Power Play;) Assists: Jordan Eberle, Ryan Pulock
• 19:49 NYI Cal Clutterbuck (Power Play;) Assists: Ryan Pulock, Devon Toews

The Metropolitan Division-leading Islanders arrive in Edmonton after dropping a 4-2 clash with the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night, which snapped a two-game winning streak.

"Too many passengers," fumed Islanders head coach Barry Trotz, who gave his squad a "F" grade after the loss.

After a dismal performance in Calgary, it's possible both Andrew Ladd and Thomas Hickey will make their return from injuries. >> Read More

Anders Lee tied it up at two to begin the third period, but the Flames netted two unanswered to send the Isles home with a loss, 4-2, in Calgary. >> Box score

First period:

• 5:00 CAL Mikael Backlund; Assists: Michael Frolik
• 15:59 CAL Travis Hamonic; Assists: Mikael Backlund, Elias Lindholm

The Islanders' surprising season sees them leading the Metropolitan Division with 24 games remaining, and with the trade deadline less than a week away they have been linked to one of the biggest names on the trade market.

In his weekly 31 Thoughts column for Sportsnet, Elliotte Friedman writes that the Islanders are one of two "stealth desination(s)" for Ottawa's Matt Duchene along with Calgary. Columbus and Nashville are the teams primarily in on Duchene, who has 27 goals and 31 assists in 50 games and is an unrestricted free agent this summer.

Ryan Pulock jump-started the Islanders Saturday night with a power-play goal roughly three minutes into the game and they never looked back, defeating the Edmonton Oilers, 5-2. >> Box score

First period:

• 3:02 NYI Ryan Pulock (Power Play); Assists: Devon Toews, Josh Bailey
• 13:30 NYI Valtteri Filppula; Assists: Nick Leddy, Johnny Boychuk
• 19:57 EDM Ryan Nugent-Hopkins; Assists: Kris Russell, Tobias Rieder

The Islanders have been splitting their home games this season between Nassau Coliseum and Barclays Center, and if they advance past the first round of the playoffs, the same will be true for the postseason.

On Friday, the club announced that if it makes the playoffs that first-round home games will be played at Nassau Coliseum. However, if the Islanders advance past the first round, they will play the rest of their home games at Barclays Center.

Casey Cizikas was named the first star of the game after netting two goal on the Islanders' road to a 3-0 win over the Blue Jackets on Thursday night. >> Box score

First period:

• 7:06 NYI Casey Cizikas; Assists: Cal Clutterbuck, Thomas Greiss

The Islanders were riding a three-game winning streak heading into Buffalo, but they were outdone by Sabres Tuesday night, 3-1. Johan Larsson scored with 2:25 remaining to ice it. >> Box score

First period:

• 16:25 BUF Jeff Skinner; Assists: Jack Eichel
• 19:37 NYI Casey Cizikas; Assists: Matt Martin, Cal Clutterbuck

The New York Islanders have followed up one of their hottest months in years with an almost identical performance. But the Buffalo Sabres have spent the last two months undoing the margin for error they built up during a franchise record-tying 10-game winning streak.

Two teams on the opposite ends of the Eastern Conference playoff race will face each other Tuesday night, when the Sabres host the Islanders.

Both teams were off Monday after playing Sunday, when the Islanders earned their third straight win by edging the visiting Minnesota Wild, 2-1, and the host Sabres fell to the Winnipeg Jets, 3-1.

Devon Toews scored the tie-breaking power-play goal early in the second period as the Islanders beat the Minnesota Wild 2-1 on Sunday at Barclays Center. >> Box score

First period:

• 14:05 NYI Anthony Beauvillier; Assists: Valtteri Filppula, Leo Komarov

Second period:

• 0:38 MIN Mikael Granlund (power play); Assists: Jason Zucker, Zach Parise
• 2:01 NYI Devon Toews (power play); Assists: Ryan Pulock, Josh Bailey

The Minnesota Wild and New York Islanders were separated by fewer than 20 miles Saturday afternoon, when the Wild served notice they are not ready to fall out of the Western Conference postseason race.

Meanwhile, the Islanders offered another reminder they need to be taken seriously as a legitimate contender to make a deep playoff run in the Eastern Conference.

The Wild and Islanders will look to build on Saturday's momentum on Sunday afternoon, when New York hosts Minnesota at Barclays Center.