The Islanders are going to be waiting a while to find out who their next opponent is.

They know for the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs that they'll play the winner of the Washington-Carolina series, but that series is guaranteed to go until at least Monday night after the Hurricanes defeated the Capitals Thursday night in Game 4 to tie the series at 2-2. The home team has won each game, and Washington will host Game 5 on Saturday before the series shifts back to Raleigh Monday for Game 6. Had Washington won Thursday, they could've won the series on Saturday.

So it will be more than a week between games for the Isles, who clinched a sweep of the Penguins on Tuesday in Pittsburgh. 

The New York Islanders' division championship drought was extended to 30 seasons Thursday night. But the Islanders can finally end another epic drought Saturday night, when they visit the Washington Capitals in the regular-season finale for both teams.

Each squad was off Friday following pivotal 2-1 wins Thursday, when the Islanders edged the host Florida Panthers in the shootout and the Capitals beat the visiting Montreal Canadiens in regulation.

The win by the Capitals (48-25-8) locked up their fourth straight Metropolitan Division championship and brought an end to one decades-long pursuit for the Islanders (47-27-7), who needed Washington to lose to have a chance to win the division Saturday night. >> Read More

By losing to the Maple Leafs on Monday and failing to close in on the Capitals, the Islanders left themselves open to losing control of their destiny as they hope to open the playoffs next week at Nassau Coliseum.

But the idle Isles caught two breaks on Tuesday when the Penguins, who are two points behind the Isles in third place in the Metropolitan Division, lost 4-1 to a lottery-bound Red Wings team, and the Blue Jackets fell 6-2 to the Bruins. Carolina defeated Toronto 4-1 to jump Columbus in the standings.

The most important piece of business for the Islanders was taken care of Saturday night when they punched their ticket to the Stanley Cup playoffs. Now they look ahead to which seed they might get and who they might face when the first round starts next week.

But even though there are just three games remaining in the NHL regular season entering their Monday night matchup against John Tavares and the Maple Leafs, the Isles can finish anywhere from first in the Metropolitan Division to the last wild-card spot.

Let's take a look at all the playoff scenarios as the Islanders, who currently occupy the No. 2 spot in the Metro, prepare for the final week of the season:

Metropolitan Division champions

The Devils' struggles continued Friday night as they were shut out by the Capitals in D.C., 3-0. New Jersey has lost five straight and has scored just one goal in its last three games. MacKenzie Blackwood made 33 saves. >> Box Score

First Period

• 2:40 WSH Andre Burakovsky; Assists: Michal Kempny, Travis Boyd

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

The Rangers lost to the Washington Capitals 6-5 in overtime after Brady Skjei tied the game in the final minute of regulation on Sunday at Capital One Arena. >> Box score

First period:

• 0:21 NYR Chris Kreider; Assists: Jimmy Vesey, Mika Zibanejad
• 18:42 WAS Nicklas Backstrom; Assists: John Carlson, T.J. Oshie
• 19:03 WAS Michal Kempny; Assists: Brett Connolly, Andre Burakovsky

The Islanders had a slow start after two periods with no score, then jumped ahead on Josh Bailey's 11th goal of the season to defeat the Capitals 2-0 at Capital One Arena on Friday night. >> Box score

First period:

• N/A

Capitals F Nicklas Backstrom managed a hat trick on his home ice, as the Devils lost their fourth straight road game 6-3 in Washington. >> Box score

First period:

• 3:51 WSH Nicklas Backstrom; Assists: Alex Ovechkin, Michal Kempny

In Barry Trotz's first game against his former team, the Islanders lost to the Washington Capitals 4-1 on Monday at Barclays Center. >> Box score

First period:

• 0:36 NYI Valtteri Filppula; Assists: Ryan Pulock, Leo Komarov
• 2:50 WAS Tom Wilson; Assists: Nicklas Backstrom, Madison Bowey

Second period:

• 7:58 WAS Nic Dowd; Assists: Dmitrij Jaskin, John Carlson

Barry Trotz and the Washington Capitals were last in the same building together June 7, when they experienced the cathartic joy of the Capitals' first Stanley Cup championship.

It didn't take long for joy to be replaced by the cold realities of business for Trotz and the Capitals, who couldn't agree on terms of a new contract before Trotz, who coached last season as a lame duck, announced he would leave the organization June 18.

Three days later, Trotz agreed to become the head coach of the New York Islanders. And on Monday night, 172 days after Washington clinched the Stanley Cup by beating the Vegas Golden Knights, Trotz will finally reunite with his former employers and players when the Islanders host the Capitals at Barclays Center.

The Rangers fought hard, but couldn't pick up the golden goal in overtime as they lost to the Capitals, 4-3, in Washington D.C.  >> Box score

First period:

• 6:09 NYR Mika Zibanejad; Assists: Chris Kreider, Neal Pionk
• 14:05 WSH John Carlson; Assists: Nicklas Backstrom

Second period:

• 3:32 WSH Alex Ovechkin (PP); Assists: John Carlson, Brett Connolly
• 12:42 NYR Jimmy Vesey (PP); Assists: Neal Pionk, Brett Howden
• 17:01 WSH Alex Ovechkin (PP); Assists: John Carlson, Nicklas Backstrom

Alexandar Georgiev allowed three first-period goals before he was pulled as the Rangers lost to the Washington Capitals 4-2 on Monday at Madison Square Garden. >> Box score

First period:

• 2:50 WAS T.J. Oshie; Assists: Nicklas Backstrom, Jakub Jerabek
• 5:13 WAS Matt Niskanen; Assists: Evgeny Kuznetsov, Alex Ovechkin
• 8:54 WAS Ovechkin (power play) Assists: John Carlson, Backstrom
• 16:39 WAS Kuznetsov (short handed); Assist: Alex Chiasson

Second period:

• 13:16 NYR Lias Andersson; Assist: Jimmy Vesey

Third period:

• 4:26 NYR Mats Zuccarello; Assists: Filip Chytil, Rob O'Gara

The New Jersey Devils acquired forward Marcus Johansson from the Washington Capitals in exchange for 2018 second- and third-round picks.

Johansson, 26, recorded 24 goals and 34 assists in 82 games during the regular season and two goals and six assists in 13 playoff games for Washington.

A first-round pick in 2009, Johansson has 102 goals and 188 assists in 501 career NHL games.

The Devils will give up Florida's second-round pick and Toronto's third-round pick next season.

The Washington Capitals and New Jersey Devils find themselves at opposite ends of the standings as the two Metropolitan Division rivals play their final game before the NHL All Star break Thursday night at the Prudential Center.

Sitting atop not only the division, but the entire National Hockey League, the Capitals (32-10-6) are in contention for a second consecutive President's Trophy. They own a league-best plus-51 goal differential, have allowed the fewest goals of any team (104), and are 12-1-2 in their past 15 games.

Meanwhile, the Devils (20-20-9) are tied for last place in both the division and Eastern Conference with the fifth fewest points in the league, and are desperately trying to avoid a fifth straight year out of the playoffs. The Devils have scored only 111 goals, third fewest in the NHL.

First Period

• 2:36 WSH Brett Connolly; Assists: Andre Burakovsky, Brooks Orpik
• 19:01 WSH Jay Beagle; Assists: Brooks Orpik, Daniel Winnik

Second Period

• 6:53 NJD Kyle Palmieri (unassisted) 
• 11:05 WSH T.J. Oshie; Assists: Nicklas Backstrom, Alex Ovechkin
• 11:38 WSH Alex Ovechkin; Assists: Matt Niskanen, T.J. Oshie

The Devils finish off a home-and-home series with the Capitals on Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Prudential Center.

According to STATS...

• Washington lost, 2-1 in a shootout, versus New Jersey on Thursday. The Capitals have killed off 27 of the last 28 opponent power plays (over the last 8 games).
• New Jersey beat Washington, 2-1 in a shootout, on Thursday despite being outshot 44-27. The victory snapped a six-game road losing streak (0-5-1) for New Jersey.

NEW YORK -- Like thousands of workers in offices around the country, the New York Islanders have a big task ahead of them upon returning to work from the holiday break.

The Islanders will look to resume their long climb back into the Eastern Conference playoff picture Tuesday night, when they host the Washington Capitals at Barclays Center. It will be one of 10 games as the NHL resumes play following a three-day break for the holidays.

Both the Islanders and Capitals won their final game before the break on Friday, when New York cruised past the Buffalo Sabres 5-1, while Washington blanked the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-0.

The Islanders face off against the Capitals on Tuesday night at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

According to STATS:

• The Islanders had their six-game point streak snapped with a 6-2 loss in Columbus on Saturday. New York allowed four goals in the third period for the first time since March 25 at Tampa Bay.
• The Capitals won their fourth game in a row with Sunday's 3-0 shutout over the Canucks. It was Washington's third shutout at home this season, tied with Chicago and Montreal for the most in the NHL.

NEW YORK -- A lopsided loss Saturday night reminded the New York Islanders just how far they are from seriously contending for an Eastern Conference playoff berth. The Washington Capitals can make the task even tougher for the Islanders on Tuesday night, when the Metropolitan Division rivals meet at Barclays Center.

The Islanders' point streak was snapped at six games Saturday, when they gave up four unanswered goals in the third period of a 6-2 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Capitals extended their winning streak to four games -- and their point streak to five games -- Sunday with a 3-0 win over the Vancouver Canucks.

"I think we seem to be trending in the right direction," Capitals right winger Justin Williams told the team's website. "We've won four in a row, but we've played better in every game we've won so far."

The Islanders (8-10-4) head to Washington D.C. to face off against the Capitals (13-6-2) on Thursday night.

According to STATS:

• New York lost a 3-0 third-period lead, but came back to score two times in the last 27 seconds of the game to beat the Penguins, 5-3, last night at Barclays Center. The Islanders have now won back-to-back games for just the second time of the season (also October 21-23).
• Washington dropped a 4-2 decision in Toronto last Saturday night, snapping its two-game win streak in the process. The Caps are 4-1-0 in their last five tilts at Verizon Center, outscoring opponents by a combined 17-8 in those contests.

WASHINGTON -- The New York Islanders avoided a disastrous defeat Wednesday night and now have a chance to notch their first three-game winning streak of the season.

The Islanders (8-10-4) squandered a 3-0 third-period lead before Anders Lee scored with 26.6 seconds left and Nikolay Kulemin added an empty netter three seconds later to give New York a 5-3 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins.

After beating the Penguins, who are second in the Metropolitan Division, the last-place Islanders travel to Washington Thursday for their first meeting of the season with the Capitals (13-6-2), who are tied for third.

The Islanders (0-1) go for their first win of the season as they take on the rival Capitals (0-0-1) in Washington on Saturday night. According to STATS...The Islanders snapped their four-game losing streak versus Washington by beating the Capitals, 4-3, in overtime on the road in early April of last season. The win also snapped New York's three-game road losing streak versus Washington, and the Islanders' four goals scored in that game were their most on the road versus the Capitals since November 11, 2009 (lost, 5-4, in a shootout).

Islanders forward Mathew Barzal will make his NHL debut Saturday night against the Capitals, head coach Jack Capuano told Newsday's Arthur Staple. Barzal, 19, will take the place of forward Anthony Beauvillier, who played in his first professional game against the Rangers. Barzal is also expected to play on the team's top power-play unit.

The Capitals defeated the Islanders, 2-1, at Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, Connecticut on Saturday night. 

First Period 

• Nate Schmidt (13:54, PPG) 

Second Period 

Antti Raanta made 32 saves while subbing for the injured Henrik Lundqvist and Derek Stepan scored as the New York Rangers bounced back from a loss in Pittsburgh to beat the Washington Capitals 3-2 Friday night.

Raanta was pressed into starting duty after Lundqvist was ruled out because of neck spasms. He was stellar against the NHL's top team, helping the Rangers extend their streak of not losing consecutive games that dates to mid-December.

Jesper Fast and Keith Yandle also scored for the Rangers against Braden Holtby, who made 20 saves. Jay Beagle and T.J. Oshie had the Capitals' goals in the first game between the teams since New York acquired Eric Staal at the trade deadline. >> Read more...

T.J. Oshie and Alex Ovechkin scored in the shootout, and the Washington Capitals tied the game late and beat the New Jersey Devils 3-2 on Saturday.

Paul Carey, who was called up from the minors Friday, had tied the score in the third period with his first NHL goal.

Andre Burakovsky scored in his fifth straight game for Washington and Braden Holtby made 22 saves in winning his league-high 32nd game.

With Alex Ovechkin back in tow, the Washington Capitals appear poised to resume their winning ways.

The visiting Capitals can build on their latest victory with a fifth consecutive win over the New Jersey Devils, who should have their No. 1 goaltender available Saturday.

Back from his one-game suspension for missing last weekend's All-Star festivities, Ovechkin scored the tiebreaking goal with 2:40 left in regulation to give Washington (36-9-4) a 3-2 victory over the New York Islanders on Thursday.

Justin Williams had a hat trick and the Washington Capitals survived the loss of starting goaltender Braden Holtby to extend their impressive streak of responding after losses by beating the New York Rangers 5-2 Sunday night.

The Capitals improved to 10-0-1 after a loss this season and this time did so after Holtby left with dehydration. Philipp Grubauer replaced Holtby late in the second period and stopped all 11 shots he faced.

Holtby made 20 saves and got the victory, less than 24 hours after he was pulled during a clunker of a loss to the Buffalo Sabres.

The Islanders got off to a poor start against the league-leading Washington Capitals, but it looked like they were about to dig out of it. That is, however, until their fate turned late in the second period.

Brock Nelson scored just under two minutes into the second to cut the Caps' lead to 2-1. Then, shortly after the Isles killed off a high-sticking call on Kyle Okposo, Tom Wilson was sent to the box for unsportsmanlike conduct with just over seven minutes to go in the stanza.

The Isles inundated Braden Holtby with a flurry of shots, but Holtby turned them all aside and Washington killed off the power play. Just six seconds after Wilson left the box and the sides were even, Nate Schmidt blasted a slap shot from just inside the blue line past Jaro Halak to give Washington a 3-1 lead.

Monday's game was far from thrilling, but once again it gave us another look into what the team will be like once these games finally count. So here are a few things we learned:

A few regulars are getting the night off, but the Islanders will field a pretty competitive roster in Brooklyn. Among the forwards on the ice will be Brock Nelson, Frans Nielsen, Kyle Okposo and Josh Bailey. Highlighting the defense is Marek Zidlicky, Calvin de Haan and Thomas Hickey.

The Islanders were headed back to Long Island regardless of the outcome of Monday night's Game 7, but they were all hoping to be returning home as the victors instead of having their season end sooner than they wanted. They also wanted to extend their stay at Nassau Coliseum just one round longer.

They battled back in the third period -- something they've done so many times throughout the regular season -- but the battle tested Capitals just had more in the tank and came away on top.

It was a crushing end to a series that produced so many memories for the Islanders and the fan base as they gave the Nassau Coliseum one last hurrah before the move west to Brooklyn. Getting back to the Coliseum to play more hockey was the team's goal and they were disappointed they could not do that.

"We wanted tot get back home," Islanders head coach Jack Capuano said. "The theme that they have at the Coliseum, with the jumbotron and the music and the chants, we actually played that before the game. So [the fans] were definitely in our thoughts. We wanted to get back there."

There could be history made, or an all too familiar story repeated, when the final buzzer sounds in Game 7 of the Isles Stanley Cup Playoff matchup with the Washington Capitals. The Islanders haven't won a playoff series in 23 years. They have made it to the postseason since then, but making it out of the first round has not happened since 1993.

"This is the biggest game that I've been in since I've been here," Kyle Okposo said. "Biggest game for the Islanders in a long time. We're excited and we don't really think about the history of it. You just think about the moment and the opportunity that you have in front of you."

The Islanders -- down three defenseman due to injury -- defeated the Washington Capitals 3-1 to even the opening round series of the Stanley Cup playoffs at 3 and force a Game 7 Monday in Washington. Nikolay Kulemin scored the game-winner at 10:33 of the third period off a wacky set of circumstance that led to the Islander forward getting an 1-on-1 chance.

John Tavares entered the zone and tried to split two defenders, but the puck got sent into the corner. The Islanders captain went in to try to play the puck and was steamrolled by Alexander Ovechkin and was down on the ice. While the focus was on Tavares, the puck squirted to Nick Leddy, who fed Kulemin all alone in front of the net.

The Islanders are trying to stave off elimination this afternoon, when the Capitals visit Nassau Coliseum for Game 6 of the opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Head coach Jack Capuano will make a few lineup changes for the critical game. Matt Donovan will play on the team's banged up blue line, and Ryan Pulock or Scott Mayfield will also enter the lineup. Calvin de Haan, who left Thursday's game in the third period, will be scratched and Griffin Reinhart will also sit.

The increased security comes in the wake of alleged incidents of Islanders fans mistreating Capitals fans during Game 3 and reports that fans stole seats from the building.

Nassau County Police have already said they will be adding additional uniformed and plain clothes officers around the arena, along with officers on horseback.

The Islanders trail their best-of-seven playoff series with the Washington Capitals three games to two after being badly outplayed in a?5-1 loss in Game 5 Thursday night. Now the series shifts back to Long Island for what could be the last time the Islanders skate on Nassau Coliseum ice.

The team understands the significance of the situation and Thomas Hickey said they won't have a similar performance to the one in?Game 5.

Instead, the Capitals got the best of the Islanders, winning by the score of 5-1 in front of a raucous Verizon Center crowd and sending the series back to Long Island with the Isles trailing 3-2. The visitors played a physical first period, before the Capitals took over and controlled the rest of the contest.

"You can break the game down any way you, but if you don't manage the puck you're not going to win. That's the biggest story of tonight's game. It's the turnovers," Islanders Head Coach Jack Capuano said.