Islanders Clinch Playoff Berth With Win Against Sabres

Jordan Eberle continued his scoring surge with one more goal, Anthony Beauvillier added two of his own, and the Islanders clinched a playoff berth for the first time since 2016 with a 5-1 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday night at Nassau Coliseum.

Michael Dal Colle and Ryan Pulock also scored for the Islanders, who have 99 points in their first season under Coach Barry Trotz and secured a postseason spot in March for the first time since 1990. If the Islanders finish first or second in the Metropolitan Division, they would open a playoff series at home for the first time since 1988.

“The strength of this team is its backbone,” Trotz said. “It’s good to know we have an invite to the party.”

The Islanders, who have won four of their last five games, trail Washington by three points for the division lead and are four points ahead of third-place Pittsburgh. The Islanders and the Capitals each have three games remaining, and the Penguins have four.

Buffalo’s Victor Olofsson spoiled Robin Lehner’s shutout bid with his first N.H.L. goal on the power play at 13 minutes 28 seconds of the third period.

Eberle opened the scoring at 7:41 of the first, tapping in a rebound after Sabres goaltender Carter Hutton had stopped a shot by Mathew Barzal. The goal was the third in the last two games for Eberle.

Islanders forward Cal Clutterbuck said the victory before their very vocal fans — the first time the Islanders clinched at home since 2002 — was important.

“It’s nice to get in there and do it front of these people in this building,” said Clutterbuck, an Islander since 2013. “They have been there for us all year.”

BLUES 3, DEVILS 2 Defenseman Vince Dunn scored in close with 2.8 seconds left in overtime, giving St. Louis its 11th consecutive victory over the host Devils dating to Jan. 21, 2014.

Robert Thomas and Tyler Bozak also scored for the Blues, and Jake Allen made 25 saves. St Louis, which held on to third place in the Central Division, is 27-10-4 since the turn of the year.

Drew Stafford and Joey Anderson scored and Cory Schneider made 24 saves for the Devils, who lost for a second straight night.

OVECHKIN REACHES 50 Alex Ovechkin scored his 50th and 51st goals of the season, leading Washington to a 6-3 victory at Tampa Bay.

Ovechkin reached 50 goals for the eighth time. Mike Bossy and Wayne Gretzky, at nine times each, hold the N.H.L. record. Ovechkin also scored his 657th career goal, moving past Brendan Shanahan for 13th most in league history.

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