The loss also snapped the Islanders’ three-game point streak and put them perilously close to being eliminated from the postseason. The Isles (79 points) are eight points back of the Montreal Canadiens (87 points) for the second wild card spot. An Islanders loss, or a Canadiens win, in the next week would eliminate New York from playoff contention.

Rookie Brett Berard had his first career two-goal game for the visiting New York Rangers, who remained mathematically alive in the Eastern Conference wild-card race while all but ending the New York Islanders' playoff hopes with a 9-2 win on Thursday in Elmont,

The New York Rangers have already destroyed their own season. On Thursday, they took the New York Islanders down with them. The two New York teams have not really dignified themselves this year. We’ve catalogued it all,