Islanders blow out Sabres to clinch 1st playoff berth since 2016
Mike Stobe / National Hockey League / Getty
The New York Islanders are headed to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2016, punching their ticket with an emphatic 5-1 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday night.
Few expected the club to compete this year after New York underwent a series of drastic changes in the offseason. The team brought in Barry Trotz as head coach, Lou Lamoriello as general manager, and lost longtime captain and franchise center John Tavares in free agency.
Despite their summer makeover, the Islanders have seen a 17-point improvement in the standings compared to last season. With four games left to go, they're locked in a race with the Pittsburgh Penguins for home-ice advantage in the first round.