Islanders In; Stanley Cup Playoffs Not Settled in East

Monday was a big day when it came to who may end up being the final participants in the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The New York Islanders punched their ticket to the dance with a 4-1 win over the Devils.

The Isles will be the third-seed in the Metropolitan Division and open with the Carolina Hurricanes after the New York Rangers clinched the Presidents’ Trophy by beating the Senators.

But that final spot in the East?

Still unsettled.

Washington can clinch that tonight with a win against Philadelphia, but the Pittsburgh Penguins and Detroit Red Wings remain alive going into Game No. 82.

The Philadelphia Flyers, however, are out.

It was a busy day in South Florida as well as the Panthers extended — and promoted — Bill Zito as Auston Matthews and the Maple Leafs come to town.

The Panthers are still in the running for the Atlantic Division title going into their regular-season finale tonight. That story publishes at 8.