Overview
- Matvei Michkov’s goal and two assists powered Philadelphia’s 4-1 win at the Islanders on Friday, keeping the Flyers in the hunt with six games left.
- The victory pulled Philadelphia into a four-way tie at 88 points for the East’s final wild card and left the Islanders at 89 points with their hold on third in the Metro now tenuous.
- Carolina became the first Eastern team to clinch a playoff spot with a 5-1 win over Columbus on Thursday, and Minnesota locked in out West by beating Vancouver the same night.
- Buffalo missed its first clinch chance in Thursday’s 4-1 loss at Ottawa but can still secure a berth Saturday based on other results or a win at Washington.
- Ottawa currently holds the second wild-card position on tiebreakers, underscoring how regulation wins, the NHL’s first tiebreak, and remaining schedules will likely sort the final spots.