Nick Suzuki, Ivan Demidov and Alex Newhook scored in a 55-second span late in the second period for the Montreal Canadiens, who eliminated the collapsed New York Islanders from playoff contention with a 4-1 win Sunday night in Elmont, N.Y.
Jacob Fowler made 29 saves while Zachary Bolduc scored with 14.7 seconds left in the third for the playoff-bound Canadiens (48-23-10, 106 points), who maintained their hopes of winning the Atlantic Division or finishing second and earning home ice in the first round.
The Canadiens are tied for first with the Buffalo Sabres, two points ahead of the Tampa Bay Lightning. Montreal does not have the regulation wins tiebreaker over either team.
Casey Cizikas scored in the third for the Islanders (43-33-5, 91 points), who occupied a playoff spot for most of the season before losing nine of their past 13 (4-9-0). New York entered the weekend one point behind the third-place Philadelphia Flyers in the Metropolitan Division but had its hopes damaged in a 3-0 loss to the Ottawa Senators Saturday afternoon.
The skid cost head coach Patrick Roy his job April 5. Peter DeBoer fell to 1-2-0 at the helm Sunday.
Goalie Ilya Sorokin recorded 18 saves.
The Canadiens outshot the Islanders 15-11 before breaking through when Juraj Slafkosky passed into the crease, and Suzuki extended his stick and flicked the puck past Sorokin with 4:04 left in the middle frame.
Islanders rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer was whistled for high-sticking Cole Caufield moments before the goal to set up the power play that resulted in Demidov’s score 28 seconds later. Suzuki, in the left faceoff circle, dished the puck across the ice and Demidov went to one knee at the goal line before beating Sorokin, who couldn’t sprawl back into position.
Newhook completed the flurry with 3:09 remaining. Bolduc chipped the puck to a streaking Newhook, who was well ahead of Cizikas before he bore in on Sorokin and sent a shot beyond his stick shoulder.
Cizikas redirected Scott Mayfield’s shot from above the left faceoff circle with 11:15 left. Sorokin exited for the extra skater with 3:30 remaining but the Islanders could get no closer before Bolduc scored an even-strength goal.
–Field Level Media
