EYE ON THE WEATHER: Powerful Storms Hit Tri-State | Forecast & Alerts | Check Radar | Submit Pictures

Evgeni Nabokov

John Tavares (Photo by Christopher Pasatieri/Getty Images)

Gallof: 5 Reasons The Islanders Made The Playoffs

All season I’ve stated the Islanders needed 54 points to make the playoffs. They have used a 7-0-3 run to get there. But where they are now can be attributed to many more factors, all of which had to happen.

2013/04/25

Islanders center Frans Nielsen, left, and goaltender Evgeni Nabokov. (Photo by Alex Trautwig/Getty Images)

The Drought Is Finally Over: Islanders Make Playoffs For First Time Since 2007

The New York Islanders clinched an Eastern Conference playoff spot despite a 4-3 shootout loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday night.

2013/04/24

Islanders goalie Evgeni Nabokov (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images)

Tavares Steps Up Big As Islanders Roar Back, Steamroll Maple Leafs

John Tavares had two goals and an assist Thursday as the New York Islanders rallied past Toronto 5-3 on Thursday and moved within two points of the Maple Leafs for fifth place in the Eastern Conference.

2013/04/19

Evgeni Nabokov and Radek Martinek celebrate the Islanders' 5-2 victory over the Florida Panthers on April 16, 2013. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Capellini: Islanders’ Unrelenting Road Warrior Prowess To Get 1 Final Test

There’s plenty of time to play golf. Why not do it in June? The Islanders now seem destined to do their early spring gripping and ripping on the ice.

2013/04/17

Islanders goalie Evgeni Nabokov, left, blocks the net against Florida’s Tomas Kopecky at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on April 16, 2013. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Islanders Close Home Portion Of Schedule With Win They Had To Have

Michael Grabner scored twice and Evgeni Nabokov made 26 saves as the New York Islanders moved closer to a playoff berth with a 5-2 victory over the Florida Panthers on Tuesday night.

2013/04/17

Rangers captain Ryan Callahan, left, and Islanders captain Mark Streit (Photo: Getty Images)

Capellini: What’s Left Of Nassau Coliseum Roof To Blow Off Saturday Night

If it’s a playoff atmosphere you want, rest assured, you’re going to get it and then some at the old barn off the Hempstead Turnpike soon enough.

2013/04/13

Rick Nash of the Rangers and John Tavares of the Islanders. (Photos by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Hartnett: ‘Battle Of New York’ Between Rangers And Islanders Will Be Epic

Saturday’s clash may be the most important regular-season meeting between the Rangers and Islanders in 10 years. And a defeat for either team could come with pitfalls.

2013/04/12

The Islanders' Thomas Hickey skates up ice with the puck, away from the Bruins' David Krejci during the teams' meeting at the TD Garden on April 11, 2013 in Boston. (Photo by Alex Trautwig/Getty Images)

Islanders Send Message To NHL, Stun Bruins In Boston To Continue Stellar Run

Josh Bailey scored twice and the New York Islanders added another big win in their surge toward the playoffs by beating the Boston Bruins 2-1 on Thursday night.

2013/04/12

Michael Grabner is mobbed by teammates after scoring the eventual game-winning goal late in the second period of the Islanders’ 4-1 victory over the visiting Flyers on April 9, 2013. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Islanders Unstoppable, Beat Up Flyers And Grab 7th Alone In The East

The third period was often a dreaded 20 minutes for the New York Islanders this season. Not anymore.

2013/04/09

Matt Martin, right, congratulates Evgeni Nabokov after the Islanders’ victory over the Lightning at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on April 6, 2013. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Capellini: Islanders Are On A Righteous Path To A Future With No Floor

Is this a coming-of-age story? You’re damn right it is. What the Islanders have done over the last six weeks is basically force the rest of the NHL to open its eyes and pay attention.

2013/04/09

UNIONDALE, NY - APRIL 06: Michael Grabner #40 (C) of the New York Islanders scores at 14:45 of the first period against the Tampa Bay Lightning and is joined by Thomas Hickey #14 (L) and John Tavares #91 (R) at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on April 6, 2013 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Nabokov Stops 19, Lifts Islanders Over Lightning 4-2

The Islanders remained in eighth place in the Eastern Conference, tied with the New York Rangers, who hold the tiebreaker for seventh. Both teams lead the New Jersey Devils, who are below the postseason cutoff, by three points.

2013/04/06

Kyle Okposo tied up the Islanders' game in Washington on April 3, 2013, late in the third period. (Photo by Phillip MacCallum/Getty Images)

Islanders Fall To Caps In Shootout, But Jump Into 7th Place In East

By virtue of the quirky way the NHL decides tie games — with a skills competition that rewards the team that loses — both the New York Islanders and Washington Capitals have completed a steady climb into playoff position.

2013/04/04

The Islanders’ Lubomir Visnovsky, right, carries the puck ahead of the Devils’ Ryan Carter during the teams’ meeting at the Prudential Center In Newark on April 1, 2013. (Photo by Norman Y. Lono/Getty Images)

Islanders Conclude Telling Road Trip With Big Win Over Devils

With a little more than three weeks left in the lockout-shortened regular season, the New York Islanders are in an unexpected position — fighting for their first playoff berth since 2006-07.

2013/04/01

Sidney Crosby (Photo by Vincent Pugliese/ Getty Images)

Penguins Charge Past Islanders, Crosby Leaves Game With Bloody Injury

An injured Sidney Crosby left the game, but the Penguins won their 15th straight game by shutting out the Islanders.

2013/03/30

John Tavares (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Islanders Continue Road Warrior Mentality, Earn First 3-Game Winning Streak

Colin McDonald scored two goals, Josh Bailey tallied the clinching score in the shootout and the Islanders won again on the road, coming up with a 4-3 shootout victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday night.

2013/03/28

Listen Live!