There were key moments, Patrick Roy said, that sealed the New York Islanders’ fate in Tuesday’s 4–1 home loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning. The key moment the Islanders’ head coach was referring to was his club’s abbreviated 5-on-3 power play opportunity in the second period,

ELMONT, N.Y. -- Nikita Kucherov had two assists and extended his point streak to nine games, helping the Tampa Bay Lightning to a 4-1 win against the New York Islanders at UBS Arena on Tuesday.

The Islanders lost a lifeless game to the Lightning 4-1, their second loss in two games to Tampa Bay and sixth defeat in a row. Last season, Game 73 was right when the Islanders started their mad dash to the playoffs, going 8-0-1 over the final nine games to clinch in Game 81.

The 32-year-old still has a full no-trade clause through 2026-26 and a 16-team no-trade list afterward – a lot of protection for someone the team no longer thinks is a lock in the lineup. You could get a young player to play those minutes for far less money than what Mayfield is getting.

Somehow, despite everything, the Islanders are still within shot of a playoff spot. Here's how it could happen.

With the playoffs in sight, the New York Islanders can't muster wins. They lost their sixth straight game on Tuesday in a 4-1 disappointment to the Tampa Bay

The New York Islanders lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-1 at home on Tuesday. They have lost six straight games, including every one since the controversial call that cost them a win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on March 24.