The loss also snapped the Islanders’ three-game point streak and put them perilously close to being eliminated from the postseason. The Isles (79 points) are eight points back of the Montreal Canadiens (87 points) for the second wild card spot. An Islanders loss, or a Canadiens win, in the next week would eliminate New York from playoff contention.

Artemi Panarin and Brett Berard each scored twice and the New York Rangers trounced the New York Islanders 9-2 on Thursday night for their third straight victory. Mika Zibanejad, Will Cuylle, Vincent Trocheck,

Rookie Brett Berard had his first career two-goal game for the visiting New York Rangers, who remained mathematically alive in the Eastern Conference wild-card race while all but ending the New York Islanders' playoff hopes with a 9-2 win on Thursday in Elmont,