Top-5: If the playoffs started today, the Islanders would be in it

1: Such an important win for the Islanders

Oh how exciting the playoff race is in the East.

The Islanders were playing a crucial game against the Blue Jackets… And Patrick Roy’s men responded well in the face of adversity, winning the game 4-2.

The big guns rose to the occasion:

With their victory over Columbus, the Islanders are back in the playoff picture.

Even better: if the playoffs started tonight, Roy’s team would be in it.

The Islanders now sit second in the Wild Card standings in the East, with 83 points…

But they’ll have to watch out, as the Capitals (one game down and 82 points), Red Wings (one game down and 82 points) and Penguins (81 points) are right behind :

2: Another goal for Ovechkin 

At one point, we really wondered whether Alex Ovechkin would be able to score 20 goals this season.

But the Capitals captain has woken up and is doing what he’s capable of doing best at the moment – putting the puck in the back of the net.

His club lost an important game to the Penguins (4-1), but the Russian scored his side’s only goal:

Ovi is just one goal away from the 850 career plateau and now boasts 27 successes so far this season.

Will he reach the 30-goal mark this season?

One thing’s for sure: he’s getting dangerously close to Wayne Gretzky’s record (894 goals)…

3: Hat-trick for Vilardi 

When healthy, Gabriel Vilardi is an important part of the Jets line-up.

I say that because, with yesterday’s game, he’s now played 41 games this season.

But Vilardi put on a show in his 41st game of the year and in an easy Jets victory over the Flames (5-2).

How did he do it?

The big forward scored his 17th, 18th and 19th goals of the season for his first career hat trick.

He now has six fewer points than Pierre-Luc Dubois this season… But the Kings’ player has played 35 more games than the Jets’: 

4: 130 points for MacKinnon

Nathan MacKinnon is enjoying by far the best season of his career.

The man considered by many to be the next Hart Trophy winner was having fun on the ice again last night… taking advantage of his visit to Minnesota to end his work night with a nice little three-point haul.

He has reached the 130-point plateau this season:

MacKinnon (130 points) ranks 2nd among the NHL’s top scorers, behind Nikita Kucherov (133 points).

In the Avalanche’s 5-2 victory, Jonathan Drouin also stood out with two goals and an assist.

5 : 400 NHL goals for Brad Marchand 

We love to hate him, for obvious reasons…

But Brad Marchand is a hockey player through and through.

He proved it again last night, helping the Bruins to a 4-1 win over the mighty Hurricanes in a game where Jesperi Kotkaniemi was leftout…

The Bruins captain scored his 400th career goal.

That’s no mean feat for the 35-year-old, who now has 65 points this season:

Extension

– Beautiful goal.

– Ouf.

– Still.

– Roman Josi is having another great season.

– Let’s see!

– A first career goal for Akil Thomas.

– Well done.

– Top scorers of the night :

– Quieter NHL schedule tonight :