The New York Islanders still have a chance to make the playoffs in the Eastern Conference, but they’ll have to do so without their captain and best player.
Isles center John Tavares will not play for the rest of the regular season, which ends Sunday, April 9.
The Islanders tweeted Saturday that Tavares was “week to week” with a lower body injury.
Tavares is one of the NHL’s top centers, and he leads the Islanders with 66 points (28 goals, 38 assists) in 77 games.
New York beat the Buffalo Sabres 4-2 on Sunday, but it remains five points behind the Ottawa Senators for the second wild-card spot — the only playoff berth left for the Isles to chase. The Islanders also have played one more game than the Sens.
Thumbnail photo via Charles LeClaire/USA TODAY Sports Images
