"The ship probably has sailed on either club catching the Canes for the No. 1 seed in the division, but both are squarely in the mix for the Nos. 2 and 3 seeds."
"According to Stathletes projections, there is a 27.03% chance of Penguins-Islanders being one of the first matchups in the 2026 bracket."
"Given the small margins, expect this race to come right down to the final days of the regular season."
The Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Islanders are vying for playoff positions in the Eastern Conference. Both teams are unlikely to catch the Carolina Hurricanes for the top seed but are in contention for the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds. Their final regular-season matchup will significantly influence the standings. Currently, the Islanders hold the No. 2 position with 89 points, while the Penguins are at No. 3 with 88 points. Projections indicate a 27.03% chance of facing each other in the first round of the playoffs.
Read at ESPN.com
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