Islanders clinch playoff berth, Varlamov blanks Rangers again

UNIONDALE, N.Y. --The New York Islanders clinched a berth in the Stanley Cup Playoffs by defeating the New York Rangers 3-0 at Nassau Coliseum on Saturday.

The Islanders are third in the MassMutual East Division, one point ahead of the Boston Bruins. The Islanders are two points behind the Washington Capitals and four behind the Pittsburgh Penguins, who also have qualified for the postseason.
"Every coach will tell you there's a certain sense of relief when you make the playoffs," Islanders coach Barry Trotz said. "We knew we were in a real tough division and I think we accepted the challenge."
Semyon Varlamov made 28 saves for his third straight shutout, including his second in three nights and fourth of the season against the Rangers. He leads the NHL with seven shutouts and hasn't allowed a goal in 213:56, passing Chico Resch (178:26) for the longest shutout streak in Islanders history.
"It's a great achievement for sure for me personally and I think for this team," Varlamov said. "This is a team sport, and there's no way I could do this without my brothers. They work hard for me every game. … I appreciate everything they do for me. This is beautiful."

Anthony Beauvillier scored two goals, and Josh Bailey had three assists for the Islanders (31-15-5), who have made the playoffs in three straight seasons for the first time since 2002-04.
Alexandar Georgiev made 22 saves for the Rangers (26-20-6), who were 2-5-1 against the Islanders this season, including losing their last four games while getting outscored 16-3.
"They're built to have a good playoff run, and it's a good lesson for us," Rangers center Ryan Strome said. "Any time we play these games it shows what it takes. I think there are a lot of good attributes they have that we can learn from."
The Rangers are fifth in the East, eight points behind the Bruins with four games remaining. Boston has two games in hand.
"We played the Islanders these last two and we've got Washington and Boston, so obviously we're playing playoff teams and teams that have aspirations to win a Stanley Cup," Rangers coach David Quinn said. "We need to measure ourselves against them. That's what we're trying to get to. So we need to compete."
Beauvillier gave the Islanders a 1-0 lead at 4:39 of the first period when he scored from the right circle with a high wrist shot inside the left post. He has scored 13 goals in 21 games against the Rangers, including four goals in seven games this season.
"It's easy to wake up and play the Rangers," Beauvillier said. "The rivalry goes back years and years. Playing them at the 'Coli,' having Rangers fans and Islanders fans in the building, you can feel the atmosphere. It makes it easy to be motivated and fired up for the games. I really enjoy the Rangers. They're always big games."

Mathew Barzal beat Georgiev blocker side on a breakaway at 16:22 to make it 2-0. Barzal has scored in consecutive games after 12 straight without a goal.
"As much as you want to get on the score sheet, now that we're in and we know we're going to the playoffs, it's about playing the right way, trying to play playoff hockey the next five (games) here," Barzal said. "It's going to come quick. Before you know it we're going to be in Game 1."
Beauvillier scored again from the right circle with a low wrist shot inside the left post at 1:02 of the second period to extend the lead to 3-0.
Varlamov made 18 saves after the goal to complete the shutout.
"I'm really happy for 'Varly,' because Varly is as low-maintenance a goalie as we've ever had, and we've had some low-maintenance goaltenders, a few of them," Trotz said. "I'm really happy for Varly, but Varly will tell you it's a team thing. It says a lot about our team. I think that's our 10th shutout as a group, and that's a pretty good number."
NOTES: The Rangers played without forwards Chris Kreider (lower body) and Brett Howden (foot), and defensemen Ryan Lindgren (upper body) and Jacob Trouba (upper body). Kreider missed his second straight game, Lindgren missed his first of the season, and Trouba missed his sixth straight. Each is considered day to day. Howden, who was injured in a 4-0 loss to the Islanders on Thursday, is out for the remainder of the season. … Forward Morgan Barron made his NHL debut with the Rangers after being recalled from Hartford of the American Hockey League on Friday. He had one hit and was minus-1 in 11:56. … Islanders forward Jean-Gabriel Pageau didn't play the final 16:41 after going to the locker room following his only shift in the third period. He returned to the bench late in the period and Trotz said if the game was closer he could have played.