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Newark, N.J. • With a little more than three weeks left in the lockout-shortened regular season, the New York Islanders are in an unexpected position — fighting for their first playoff berth since 2006-07.
The Islanders took another step toward the postseason Monday night as Frans Nielsen set up two early goals and Evgeni Nabokov made 24 saves in a 3-1 win over the New Jersey Devils.
It was the Islanders' fourth win in five games and kept them tied with the New York Rangers in the fight for the eighth and last playoff berth in the Eastern Conference with 37 points, just two points behind the seventh-place Devils.
New Jersey and the Isles have 12 games remaining, one less than the Rangers, who beat Winnipeg 4-2 Monday.
"It's fun right now," said Nielsen, who set up goals by Josh Bailey and Travis Hamonic in the opening 7:14. "Everybody is excited. We just go out there, play our game and play hard, and we're getting the results right now. We just have to keep it going. We have a big game tomorrow at home. It's exciting. There is a good feeling in here."
Trades ramp up
The Calgary Flames traded defenseman Jay Bouwmeester to the St. Louis Blues on Monday night. In return, the Flames got a first-round pick and two prospects — defenseman Mark Cundari and goaltender Reto Berra. Bouwmeester joined Calgary in 2009 after being drafted third overall by the Florida Panthers in 2002.
Veteran defenseman Robyn Regehr dropped his no-trade clause to allow the Buffalo Sabres to deal him to the Los Angeles Kings, where he'll be reunited with his former coach, Darryl Sutter. In exchange, the Sabres acquired the Kings' second-round picks in 2014 and 2015.
The NHL trade deadline is 1 p.m. MDT on Wednesday. EASTERN CONFERENCE
Atlantic Division
GP W L OT Pts GF GA
Pittsburgh 36 28 8 0 56 123 84
New Jersey 36 15 12 9 39 89 100
N.Y. Rangers 35 17 15 3 37 82 86
N.Y. Islanders 36 17 16 3 37 103 113
Philadelphia 35 15 17 3 33 95 108
Northeast Division
GP W L OT Pts GF GA
Montreal 35 23 7 5 51 111 84
Boston 34 22 8 4 48 97 75
Ottawa 35 19 10 6 44 89 76
Toronto 36 20 12 4 44 112 100
Buffalo 36 13 17 6 32 94 113
Southeast Division
GP W L OT Pts GF GA
Winnipeg 37 18 17 2 38 91 110
Carolina 34 16 16 2 34 93 101
Washington 35 16 17 2 34 102 101
Tampa Bay 34 15 18 1 31 110 103
Florida 36 11 19 6 28 88 125
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Central Division
GP W L OT Pts GF GA
Chicago 35 27 5 3 57 119 76
Detroit 36 18 13 5 41 94 94
St. Louis 34 18 14 2 38 98 94
Columbus 36 15 14 7 37 87 97
Nashville 36 14 14 8 36 89 99
Northwest Division
GP W L OT Pts GF GA
Minnesota 35 21 12 2 44 98 90
Vancouver 36 19 11 6 44 94 93
Edmonton 35 15 13 7 37 91 96
Calgary 34 13 17 4 30 94 118
Colorado 35 12 19 4 28 86 111
Pacific Division
GP W L OT Pts GF GA
Anaheim 36 24 7 5 53 111 90
Los Angeles 35 20 12 3 43 103 88
San Jose 35 18 11 6 42 88 86
Dallas 35 16 16 3 35 94 107
Phoenix 35 14 15 6 34 94 101
NOTE: Two points for a win, one point for overtime loss.
Monday's Games
Chicago 3, Nashville 2, SO
N.Y. Islanders 3, New Jersey 1
N.Y. Rangers 4, Winnipeg 2
Montreal 4, Carolina 1
Detroit 3, Colorado 2
St. Louis 4, Minnesota 1
Anaheim 4, Dallas 0
Edmonton 4, Calgary 1
San Jose 3, Vancouver 2
Tuesday's Games
Ottawa at Boston, 5 p.m.
Winnipeg at N.Y. Islanders, 5 p.m.
Washington at Carolina, 5 p.m.
Buffalo at Pittsburgh, 5:30 p.m.
Florida at Tampa Bay, 5:30 p.m.
Colorado at Nashville, 6 p.m.
Los Angeles at Phoenix, 8 p.m.