Congrats, @NYIslanders! We’re honoring their series victory over the Panthers w/ blue and orange. #Isles pic.twitter.com/UBtlFaeAiz

— Empire State Bldg (@EmpireStateBldg) April 25, 2016

Start spreading the news - especially to fans of the New York Rangers.

The Empire State Building in Manhattan was lit up in Islanders orange and blue Sunday night after John Tavares sent the once-dominant club to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 1993.

Tavares scored the game-tying goal in the last minute of regulation in Game 6, then potted the series-clinching winner in double overtime to eliminate the Florida Panthers.

For Islanders fans, the long wait is finally over - a day after the Rangers were eliminated. Life can be grand sometimes.

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The New York Islanders are off to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 1993.

John Tavares scored the game-winning goal in double overtime to eliminate the Florida Panthers in six games. New York wins the series 4-2, and will face the Tampa Bay Lightning.

More to come.

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While they lost, the Philadelphia Flyers were content in knowing they left it all out on the ice.

The first-round series ended in six games Sunday with a 1-0 Flyers loss to the Washington Capitals, and Philly's core players made no excuses. The Caps were the league's best team this season, while the Flyers fought tooth and nail to qualify for the playoffs - and it showed.

Philadelphia managed only six goals in six games, but they battled, forcing Games 5 and 6 after falling behind 3-0. The entire organization was playing with heavy hearts, too, after owner Ed Snider passed away before the series began.

"I hope Mr. Snider is proud," head coach Dave Hakstol said in defeat, according to Philly.com's Sam Carchidi.

Lessons were learned, said Brayden Schenn.

"I think it gives everyone a taste of what the playoffs are like and what this building is like in the playoffs," the 24-year-old said. "We're still a young team and we still have a lot to prove, and it was good for us to squeak into the playoffs and get a taste of it."

Defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere added: "We have a great foundation here. Good things are going to happen."

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Right before the Tavares goal. pic.twitter.com/HppjOXYWBQ

— Matt Porter (@mattyports) April 25, 2016

A big no-call set the stage for John Tavares' heroic game-tying goal.

New York Islanders forward Matt Martin appeared to trip Florida Panthers forward Vincent Trocheck at the one-minute mark of the third period while the Islanders' net was empty.

No penalty was called on the play, and seconds later Tavares potted the game-tying goal to send the game to overtime.

John. Tavares. https://t.co/qmNeufUQxq

— Marina Molnar (@mkmolnar) April 25, 2016

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Catch you on the flip side.

Florida Panthers forward Reilly Smith went for a ride Sunday after New York Islanders defenseman Thomas Hickey caught the 25-year-old with a devastating hip check.

The hit was a thing of beauty, but nevertheless garnered a two-minute minor for interference - a penalty that was ultimately killed off by the Islanders.

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The only finger Claude Giroux was pointing after his season ended was at himself.

The Philadelphia Flyers' captain refused to make excuses after his club was eliminated Sunday in a 1-0 defeat to the Washington Capitals, with the first-round series ending 4-2 in the Presidents' Trophy winners' favor.

"Not good enough," Giroux said according to the Courier-Post's Dave Isaac. "You know, I'm pretty frustrated with myself. Gotta find a way, doesn't matter how it is. You gotta find a way."

That's the playoffs, isn't it? You have to find a way.

The Flyers were unable to do so, especially Giroux. He has only one assist to show for six games in the 2016 playoffs. It wasn't only him, though: Wayne Simmonds, Brayden Schenn, and Jakub Voracek were all contained by the Capitals. The Flyers were only able to force a Game 6 because of goaltender Michal Neuvirth.

You have to give Washington credit. Voracek was the only player among those mentioned above who found the back of the net in the series, despite the fact the Flyers were as healthy as folks get in the playoffs.

"No," Giroux answered when asked if he was playing significantly hurt. "Everybody has little bruises here and there but I'm good."

The Flyers poured everything into making the playoffs. Giroux and Simmonds were instrumental in Philadelphia hosting postseason hockey this spring. Once they got there, though, the gas tank was empty, and the team played with heavy hearts after owner Ed Snider passed away.

Beating the Capitals was always going to be a monumental task, and the Flyers managed to score only six goals in six games.

"I thought we gave it our all. We gave it our all, all year long," Simmonds said. "I don't think anyone really even gave us a chance to make the playoffs. I'm proud of every single guy in this dressing room. We push it to the limit and we busted our butts all year long and sometimes you don't get the breaks and that was it. They're a good team and they're the best team in the league all year long and I think you can see that out there."

Respect, in other words, to the Capitals.

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BRIDGEPORT, Conn. - The Marlies' power play couldn't get it done on Sunday, so Connor Brown got to work on the penalty kill. Brown scored what turned into the game winner while shorthanded and Garret Sparks made 31 saves as Toronto beat the B...

An insane falling snipe opens the scoring in Brooklyn. #FLAvsNYI #StanleyCuphttps://t.co/lI5FhqpaVi

— #StanleyCup Playoffs (@NHL) April 25, 2016

Jonathan Huberdeau's first career playoff goal was something special.

The Florida Panthers star opened the scoring Sunday with a seeing-eye wrist shot while falling late in the first period.

The goal gave his club the lead over the New York Islanders in a game the Panthers must win to avoid elimination.

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Ken Hitchcock wants Vladimir Tarasenko to play mad.

The St. Louis Blues' dynamic, ultra-talented forward was upset over his ice time in Game 6 against the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday, and head coach Hitchcock wouldn't have it any other way - especially with Game 7 looming.

Tarasenko was visibly displeased with Hitchcock after the second period Saturday night. The Blues went into the frame with a 3-1 lead, but headed to the dressing room down 4-3, having allowed the Blackhawks to get up off the mat.

"That's what happens when you've got a guy like that that wants to make a difference," Hitchcock said, according to ESPN's Craig Custance. "I love it, I love it in him."

On Sunday, the bench boss explained what happened Saturday:

"(Tarasenko's line) just came off a long shift and they were tired. I was trying to cheat to get time, to give them a rest, but the referee wouldn't let us cheat. So he wanted our players out there right away."

Hitchcock pointed out that Tarasenko plays shorter shifts than other star players, so his cumulative ice time doesn't really tell the tale at the end of the night. The coach wants him out there more often, but in shorter spurts.

"He's a big body that plays a lot, he gets leaned on, he leans on a lot of people," Hitchcock said. "It's very wearing. The game he plays is a physical one."

Tarasenko has four goals and two assists to go along with nine hits in six games in the series. However, with the Blues' season - not to mention Hitchcock's job - on the line, there's no way No. 91 can play 16:56 in Game 7 like he did in the previous outing.

Game	Ice Time
1	18:30
2	16:05
3	16:33
4	15:14
5	21:28
6	16:56

With the season in the balance, Tarasenko has to see over 20 minutes on Monday. Period.

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Devan Dubnyk was hurt.

The Minnesota Wild goaltender revealed after his team's Game 6 ouster by the Dallas Stars that he was playing with a blocker-side hand injury, according to the Star Tribune's Michael Russo. The netminder "was in pain every time he played the puck," Russo tweeted.

Dubnyk didn't have a great series. He entered Game 6 with a .892 save percentage, and allowed five goals on 24 shots Sunday.

Dubnyk: "It was disappointing to end on a strange goal. It's tough to sit on a bouncer like that...But that's the way it is."

— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) April 24, 2016

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