The New York Islanders' playoff hopes have been dealt a serious blow.

John Tavares is week to week with what the Islanders are calling a lower-body injury, the club announced Saturday.

He suffered the apparent leg injury in Friday's win over the New Jersey Devils when he went down behind the Devils' net and had to be helped off the ice late in the third period.

The Islanders captain played in every game this season before leaving Friday's contest, ranking second on the team with 28 goals and leading the squad with 66 points.

New York sits four points back of the Boston Bruins for the second Eastern Conference wild-card spot, but both the Tampa Bay Lightning and Carolina Hurricanes are ahead of New York by virtue of points and games in hand.

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