The Skinny on The Playoff Chase

The Devils outshoot Ottawa 33-11, but of course they don't win.  Sens 3, Devils 0 in Friday's only Eastern Conference game.  NJ 0-5-4 in the last nine games.

The Standings:

•    3 Washington (SE Leader) 41 games 22-17-2 46 points (19 ROW) Next game: Saturday vs. Tampa Bay
•    5. Toronto 40 games 22-13-5 49 points  (22 ROW) Next game: Saturday vs. Montreal
•    6  Ottawa  41 games 20-14-6 48 points  (17 ROW) Next game: Monday at Boston
  
•  7  NY Islanders 41 games 21-16-4 46 points  (18 ROW) Next game: Saturday vs. Rangers
•  8  NY Rangers 40 games  20-16-4 44 points  (16 ROW) Next game: Saturday at Isles
•   9  Winnipeg 42 games 21-19-2 44 points (20 ROW) Next game: Tuesday vs. Tampa Bay
•  10  New Jersey 41 games 15-16-10 40 points (13 ROW) Next game: Monday at Toronto
  

What's a ROW?

Regulation or Overtime Wins. Wins earned in a shootout do not count towards the first tiebreaker.

What are the tie-breakers?

• Fewest games played  (That's why the Rangers are 8th and Winnipeg is 9th)
• Most ROW
• Head-to-Head record
• Goal differential for the entire season

What does this mean for Saturday?

Since the Rangers won the February 7th meeting at MSG in regulation, they have five points in the season series to the Isles' three.  The Isles need a REGULATION win on Saturday to split this tie-breaker.  Obviously the Isles could finish with more regulation/overtime wins to make this tiebreaker moot, but an Isles regulation win could make the fourth tie-breaker necessary (which could in theory come down to the final score of the Ranger-Devil game on April 27th).

Isn't it Magic?

The Islanders' magic number (points earned by the Islanders or lost by the team that is not in a playoff position but has the highest possible points) for clinching a playoff spot is 11. Of the teams currently not in a playoff spot, Winnipeg can reach the highest total (56 points). 

Clinch #s:

The Isles will qualify for the playoffs if they can finish ahead of 7 other teams.  Here are the maximum point totals, and respective Clinch #s for the seven teams currently not in a playoff spot.

Winnipeg 44 points in 42 games.  Maximum points: 56.  Clinch #: 11

New Jersey 40 points in 41 games. Maximum points: 54.  Clinch #: 9

Buffalo 38 points in 41 games. Maximum points: 52.  Clinch #: 7

Philadelphia 37 points in 40 games. Maximum points: 53. Clinch # 8

Tampa Bay 36 points in 40 games. Maximum points: 52. Clinch #: 7

Carolina 34 points in 40 games.  Maximum points: 50. Clinch #: 5

Florida 32 points in 40 games. Maximum points: 48. Clinch # 3

Upcoming Games:

Saturday, 4/13:

• Rangers at Islanders With Winnipeg idle, the team will start the day 7th and 8th and end it that way. Rangers can claim 7th with regulation win.
  
• Pittsburgh at Florida Isles clinch at least 14th with reg/ot win or Panther reg loss
  
• Montreal at Toronto  Montreal moved back into 1st in Atlantic on Thursday; would be Isles' opponent if season ended today.  Leafs 1 point ahead of Ottawa and three ahead of Isles.
  
• Boston at Carolina  Isles have 17 pts since March 24th; Muller's have 13 points in March/April and are 1-12-1 in last 14.
  
• Tampa Bay at Washington Ovechkin v Stamkos; Caps, like Isles, are 8-1-1 in last 10
  
• Philadelphia at Buffalo Both teams running out of time, quickly
  

Sunday, 4/14:

Tampa Bay at Buffalo

Monday, 4/15:
Philadelphia at Montreal
Ottawa at Boston
New Jersey at Toronto

Tuesday, 4/16:

Florida at Islanders

Toronto at Washington
Carolina at Ottawa
Rangers at Philadelphia
Tampa Bay at Winnipeg

Wednesday, 4/17:

Montreal at Pittsburgh

Buffalo at Boston

There are 15 days remaining in the NHL season.  The season ends on Saturday, April 27th, with 12 Eastern Conference teams in action.  The Jets play their final game on April 25th while the Islanders face the Sabres in their final game on Friday, April 26.

 

 

Forever1940 is the nom de plume of Eric Hornick, statistician on Islander home telecasts since January 21, 1982. Visit my blog: NYISkinny.com and follow me on Twitter @ehornick

 

Forever1940 is the nom de plume of Eric Hornick, statistician on Islander home telecasts since January 21, 1982. Visit my blog: NYISkinny.com and follow me on Twitter @ehornick