The Skinny on the Playoff Chase

Sunday was a quiet day in the playoff chase as Buffalo beat Tampa Bay 3-1 in the only game in the Eastern Conference today. (BTW, as the Lightning fade from view, so has Steven Stamkos, at least to a degree -- he has only one goal in April)

The Standings:

• 3 Washington (SE Leader) 42 games 23-17-2 48 points (20 ROW) Next game: Tuesday vs. Toronto
• 5. Toronto 41 games 23-13-5 51 points  (23 ROW) Next game: Monday vs. New Jersey
• 6  Ottawa  41 games 20-14-6 48 points  (17 ROW) Next game: Monday at Boston
• 7  NY Islanders 42 games 21-16-5 47 points  (18 ROW) Next game: Tuesday vs. Florida
• 8  NY Rangers 41 games  21-16-4 46 points  (17 ROW) Next game: Tuesday at Philadelphia
• 9  Winnipeg 42 games 21-19-2 44 points (20 ROW) Next game: Tuesday vs. Tampa Bay
• 10 Buffalo 43 games 17-19-6 42 points (13 ROW) Next game:Wednesday at Boston
• 11 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 
• Most ROW
• Head-to-Head record
• Goal differential for the entire season

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 10. 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 #: 10
• Buffalo 42 points in 43 games. Maximum points: 52.  Clinch #: 6
•  New Jersey 40 points in 41 games. Maximum points: 54.  Clinch #: 8
• Philadelphia 37 points in 41 games. Maximum points: 51. Clinch # 5
• Tampa Bay 37 points in 42 games. Maximum points: 49. Clinch #: 3
• Carolina 36 points in 41 games.  Maximum points: 50. Clinch #: 4
• Florida 32 points in 41 games. Maximum points: 46. CLINCHED -- Isles would win ROW tie-breaker

Three US-Canada games highlight the schedule on Monday.

Upcoming Games:

Monday, 4/15:

• Philadelphia at Montreal -- Flyers are on life support; Montreal leads Boston by 1 point.
• Ottawa at Boston --B's could really help the Isles on Monday with a win; Ottawa has toughest remaining schedule of current Top 8.
• New Jersey at Toronto --Devils winless in 9 and now six points behind 8th place NYR, however NJ has two games left with Rangers.  Leafs playing middle game of one set of 3 games in 4 nights (Sat/Mon/Tue) and first game of another (Mon/Tue/Thu) with final game on Thursday against the Isles.

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

Thursday, 4/18:
Tampa Bay at Montreal
Washington at Ottawa
Islanders at Toronto
Florida at Rangers
Carolina at Winnipeg
New Jersey at Philadelphia

Friday, 4/19:
Pittsburgh at Boston
Rangers at Buffalo

Saturday, 4/20:
Buffalo at Pittsburgh
Washington at Montreal 
Toronto at Ottawa
Islanders at Winnipeg
Florida at New Jersey
Philadelphia at Carolina

Sunday, 4/21:
Florida at Boston
New Jersey at Rangers
Carolina at Tampa Bay

Monday, 4/22:
Pittsburgh at Ottawa
Winnipeg at Buffalo

There are 13 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.