The Skinny on the Playoff Race -- Home Ice in Serious Jeopardy but Isles now have two ways to clinch on Thursday

In the only game affecting the Isles tonight, Washington blanked Boston to take a 3 point lead over the Isles in the battle for second place.  However, by beating Boston, the Isles now need just a non-win of any type by either Boston or Ottawa to qualify for the playoffs on Thursday.

Wednesday's scores of note:

Washington beat Boston 3-0

Metropolitan Division Standings (Top 4)

·         NY Rangers  52-21-7=111 points / 80 games (48 ROW)  Idle

·         Washington  45-25-11=101 points / 81 games (40 ROW) Beat Boston 3-0

·         ISLES           46-28-6=98 points / 80 games (39 ROW)  Idle

·         Pittsburgh     42-26-12=96 points / 80 games (38 ROW)  Idle

After ROW, head-to-head record is the next tie-breaker.  The Isles hold that tie-breaker over the Penguins, while Washington owns that tie-breaker against both the Isles and Pittsburgh.

In order to clinch a playoff spot, the Isles need to finish ahead of at least one of these five teams: Pittsburgh, Washington, Detroit, Boston or Ottawa.

• ISLES have 98 points, 39 regulation/overtime wins (ROW) & 2 games to play. They can finish with a maximum of 102 points.
• Washington has 101 points, 40 ROW and 1 game to play. They can finish with a maximum of 103 points.
• Detroit has 97 points, 38 ROW and 2 games to play. They can finish with a maximum of 101 points.
• Pittsburgh has 96 points, 38 ROW and 2 games to play.  They can finish with a maximum of 100 points.
• Ottawa has 95 points, 35 ROW and 2 games to play.  They can finish with a maximum of 99 points.
• Boston has 95 points, 37 ROW and 2 games to play.  They can finish with a maximum of 99 points.

Isles magic numbers are:

• 6 vs. Washington
• 4 vs. Detroit
• 3 vs Pittsburgh
• 2 vs. Boston
• 1 vs. Ottawa

Thursday's schedule: Detroit is in Montreal, Ottawa is at the Rangers, Boston is at Florida.  The Isles, Pittsburgh and Washington are idle.

Friday's schedule: Isles are at Pittsburgh.  Washington, Detroit, Boston and Ottawa are idle.

Saturday' schedule: Isles host Columbus, Washington host the Rangers, Pittsburgh is at Buffalo, Boston is at Tampa Bay, Ottawa is at Philadelphia and Detroit is at Carolina.

(end regular season)

Clinching Playoff Scenario for Thursday

Ottawa loses to the Rangers in any fashion OR

Boston loses to Florida in any fashion

(The magic number vs. Boston is 2, but a Bruin non-win means that they cannot catch the Isles in ROWs.)

The Isles can still finish second in the Metropolitan Division IF:

The Isles win their last two games and Washington loses Saturday to the Rangers in regulation

OR

The Isles win their last two games in Regulation/Overtime and Washington loses Saturday to the Rangers in any fashion

The Isles will guarantee at least a third place finish in the Metropolitan Division IF:

The Isles beat Pittsburgh in any fashion OR

The Isles beat Columbus in regulation/overtime OR

Pittsburgh loses to Buffalo in regulation OR

The Isles earn more points than Pittsburgh does on Saturday OR

The Isles lose in OT on Friday but earn as many points as Pittsburgh on Saturday OR
The Isles lose in OT on Friday and lose in OT/SO Saturday while Pittsburgh wins in shootout on Saturday

The Isles lose in SO on Friday but Pittsburgh does not win on Saturday with the Isles losing in regulation OR
The Isles lose in SO on Friday and lose in OT/SO Saturday

The Isles will MISS THE PLAYOFFS ENTIRELY IF:

The Isles lose their last two games in regulation AND

Ottawa wins their last two games AND

Boston wins their last two games AND

Pittsburgh, after beating the Isles, gets a point or more vs. Buffalo AND

Detroit earns at least two points in their last two games

The Isles have never opened the post-season at home without Denis Potvin or Billy Smith on the roster. (Last doing so in 1988).