The Skinny on the Playoff Race - Isles fall 3 seconds shy of clinching playoff spot; remain 3rd Place in Metropolitan Division. Can still clinch playoff spot Thursday & Met Division Top 4 on Friday.

The Isles magic number to clinch a playoff spot remained 1 on Tuesday as the Isles scored 2 sixth attacker goals to tie the game, only to lose to Philadelphia 5-4.  Meanwhile, Ottawa rallied from a 3-0 deficit for a 4-3 overtime win over Pittsburgh.

The Isles remain one point behind Washington in the battle for 2nd place; the Capitals also own the head-to-head tiebreak with the Isles.

Tuesday's scores of note:
Isles lost to Philadelphia 5-4

Detroit beat Carolina 3-2

Ottawa  beat Pittsburgh 4-3 (OT)

Washington & Boston wereidle

Metropolitan Division Standings (Top 4)

·         NY Rangers  52-21-7=111 points / 80 games (48 ROW)  Beat New Jersey 4-2

·         Washington  44-25-11=99 points / 80 games (39 ROW) Idle

·         ISLES           46-28-6=98 points / 80 games (39 ROW)  Lost to Philadelphia 5-4

·         Pittsburgh     42-26-12=96 points / 80 games (38 ROW)  Lost to Ottawa 4-3 (SO)

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 99 points, 39 ROW and 2 games 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.
• Boston has 95 points, 37 ROW and 3 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.

Isles magic numbers are:

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

Wednesday's schedule: Boston is in Washington.  Pittsburgh, Detroit, Ottawa and the Isles are idle.

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 Playoffs Scenario for Wednesday:

None

Clinching Playoff Scenario for ThursdayOttawa loses to the Rangers in any fashion OR

Boston earns no more than one point in their games Wednesday (At Washington, At Florida)