The Skinny on the Playoff Race - Isles move back into 2nd Place in Metropolitan Division. Earliest playoff clinch still Saturday

The Isles magic number to clinch a playoff spot remains six but the Isles got some help from Philadelphia, who beat Pittsburgh 4-1 in the only Wednesday game affecting the Isles.

The win moved the Islanders back into second place in the Metropolitan Division:

	METROPOLITAN	GP	W	L	OT	P	ROW
1	X - NY RANGERS	76	48	21	7	103	44
2	NY ISLANDERS	77	45	27	5	95	38
3	PITTSBURGH	77	42	24	11	95	38
4	WASHINGTON	77	42	25	10	94	38

The Isles must earn at least one point on Thursday to remain in 2nd place.  The Isles/Penguins/Caps could be in any combination of 2nd-3rd-4th place after Thursday depending on the results on Thursday's games.  The Isles are in Columbus, Washington is in Montreal, Pittsburgh is 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,

The Rangers will clinch the Division with one more win.

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

Wednesday's scores of note:
Pittsburgh lost to Philadelphia 4-1

• Isles have 95 points, 38 regulation/overtime wins (ROW) & 5 games to play. They can finish with a maximum of 105 points.
• Pittsburgh has 95 points, 38 ROW and 5 games to play.  They can finish with a maximum of 105 points.
• Washington has 94 points, 38 ROW and 5 games to play. They can finish with a maximum of 104 points.
• Detroit has 93 points, 37 ROW and 6 games to play. They can finish with a maximum of 105 points.
• Boston has 91 points, 36 ROW and 5 games to play.  They can finish with a maximum of 101 points.
• Ottawa has 88 points, 32 ROW and 6 games to play.  They can finish with a maximum of 100 points.

Isles magic numbers are:

• 11 vs. Pittsburgh
• 11 vs. Detroit
• 10 vs. Washington
• 7 vs. Boston
• 6 vs. Ottawa

The Islanders are in Columbus, Boston is in Detroit, Ottawa hosts Tampa Bay and Washington is in Montreal on Thursday. Pittsburgh is idle.

None of these teams play Friday, but they all play Saturday:  Isles host Buffalo, Pittsburgh is at Columbus, Washington is at Ottawa, Detroit is at Minnesota and Boston hosts Toronto.

Clinching Scenarios for Saturday:
Isles win twice (Thursday/Saturday) and Ottawa does not win twice.
or
Isles win twice and Boston earns one point or less in their two games
or
Isles get three points and Ottawa earns two points or less in their two games
or
Isles get three points and Boston loses twice in regulation
or
Isles get two points (one ROW) and Ottawa loses twice in regulation
or 
Isles gets two points (no ROW) and Ottawa earns one point or less in their two games
or 
Isles get one point and Ottawa loses twice in regulation