The Skinny on the Playoff Race: Clutterbuck OT goal cuts Isles' magic number to 11

The Skinny on the Playoff Race – Cal Cuts the Magic Number to 11!

The Isles' magic number is now 11 after the come-from-behind 4-3 overtime win in Carolina and Detroit’s 7-2 loss to Pittsburgh.  The Isles lead the Red Wings by 4 points; the Isles also hold a game in hand.

(Through games of March 26)

Metropolitan Division Standings (Top 5)

xy Washington 53-16-5=111 points / 74 games (49 ROW) Lost to St. Louis 4-0

NY Rangers    43-24-8=94 points / 75 games (40 ROW) Beat Montreal 5-2

Pittsburgh       41-25-8=90 points / 74 games (38 ROW) Beat Detroit 7-2

ISLES             40-25-9=89 points / 74 games (36 ROW) Beat Carolina 4- 3(OT) Philadelphia    36-25-13=85 points/ 74 games (34 ROW) Lost to Arizona 2-1

Atlantic Teams in Wild Card Race

Boston          40-28-8=88 points/ 76 games (36 ROW) Beat Toronto 3-1

Detroit           37-27-11=85 points/ 75 games (35 ROW) Lost to Pittsburgh 7-2

x Clinched Playoff Spot

y Clinched Division Title and Conference Title

Remaining Schedule:

·           Washington: 3/28 vs. Columbus, 3/30 @ Philadelphia, 4/1 @ Colorado, 4/2 @ Arizona, 4/5 vs. ISLES, 4/7 vs. Pittsburgh, 4/9 at St. Louis, 4/10 vs. Anaheim

·           NY Rangers:  3/27 vs. Pittsburgh, 3/31 @ Carolina, 4/2 vs. Buffalo, 4/4 @ Columbus, 4/5 vs. Tampa Bay, 4/7 vs. ISLES, 4/9 vs. Detroit     

·           Pittsburgh:  3/27 @ NY Rangers, 3/29 vs. Buffalo, 3/31 vs. Nashville,4/2 @ ISLES, 4/3 vs. Philadelphia, 4/5 @ Ottawa, 4/7 @ Washington, 4/9 @ Philadelphia

·           ISLES: 3/29 vs. Carolina, 3/31 vs. Columbus, 4/2 vs. Pittsburgh, 4/4 vs. Tampa Bay, 4/5 @ Washington, 4/7 @ NY Rangers, 4/9 vs. Buffalo, 4/10 vs. Philadelphia

·           Philadelphia:  3/28 vs. Winnipeg, 3/30 vs. Washington, 4/2 vs. Ottawa, 4/3 @ Pittsburgh, 4/6 at Detroit, 4/7 vs. Toronto, 4/9 vs Pittsburgh, 4/10 @ ISLES

·           Boston 3/29 @ New Jersey, 4/1 @ St. Louis, 4/3 @ Chicago, 4/5 vs. Carolina, 4/7 vs. Detroit, 4/9 vs Ottawa

 ·          Detroit: 3/28 vs. Buffalo, 3/29 @ Montreal, 4/1 vs. Minnesota, 4/2 @ Toronto, 4/6 vs. Philadelphia, 4/7 at Boston, 4/9 @ NY Rangers

Magic Number

The Isles’ magic number is clinch a playoff berth is 11 over Detroit, 12 over Boston, 13 over Philadelphia, 18 against Pittsburgh and 20 against the Rangers.  Any combination of Islander points gained and Red Wings points lost totaling 11 will guarantee that the Isles finish ahead of Detroit.

The Isles need to finish ahead of eight teams to clinch a playoff berth.  Assuming the Isles finish ahead of teams currently in 10^th to 16^th place, the Isles also need to finish ahead of Philadelphia, Boston, Detroit, the Rangers OR Pittsburgh in order to clinch a playoff berth.

Magic numbers vs. other teams to clinch playoff berth: New Jersey (6), Carolina (5)

Isles have clinched a better record than Toronto, Buffalo, Columbus, Montreal and Ottawa.

(Top 3 in each division, plus next two teams make the playoffs)

Sunday’s Game

Pittsburgh at NY Rangers

The Isles magic number will remain 11 after play on Sunday

Monday’s Games

Columbus at Washington

Buffalo at Detroit

Winnipeg at Philadelphia

The Isles Magic Number to clinch a playoff spot could fall to:

·                  9, if the Red Wings lose in regulation

·                  10, if the Red Wings lose in overtime or a shootout