The Skinny on the Playoff Race -- Flyers close within 3 of Isles with 4-1 Barclays win

The Isles are 1-4-2 in their last 7, and now are closer to Philadelphia (currently in 9th place in East) than they are to the second place Rangers..

 (Through games of March 20)

Metropolitan Division Standings (Top 5)

x Washington 51-15-5=107 points / 71 games (47 ROW) Idle

NY Rangers   41-24-8=90 points / 73 games (38 ROW) Beat Florida 4-2

Pittsburgh      40-24-8=88 points / 72 games (37 ROW)  Idle

ISLES            38-24-9=85 points / 71 games (34 ROW) Lost to Philadelphia 4-1

Philadelphia  35-24-12=82 points/ 71 games (33 ROW) Beat Isles 4-1

Atlantic Team in Wild Card Race

Detroit           34-23-15=83 points/ 73 games (34 ROW) Idle

x Clinched Playoff Spot

Upcoming Schedule:

·           Washington: 3/22 @ Ottawa, 3/25 @ New Jersey, 3/26 vs St. Louis, 3/28 vs. Columbus, 3/30 @ Philadelphia

·           ISLES: 3/23 vs. Ottawa, 3/25 @ Tampa Bay, 3/26 @ Carolina, 3/29 vs. Carolina, 3/31 vs. Columbus

·           NY Rangers:  3/23 vs. Boston, 3/26 @ Montreal, 3/27 vs. Pittsburgh, 3/31 @ Carolina     

·           Pittsburgh:  3/24 vs. New Jersey, 3/26 @ Detroit, 3/27 @ NY Rangers, 3/29 vs. Buffalo, 3/31 vs. Nashville

·           Philadelphia:  3/22 @ Columbus, 3/24 @ Colorado, 3/26 @ Arizona, 3/28 vs. Winnipeg, 3/30 vs. Washington

·           Detroit: 3/22 at Tampa Bay 3/24 vs Montreal, 3/26 vs. Pittsburgh, 3/28 vs. Buffalo, 3/29 @ Montreal

Magic Number

The Isles’ magic number is clinch a playoff berth remain 19 over Detroit, 20 over Philadelphia, and 24 over Pittsburgh and the Rangers.  Any combination of Islander points gained and Red Wings points lost totaling 19 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, Detroit, the Rangers OR Pittsburgh in order to clinch a playoff berth.

Magic numbers vs. other teams to clinch playoff berth: Carolina (12), New Jersey (11), Ottawa (10), Montreal (6), Columbus (2), Buffalo (2).

Isles have clinched a better record than Toronto.

  

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

Tuesday’s Games

Washington at Ottawa

Philadelphia at Columbus

Detroit at Tampa Bay

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

·       17 (with a Detroit regulation loss)

·       18 (with either a Detroit overtime/shootout loss or a Philadelphia regulation loss)

after play on Tuesday.

Wednesday’s Games

Ottawa at ISLES

Boston at NY Rangers

Thursday's Games

Montreal at Detroit

Philadelphia at Colorado