The Skinny on the Playoff Race -- Isles magic number falls to 14 (and is now against Boston)

The Isles' magic number dropped for the third straight day, but it's now against a different team.  With Boston's regulation loss to Florida, the Bruins remain one point behind the Isles--- but Boston has only 7 games to play to the Isles' 10. That leaves the magic number to clinch a playoff spot at 14.  Elsewhere, the Isles got help from the Devils (who beat Pittsburgh), but not from Montreal (who lost to Detroit) or Colorado (who led 2-1 in the third but lost 4-2 to Philadelphia).

 

(Through games of March 24)

Metropolitan Division Standings (Top 5)

xy Washington 52-15-5=109 points / 72 games (48 ROW) Idle

NY Rangers    42-24-8=92 points / 74 games (39 ROW) Idle

Pittsburgh       40-25-8=88 points / 73 games (37 ROW) Lost to New Jersey 3-0

ISLES             39-24-9=87 points / 72 games (35 ROW) Idle

Philadelphia    36-24-13=85 points/ 73 games (34 ROW) Beat Colorado 4-2

 

Atlantic Teams in Wild Card Race

Boston          39-28-8=86 points/ 75 games (35 ROW) Lost to Florida 4-1

Detroit           37-26-11=85 points/ 74 games (35 ROW) Beat Montreal 4-3

x Clinched Playoff Spot

y Clinched Division Title and Conference Title

 

Remaining Schedule:

·           Washington: 3/25 @ New Jersey, 3/26 vs St. Louis, 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: 3/26 @ Montreal, 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:  3/26 @ Detroit, 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: 3/25 @ Tampa Bay, 3/26 @ Carolina, 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: 3/26 @ Arizona, 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 3/26 @ Toronto, 3/29 @ New Jersey, 4/1 @ St. Louis, 4/3 @ Chicago, 4/5 vs. Carolina, 4/7 vs. Detroit, 4/9 vs Ottawa

 ·          Detroit: 3/26 vs. Pittsburgh, 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 14 over Boston, 15 over Detroit, 17 over Philadelphia, 20 against Pittsburgh and 22 against the Rangers.  Any combination of Islander points gained and Bruins points lost totaling 14 will guarantee that the Isles finish ahead of Boston.

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 just one other team in order to clinch a playoff berth.

Magic numbers vs. other teams to clinch playoff berth: New Jersey (9), Carolina (8),  Ottawa (3*), Montreal (2).

*Isles have clinched tie-breaker over Ottawa

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

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

 

Friday's Games

ISLES at Tampa Bay

Washington at New Jersey  

 

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

·                  12, if the Isles win

·                  13, if the Isles lose in overtime or a shootout

 

Saturday's Games

ISLES at Carolina

St. Louis at Washington

NY Rangers at Montreal

Pittsburgh at Detroit

Philadelphia at Arizona

Boston at Toronto

 

Sunday's Game

Pittsburgh at NY Rangers

 

Forever1940 is the nom de plume of Eric Hornick, statistician on Islander home telecasts since January 21, 1982. Visit my blog: NYISkinny.com and follow me on Twitter @ehornick