The Skinny on the Playoff Race: Isles Magic Number Remains 14 after loss in Tampa

The Isles' magic number is still 14 after their 7-4 loss to Tampa Bay.  The Isles magic number is against Boston; the Bruins remain one point behind the Isles--- but Boston has only 7 games to play to the Isles' 9.

All of the teams in the playoff race play on Saturday!

 

(Through games of March 25)

Metropolitan Division Standings (Top 5)

xy Washington 53-15-5=111 points / 73 games (49 ROW) Beat New Jersey 1-0 (OT)

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

Pittsburgh       40-25-8=88 points / 73 games (37 ROW) Idle

ISLES             39-25-9=87 points / 73 games (35 ROW) Lost to Tampa Bay 7-4

Philadelphia    36-24-13=85 points/ 73 games (34 ROW) Idle

 

Atlantic Teams in Wild Card Race

Boston          39-28-8=86 points/ 75 games (35 ROW) Idle

Detroit           37-26-11=85 points/ 74 games (35 ROW) Idle

x Clinched Playoff Spot

y Clinched Division Title and Conference Title

 

Remaining Schedule:

·           Washington: 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: 3/26 @ 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 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 (8), 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)

 

Saturday's Games

ISLES at Carolina

St. Louis at Washington

NY Rangers at Montreal

Pittsburgh at Detroit

Philadelphia at Arizona

Boston at Toronto

 

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

·                  10, if the Isles win and the Bruins lose in regulation

·                  11, if the Isles win and the Bruins lose in overtime or a shootout and/or Detroit loses in regulation

·                  11, if the Isles lose in overtime or a shootout and the Bruins lose in regulation

(The magic number will fall to 12 or less if the Isles win)

 

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