The Skinny on the Playoff Race: Isles win and they're IN!

So if you had Christopher Gibson as the goalie that would send the Isles to the playoffs, I'm impressed.  Not as impressive as Gibson, who will never forget his first NHL win -- an overtime thriller over the President's Trophy winning Caps.

With the win, the Isles clinch a playoff spot for the second straight season- now we just wait to see who they play.

Elsewhere, the Rangers  and  Pittsburgh  also rallied for wins, and Carolina beat Boston in a shootout.

(Through games on April 4)

Metropolitan Division Standings (Top 5)

xy Washington 55-17-7=117 points / 79 games (51 ROW) Lost to Isles 4-3 in OT

x Pittsburgh     47-25-8=102 points / 80 games (43 ROW) Beat Ottawa 5-3

NY Rangers     45-26-9=99 points / 80 games (42 ROW) Beat Tampa Bay 3-2

ISLES              44-26-9=97 points / 79 games (39 ROW) Beat Washington 4-3 in OT

Philadelphia     39-26-13=91 points/ 78 games (36 ROW) Idle

Atlantic Teams in Wild Card Race

Detroit             40-28-11=91 points/ 79 games (38 ROW) Idle

Boston             41-30-9=91 points/ 80 games (37 ROW) Lost to Carolina 2-1 in SO

x Clinched Playoff Spot

y Clinched Division Title, Conference Title and President's Trophy

Best They Can Do (By Winning Every Game in Regulation or Overtime)

Pittsburgh      106 points/ 45 ROW  

NY Rangers   103 points/ 44 ROW 

ISLES             103 points/ 42 ROW

Philadelphia    99 points/ 40 ROW

Detroit             97 points/41 ROW
Boston            95 points/39 ROW

Remaining Schedule:

• Washington:  4/7 vs. Pittsburgh, 4/9 at St. Louis, 4/10 vs. Anaheim
• Pittsburgh: 4/7 @ Washington, 4/9 @ Philadelphia
• NY Rangers:  4/7 vs. ISLES, 4/9 vs. Detroit    
• ISLES:  4/7 @ NY Rangers, 4/9 vs. Buffalo, 4/10 vs. Philadelphia
• Philadelphia: 4/6 at Detroit, 4/7 vs. Toronto, 4/9 vs Pittsburgh, 4/10 @ ISLES
• Detroit:  4/6 vs. Philadelphia, 4/7 at Boston, 4/9 @ NY Rangers
• Boston: 4/7 vs. Detroit, 4/9 vs Ottawa

On Their Own

If the Isles go 1-1-1 they will clinch the first wild car regardless of what everyone else does.

If the Isles win their last three, they will finish no lower than third regardless of what everyone else does.

Magic Number

The Isles have clinched at least an 8th place finish in the East.  Their magic number to clinch at least 7th place is 3.

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

Wednesday's Games

Philadelphia at Detroit

The Isles magic number for clinching the first wild card is 3. 

The magic number for clinching the first wild card will:

• Remain 3 if Philadelphia beats Detroit 
• Fall to 2 if Philadelphia loses to Detroit in either overtime or a shootout
• Fall to 1 if Philadelphia loses to Detroit in regulation