The Skinny on the Playoff Chase -- #Isles Magic Number is....

The Isles have regained control of their playoff lives.  While they still trail the Bruins by two points, the Isles now have two games in hand on Boston after the Bs fell 6-3 to the Lightning.   Tampa is one point behind the Isles; the Isles have a game in hand on them as well.

Toronto put some distance between themselves and Boston with a 4-2 win over the Devils. Meanwhile the Metropolitan Top 3 all went to shootouts (yay!)  Washington beat Columbus while Pittsburgh lost to Ottawa.  (The Sens now have control of the Atlantic, trailing Montreal by only a point and having a game in hand)

Throw it all in a blender, and the Isles magic number is.... 19 (over Boston)

The Isles need to finish higher than 8 teams to make the playoffs.  Their other magic numbers are as follows: Tampa -18, Carolina -18, Philadelphia-15, Florida-14, Buffalo-9,  Detroit -9*, New Jersey -5.   (*Magic number has been reduced to denote Isles are guaranteed to win ROW tie-breaker)

Friday's possibilities

The Isles magic number will fall to 17 if they win in Pittsburgh and to 18 if they earn a point in Pittsburgh.

Playoff Chase

	Metropolitan			GP		PTS
1.      X-Washington		73			104
2.      X-Pittsburgh		73			102
3.      X-Columbus		73			101
Atlantic			GP		PTS
1.      Montréal			74		91
2.      Ottawa			73		90
3.      Toronto			73		85
Wild Card			GP		PTS
1.      NY Rangers			74		94
2.      Boston			74		82
3.      ISLANDERS			72		80
4.      Tampa Bay			73		79
5.      Carolina			72		77
6.      Philadelphia			73		76
7.      Florida			73		75
8.      Buffalo			74		72

Friday’s games

Isles @ Pittsburgh 7:00

Tampa Bay @ Detroit 7:30

Saturday’s games

Boston @ Isles 7:00

Philadelphia @ Columbus 2:00

Arizona @ Washington 7:00

Carolina @ New Jersey 7:00

Toronto @ Buffalo 7:00

Ottawa @ Montreal 7:00

Chicago @ Florida 7:00

NY Rangers @ Los Angeles 10:30

Sunday’s games

Philadelphia @ Pittsburgh 7:00

NY Rangers @ Anaheim 9:00

Monday’s games

Nashville @ Isles 7:00

Detroit @ Carolina 7:00

Florida @ Buffalo 7:00

Chicago @ Tampa Bay 7:30

Tuesday’s games

Nashville @ Boston 7:00

Detroit @ Carolina 7:00

Buffalo @ Columbus 7:00

Ottawa @ Philadelphia 7:00

Florida @ Tampa Bay 7:30

Dallas @ Montreal 7:30

Washington @ Minnesota 8:00

NY Rangers @ San Jose 10:30