The Skinny on the Playoff Chase

It was a relatively quiet Sunday in the Eastern Conference playoff race.  Philadelphia scored four goals in the third period to blow open a close game and defeat the Penguins 6-2 in Pittsburgh; the Rangers failed to clinch a playoff spot with a loss in Anaheim.

On Monday, the Isles will look to re-tie the Bruins in points with a win over Nashville.  (The Bruins hold the ROW tie-break so the Isles can not move into a playoff position on Monday.)

The Isles can also move within a point of Toronto (although the Leafs will hold a game-in hand.

Looking the other way, Tampa Bay  (only 1 point behind the Isles) hosts Chicago while Carolina (3 points behind the Isles, but with a game-in-hand) play the first of consecutive night home games against Detroit.  The Red Wings will be doing something you almost never see in the NHL, play three games in three days, as they defeated Minnesota on Sunday in overtime.

Playoff Chase

	Metropolitan			GP		PTS
1.      X-Washington		74			106
2.      X-Columbus		74			103
3.      X-Pittsburgh		75			103
Atlantic			GP		PTS
1.      Montréal			75		93
2.      Ottawa			74		90
3.      Toronto			74		85
Wild Card			GP		PTS
1.      NY Rangers			76		96
2.      Boston			75		84
3.      ISLANDERS			74		82
4.      Tampa Bay			74		81
5.      Carolina			73		79
6.      Philadelphia			75		78
7.      Florida			74		77
8.      Buffalo			75		74

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

Wednesday's games

Chicago @ Pittsburgh 8:00

Washington @ Colorado 10:00

Thursday’s games

Isles @ Philadelphia 7:00

Columbus @ Carolina 7:00

Dallas @ Boston 7:30

Florida @ Montreal 7:30

Detroit @ Tampa Bay 7:30

Toronto @ Nashville 8:00

Ottawa @ Minnesota 8:00

Friday’s games

New Jersey @ Isles 7:30

Pittsburgh @ NY Rangers 7:00

Columbus @ Chicago 8:30

Washington @ Arizona 10:00

Saturday’s games

Florida @ Boston 1:00

Ottawa @ Winnipeg 7:00

Toronto @ Detroit 7:00

Montreal @ Tampa Bay 7:00

New Jersey @ Philadelphia 7:00

Dallas @ Carolina 7:00

Sunday’s games

Isles @ Buffalo 3:00

Boston @ Chicago 12:30

Carolina @ Pittsburgh 5:00

Dallas @ Tampa Bay 6:00

Washington @ Columbus 6:00

Philadelphia @ NY Rangers 7:30