Evgeny Kuznetsov scored in the final minute to force OT but Victor Hedman's overtime goal gives Tampa Bay a 5-4 win over the Caps for their sixth straight win in the only game involving a Metro team on Wednesday.
The loser point gives the Caps a 3-point lead over the Isles; Washington has played 74 games and the Isles 73.
So the standings through Wednesday's play looks like this:
Metro Playoff Watch
1. Caps 94 points/74 games/39 ROW (Friday vs. Minnesota, Sunday vs. Philadelphia)
2. Isles 91 points/73 games/38 ROW (Thursday at Montreal, Saturday at Philadelphia)
3. Penguins 89 points/74 games/38 ROW (Thursday at Nashville, Saturday at Dallas)
4. Hurricanes 87 points/72 games/38 ROW (Thursday vs Tampa Bay, Saturday vs. Minnesota)
5. Blue Jackets 84 points/73 games/39 ROW (Thursday at Edmonton, Sunday at Vancouver)
6. Flyers 78 points/73 games/33 ROW (Thursday at Chicago, Saturday vs. Isles)
Also in Wild Card Race
Canadiens 83 points/73 games/36 ROW (Thursday vs. Isles, Saturday vs. Buffalo)
The Blue Jackets currently hold the second Wild Card, so five Metropolitan Division teams are currently in playoff spots.
Magic Numbers:
The Isles' Magic Number to clinch a playoff spot is 11. It could go as low as 7 (with a win vs. Montreal) on Thursday.
The Isles' Magic Number to clinch the Metropolitan Division is 20. It could go as low as 18 on Thursday. [Washington's magic number to clinch the division is now 16.]
Goal Differential
With the Caps losing by one goal tonight, the Isles now have a +30 goal differential to Washington’s +27. It is this tie-breaker that had the Isles in first place in the Metro Division entering play on Tuesday.
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